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 in the industry - 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By JuliePitt - October 4 - 10:00 am

  I know for a fact that this car holds up well in collisions. Two weeks after We bought it, I hydroplaned in a downpoor and slammed into a retaining wall at 60 mph. This car held up well, with only minor damage, and all of us (5) in the car, were not injured at all. This car is fun to drive, responsive, and very stylish. You should see people stare as we cruise by. The 3 rear shoulder restraints are a godsend. I cant say enough good things about this car, so Ill say "Thank You Pontiac for making a car that I love!!!!"

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  Awesome Ride - 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By Awesome! - October 3 - 5:56 pm

  Ive had my 04GP for a few months now, and I love it. The acceleration is superb, styling is great, the "That is awesome!" reply I get from the HUD.

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  Fun To Drive - 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By Ron - October 3 - 5:20 pm

  I have owned a lot of cars in my life but when i test drove the Grand Prix it showed that Pontiac had the driver in mind.Not only does the Grand Prix have style but it is fast,and comfortable and safe.The Grand Prix has a smooth ride and besides the front airbags the side curtain gives me comfort when i am driving my grandsons in the back.With all of the safety features I feel very comfortable behind the wheel of this car.

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  Best Car - 2000 Pontiac Sunfire
  By kthiesen - October 3 - 4:43 pm

  I purchased this car brand new, it currently has 175,000 miles. I have had one minor problem that cost 200 to fix. My car runs better than when I purchased it and it is capable of getting 35 miles/gallon on the interstate. This has been an excellent car for me, if I didnt need more room I would buy another one in an instant. The LCD display on my monsoon radio also went out on one side but that wasnt that big of a deal considering how many miles it has and how great its been to have and drive!

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  july08 - 2008 Pontiac Torrent
  By dnm - October 2 - 8:00 pm

  The vehicle replaced a leased 2005 GMC EnvoyXL SLT. Though the Envoy was loaded the Torrent has plenty of features and is fun to drive. I pulled my boat 500 miles with no problem and the mileage is about 20% better than the Envoy. The Torrent is fun to drive, dont believe the reviews about it being "mushy" etc. The 3.4 V6 has plenty of spunk. The vehicle performs very well in town and on the highway. Highway mileage is about 25 and city is about 18. Plenty of room inside for 4 adults for long distance and 5 adults is not problem for shorter drives, rear seating has amazing leg room and front seat passenger seat has more room than the Envoy. We added the chrome package and leather.

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  6th Pontiac - 2006 Pontiac G6
  By John Berszoner - October 2 - 5:20 am

  I have driven 5 Pontiac Bonnevilles before I bought my G6 GT. I loved my Bonnies. They always met my driving needs as far as performance, handling and comfort was concerned. I test drove the G6 and was amazed that while the G6 was smaller, the performance and comfort was on par with the Bonnies. The handling was even better than what I was used to.

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  Excellent Quality & Value - 2008 Pontiac G6
  By Lou - October 1 - 9:56 pm

  Have had the car for 4 months now. The car has been great. Runs like a top and is fun to drive. Performance is pretty good, not to mention its getting me about 26 mpg on the average. Had a couple of minor issues and took it back to the dealership. Cant say enough about their service and personnel. Very good customer service A+. Took care of all the issues immediately and on my schedule. Overall, extremely pleased with the car and the dealership. Would highly recommend both!

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  quality at a good price - 2004 Pontiac Vibe
  By vibe - October 1 - 5:06 am

  Ive had my Vibe for 2 years now. I have live in California and it has been on the beach and over the Sierra Mountians. Have never had a single problem. Mileage is what was advertised, although it did take a break-in period to get there. The paint on the bumpers and bottom door trim could be a little better. Im a big 50 year old man. It takes me camping and on business trips. Still get comments on the looks of it. Friends have been so impressed a few have purchased Vibes. You wont be disappointed.

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  not your average 32k car - 2004 Pontiac GTO
  By Just a Workin Man - October 1 - 1:16 am

  I took over a lease in october 2005. It was a great deal or I would not have considered it. The lackluster styling of the car is a real fooler. Once I took it out for a drive, I was hooked! I owned a 1964 GTO, 4 barrel with auto transmission in 1968 & 1969 with fond memories, but WOW what a difference. all I can say is if you dont drive a new GTO you have no idea what you are missing. The plain Jane styling is somewhat of a blessing since the cops dont seem to notice the car at all, so far so good, no tickets yet! I did have it up to 135 MPH & there was alot left to go, but that was fast enough for me.

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  My First Pontiac - 2000 Pontiac Bonneville
  By Poor Boy - September 30 - 12:53 pm

  Overall pretty good car. Steering rack was leaking, had it replaced under extended warranty. Window motor went out, again replaced under warranty. Great Gas Milage. Intermediate steering linkage has been a problem, fixed under recall but now acting up again. Purchased car almost three years old with 23,000 miles and bought it for half of new car sticker. Never owned a Pontiac before, thought I would give it a try.