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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  EXCELLENT CAR - 1995 Pontiac Grand AM
  By BJ - June 17 - 8:43 am

  THIS IS AN EXCELLENT CAR---NO PROBLEMS WHATSOEVER!!!

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  Great Purchase - 2010 Pontiac Vibe
  By jeronomo - June 15 - 6:53 pm

  This is actually the 1.8 L auto which is not listed as an option on Edmunds. This is a great under the radar car. It is compact enough to get good gas mileage and fit in small spaces but still feels spacious inside, with a lot of possible cargo room. I like the exterior styling better than the matrix (its twin) or the fit. No problems so far!

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  Former GTO Owner - 2009 Pontiac G8
  By Rob - June 15 - 4:16 am

  I traded my GTO for the G8. Much smoother and quieter and feels quicker around town. No problems so far, have owned for just over 2 months. Lots of room. Stereo speakers could be of better quality and wished the interior was available in other colors besides black. Interior looks good though and seats are very comfy. Really like the car and glad I bought it. Very fun to drive. No regrets.

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  Awesome Car!!! - 2000 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By evnsptc - June 13 - 12:30 pm

  I bought my 2000 Grand Prix GT in 2008 (3rd owner) at 103,000 miles. Five years later, It currently has 245,000 miles on it and still going! I have yet to replace major parts on it, Though I have replaced radiator, hoses and belts, brake pads, and tires. The engine and transmission are still running strong. I trust it on long trips and wouldnt know what I would do if I didnt have it. . .

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  Good bang for the buck. - 1997 Pontiac Sunfire
  By Johnboy81 - June 13 - 10:00 am

  Had this car since it was brand new and its never had a major problem. It definitely out performs imports its classed with in hp, tourqe, styling and speed. Cornering is great; pulled off many sharp turns on a dime. Drives nicely in rain/snow. The 2.4L engine is quite ballsy and the trans shifts very smoothly. Its safe. I hit a deer doing about 45 once and the only major damage it caused was a small crack in the bumper, w/ barely noticeable stress fractures to the paint at point of impact. I intend to keep this car until I have enough money for a Trans Am or GTO!

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  2003 Bonneville SLE - 2003 Pontiac Bonneville
  By jandres - June 13 - 10:00 am

  The moment I sat in this car for the first time I was hooked. The cockpit reminded me of a jet airplane. Being an engineer, I loved the controls and layout of the interior (especially the instrument panel). The ride and power of the engine are exceptional for this size of car. Lots of room in the back and very comfortable. I opted for the leather seats. Ride and handling are superb. This car is a gem. BTW, Some complain about the lower body- side cladding. I believe it is a plus since it protects the lower part of the car against stone chips and door dings.

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  Scott A.Smith - 2005 Pontiac G6
  By Scott A Smith - June 12 - 11:46 pm

  I love the g6 sedan after 10 months it is still like new It is so quiet, smooth and very easy to drive. For a Tall person 65" it is one of the most comfortable cars I have ever owned and look foward to the use of this car until the end of my lease.

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  97 SSEi - 1997 Pontiac Bonneville
  By Kevin - June 12 - 4:26 pm

  Great car to drive! Powerful and still good fuel mileage! With a few Mods, Upgraded exhaust, Cold air intake, upgraded Supercharger pulley and PCM upgrade, Car is even more powerful ( up to about 290 HP.) And driving normal still gets great MPG. Love it !

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  Rattles and Rotors - 2007 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By ldenn - June 11 - 6:33 am

  Big fan of the Pontiac Grand Prix 3x owner. This car has a lot of rattling inside which seems to come from the sunroof, have had it at the dealership 8 times and they still are not able to fix it. The rattling becomes very unerving on long road trips and bumpy roads. The rotors had to be replaced the first year I had it and now have to be replaced again 6 months later. There is a problem with the rotors obviously.

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  Love my GP - 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By MarcelF - June 11 - 12:33 am

  Very fun to drive. No problems with get up & go. The 3800 V6 uses regular gas and I get 23-25 MPG here in Phoenix, and have gotten up to 32 MPG on long highway trips. Heads Up display should be standard on cars, Ive found that its vary useful. Bose sound system sounds great. No problems yet, 15,000 miles into vehicle life. Great car for the money!