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 ever - 2003 Pontiac Aztek
  By Sawanwa - November 6 - 2:00 am

  I love this car! My husband laughed when I bought it and now he tries to talk me into trading with him. The only problem I see with it is the weight of the tail gate window. It might be difficult for a frail person to close.

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  Shouldve bought the Nissan - 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By Fog - November 6 - 2:00 am

  Ive had pretty good luck with the car up until 2003. If you are looking for something that will last a long time I would suggest buying something else. I hit the 50 thousand mark and I am selling it. The gas pedal sticks and the ABS light comes on quite frequently. The dealer says its nothing. Had the brakes fixed and they still grind and the ABS light still comes on. Resale value is terrible...everyone has a Grand Prix.

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  great little car - 2005 Pontiac Sunfire
  By farr - November 5 - 6:36 pm

  Lots of fun to drive. Peppy. All american. Great price.

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  2nd Grand Am Owned - 2004 Pontiac Grand AM
  By Gorgeous Gal08 - November 4 - 2:33 am

  All in all a good car except for when the security light comes on and car doesnt start unless you leave the key in the ignition switch for 10 minutes in the "on" position. Owners manual stated this. Estimated costs to fix $425, plus labor. Needs longer warranty. Very bad electrical problems, especially with the computer. RPM gauge was messed up for half a day. Going 60 mph and running at 3,000 rpm. Would not shift into overdrive. Kinda ridiculous. 1st Grand Am had similar problems but the security light stayed on all the TIME. Air conditioner did not work.

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  1fun1 - 2000 Pontiac Grand AM
  By rswilson01 - November 1 - 10:00 am

  Great Car! Had to replace a bigun that was stolen and tried a few. My wife loved it. I wasnt sure even after buying it(if Momma aint happy, aint nobody happy!). 3 yrs later Im glad her emotion overruled me. Its a fantastic car. Its a lively, road warrior thats a joy to drive; always responsive no matter what. Almost beach season and the familys eager to use the moonroof and stereo every Saturday. The cars big enough but not too big; cute enough for her; exciting enough for me. My 12yo son is already asking if hes going to "inherit" the car when hes old enough. Im sure its safe enough, but Im definitely not ready to let him have all the fun!

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  torrent is awesome - 2006 Pontiac Torrent
  By mark - October 31 - 2:30 am

  Best vehicle Ive ever bought for the money! Have had absolutely no problems and gas mileage is better than stated!

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  Love this car - 2004 Pontiac GTO
  By Stefanie - October 31 - 12:50 am

  This car is awesome. Not only does it have massive power, but its sleek style makes for a surprise off the line. Not a lot of people know about the new GTO, and are always amazed by the performance. This car is unique and stands out from all the different kinds of powerless Mustangs on the road. Ultimately a blast to drive and worth every penny.

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  The Perfect Machine - 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By Superbia - October 30 - 9:20 pm

  Pontiacs in past years for some people has driven up a rep for being pieces of junk. The new line is far from being junk! My favorite is the the GP GT! It has a good look but is not considered to be a high-end pompous car like some others. The brakes are good, the acceleraation is great, the highway handling is good, and the comfort is pretty good as well. The back seats do have some tiny issues but all in all they are great for the kind of car this is. Corners well and the 3.8l v6 has got some power ready to rumble! If someone dares race you, thinkig this car is among the ordinary, they will soon find out it is not.

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  Back to the domestics - 2006 Pontiac G6
  By Gail Taschler - October 30 - 1:06 pm

  After my last two leases being a Volvo, the vehicle is not reliable the overall scenario is arrogance. I decided to shop around and this G6 is just better in every category with many more facilities to get help if necessary, than Volvo could imagine. The grand finale is of course ON Star, what a sensational item. I am absolutely excited about my G6 and so far it is head and shoulder better than the S 70 and S 60 volvo I had recently leased.

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  2nd Most Fun Ive Ever Had - 1995 Pontiac Firebird
  By Cool User Name - October 30 - 1:50 am

  Ive owned my Formula for 5 years now, & I still get a thrill every time I step out my front door & see it in the driveway. I love this car! This car is fun to drive. The power will spoil you for driving anything else in the same price range. My husband works for a rental car agency, & brings home every new car they get in, & I try them all & say "eh". Ill keep my Fbird, thankyou. I wish I could keep it forever, but at 11 years old, its starting to have its little problems, creaks & rattles. (No loss of power, though). Still, its been extremely reliable. Funny how many have reported probs with the power window & headlight motors. But thats not enough to dim my love for this car.