Overview & Reviews

The Pontiac brand is part of the General Motors family, and is home to many of the automaker's more performance-oriented vehicles. Currently, the marque offers a broad range of sporty cars and SUVs. However, as part of GM's restructuring plan, the brand is slated to be discontinued by the end of the 2010 model year.

Pontiac originated as the Oakland Car Company of Pontiac, Michigan, in 1907; it was founded by Edward Murphy. Acquired by General Motors in 1909, Oakland introduced the first Pontiac vehicle in 1926. Dubbed the "Chief of the Sixes," the car was powered by a six-cylinder engine and made its debut at that year's New York auto show. It was so successful that the Oakland name was phased out in favor of Pontiac, the name of an 18th-century chief of the Ottawa Indians. Throughout the 1930s and '40s Pontiac made coupes, sedans and wagons in the low-to-mid price ranges. A unique styling cue of Pontiac cars from the mid-'30s to the mid-'50s was known as "Silver Streak," a set of art-deco-inspired chrome "speed lines" that ran up over the length of the hood to the base of the windshield.

The 1950s saw the introduction of the Pontiac Bonneville. The sprawling, stylish cruiser offered equal measures of performance and luxury, and was a breakout hit. But it wasn't until the 1960s that the Pontiac brand truly came into its own. American manufacturers had begun to offer downsized alternatives to the gigantic cruisers that had ruled the highways in previous decades. Pontiac came to market with the compact Tempest. In 1964, Pontiac made its biggest impact yet with the creation of the GTO option for the Tempest. By equipping the car with the powerful 389 cubic-inch V8 from the full-size car line, Pontiac created the first "muscle car." Phenomenally successful, the GTO helped define the burgeoning muscle car category. Pontiac also saw tremendous success during the latter part of this decade with its Firebird and Firebird Trans Am.

The oil crisis of the '70s made fuel efficiency a priority for many car buyers. Following the lead of its GM siblings, Pontiac made compact vehicles like the Ventura and Phoenix a major part of its lineup. The '80s saw the launch of the two-seat Pontiac Fiero. Despite its modest beginnings (it was initially marketed as a "commuter car"), the Fiero eventually blossomed into a credible sports car.

The '90s saw the launch of Pontiacs like the Sunfire and Montana minivan. Pontiac has slowly lost sales due to changing tastes and a lack of differentiation between its models and those of other GM divisions. In hopes of recapturing past glory, the division embarked on a plan to retire aged models and introduce all-new ones with distinctive styling and personality. For a while, the effort seemed to be bearing fruit. New models like the Vibe, Solstice and G8 made Pontiac a brand to consider in many segments. However, GM's financial troubles in 2008 and 2009 have resulted in the company's decision to phase out Pontiac as a brand. It's expected 2010 will be Pontiac's last year for new models.

User Reviews:

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  Best Pontiac I Ever Owned - 2005 Pontiac G6
  By rgilm2468 - July 21 - 7:43 pm

  This is my wifes car but I drive it every chance I get. This is our 8th Pontiac, and I would rate it the best. No body side molding, 17 inch wheels make for excellent cornering and panoramic roof is a lot of fun. Im 62 and it has more than adequate leg room. It looks fairly small from the outside but the cabin is quite large. Adjustable pedals and telescoping steering wheel would make it hard for anyone not to find a comfortable driving position.

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  My new G6 - 2007 Pontiac G6
  By MJW70 - July 21 - 3:10 pm

  I love this car! I had researched for the last couple of months before buying, and I am very pleased with this car. So fun to drive and plenty of room. Very tight steering and handy/easy to read gauges.

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  An awesome driving car - 2007 Pontiac Solstice
  By Smiling Dennis - July 21 - 11:23 am

  This is the most fun I have ever had with a car. It is great feeling once I am behind the wheel on a open winding road. The car handles super around tight corners and has outstaning performance. The Solstice is great value for the price and I would highly recommend it to people looking to have unlimited driving enjoyment and loads of fun. Makes one feel like a kid again.

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  G6 GT Coupe - 2006 Pontiac G6
  By LSparks - July 21 - 6:10 am

  I recently purchased my G6 GT Coupe to replace my 05 Chevy Equinox. My main reason for the purchase was gas mileage. So far, I have been very impressed, as I am getting almost 25 mpg. The G6 handles great and has much to offer in additional options. I am impressed with the styling of both the interior and exterior. This car is a real eye-catcher! The manumatic shift is a fun addition to everyday driving. I have heard very little road noise and I am impressed with the power of the 3.5L V6. To me, I have received a lot of car for the money. So far this has been the best out of the 4 previous Pontiac models I have owned.

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  Such a Blast! - 2000 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By jrocker100 - July 20 - 11:29 am

  Car has been very reliable. Car was originally a repo, got it for a steal. Have had this car for 2 years and still havent/wont get bored with it. The roaring supercharger and exhaust make it all worth while. Its well worth using Premium Fuel. Red coupe, black leather, heated seat, Heads Up Display, fully loaded for a 2000. Even came with the original factory sticker. Bulletproof L67! Love the sound system! Plastic interior can be dull at times, but the red instrument panel lighting is awesome! If I could do it all over, I would. Sad to see Pontiac was discontinued.

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  So far-So good - 2006 Pontiac Torrent
  By Hal - July 20 - 10:13 am

  Great little vehicle. We went from a Jetta Wagon to the Torrent AWD (Bright White with Ebony Leather)- Sporty! Please bear in mind that we just bought this vehicle yesterday and already have ~250 miles on it.

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  Bad Ass cars - 2003 Pontiac Grand AM
  By sarah lemke - July 20 - 10:00 am

  I just bought a 2002 Pontiac Grand Am GT, and I love it, it hauls ass, and compared to my 1991 Ford Explorer, which might I add its falling apart, its the best car!!!

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  Hot car but.... - 2006 Pontiac G6
  By RSSDRIVER57 - July 19 - 8:50 am

  I have this car for about a month now and I really do like it. It looks great and is very quite and is alot of fun to drive.The 3.5 engine gives you more horsepower the you will need in any situation. There are several what I consider minor flaws, one of which is the ride. The sports suspension handles great and is very responsive but gives a hard ride. When you go over a bump you will feel it and I havent gotten the 21mpg City or 29mpg Highway the sticker claims you get yet. Check out suggestion improvements for more.

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  Great Car - 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By otty - July 18 - 4:36 pm

  Great car, still own it and I am at 227,000 km, runs like a charm still. Only regular maintenance required and a yearly oil spray for the Canadian winter to prevent corrosion. Only problem Ive had is that my seat has broken

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  So far so Good - 2003 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By Ray Schiller - July 18 - 10:00 am

  I just bought this car for $5k from an individual, and so far, I love it. It runs smooth and powerful even with the 3.1. Handling is very responsive (kind of like the Camaro LT I use to have). Ride is firm and sporty. At 68K mi. it has a few minor imperfections, but hey, Ive been driving a 92 Chevy pickup with a stick for 12.5 years so this car feels like a Vette. I was glad to find out that the engine has a timing chain, no belt. Lots of fun to drive with dead straight tracking. I find myself taking the long way home. The stereo sounds great & the seats are comfortable. Overall, its a really nice ride for not a lot of money. If you want a great car for $5 to $6k check one out.