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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  Great Car! - 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By crit - June 11 - 10:00 am

  Ive owned this car for 5 1/2 years/90K+ miles and it has never left me stranded. Its sporty, fun to drive and I would recommend it to anyone.

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  On the Road with Aztec - 2003 Pontiac Aztek
  By Coach L - June 11 - 10:00 am

  Last month, I drove the Aztec from New Orleans to St. Louis with no long stops, and I got out of the vehicle without any stiffness. No comfort concerns. At 24-28 mpg on the highway, no problems there either. Performance? Responsive and smooth, but I wish it sat just a little higher for speed bumps and uneven driveways. Climate control and stereo sound are excellent, and its fun to see people staring at the vehicle at stop lights. The unusual styling is an attention-getter, and my high school students love it. My only complaint about the interior is that for some reason, some of the seating areas seem to be wearing rather quickly.

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  gto - 2005 Pontiac GTO
  By john deleone - June 11 - 3:26 am

  I have had this car for one year. no problems at all,, hiway mileage is around 25 MPG and city about 17,it is fun to drive and draws attention everywhere I go

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  great car for a better price - 2006 Pontiac G6
  By bigmatt87 - June 10 - 5:19 am

  since people that dont know about cars are scared to buy pontiacs, this car is cheap. i got mine with 64k miles and ive put 3k on it. love this car. not great on gas due to gearing but i put an intake on it and it helps. love the handling. its firm but not uncomfortable. engine is amazing other then the electronic throttle...not a fan. i like my throttle cable just fine and didnt see a need for electronic. everything works great and this car is just so pretty.

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  This car is freaking amazing. - 2009 Pontiac G5
  By imprettychill1 - June 10 - 3:14 am

  Wow, whoever wrote a bad review is totally wrong and has no idea. It made me realize that a lot of people out there will never be pleased no matter what. The Pontiac G5 is the best car Ive ever owned, and my previous car was a six cylinder Lexus ES300. The G5 is small for sure, but it packs a serious punch that I never expected out of a car with a 4 cylinder engine. Its faster than my Lexus was and is way more fun to drive. In my opinion its the best economy car on the market. Seriously, the dudes (or dudettes) who wrote bad reviews need to get their heads checked because the G5 is amazing. Just wish they were still being made. I would get a new one without any type of reservation.

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  YES! - 2009 Pontiac G8
  By xruling - June 9 - 1:56 pm

  Any criticism of the car becomes the smallest "administrivia" when you push down the gas pedal. Mine is very reliable, comfortable, devoid of irritating quirks or noises. Im thrilled with this car. Wish I had another one "in reserve."

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  Tall? Drive it. - 2006 Pontiac G6
  By TheCryptic - June 8 - 10:06 pm

  I agree with lots of people here. Fit and finish is awesome for the price. Comfort is astounding if you like supportive seats. My wife hates the support bolstering on the front seats, claiming it hurts the back of her legs on exiting, but shes not into "spirited cornering" either. Heres the clincher... I test drove only a couple cars, mostly because I prefer small cars and Im not a small guy. Im 65" and 285lbs. I dont fit into anything else in this price range that is fun to drive (Scion TC, 06 Civic, Mazda3). But I fit in the G6 and have room to grow. The power adjustable height drops the seat far enough down that I have head room even with the regular power sunroof option.

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  Fun, waiting for sun - 2006 Pontiac Solstice
  By Bruce - June 8 - 9:50 am

  I have had my Solstice for several weeks and truly enjoy it. The cars build quality is the best Ive seen in an American car. It handles extremely well and has more than adequate power. I test drove a Porshe Boxster, Mini Cooper S convertible, Mustang convertible, but decided to buy the Solstice instead. Im not sorry. The car is gorgeous, particularly with the top down and is very fun to drive, especially on twisty roads. It is a bargain at the list price, but many dealers are charging much more.

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  Great machine - 2006 Pontiac G6
  By dave - June 7 - 4:53 pm

  I have only driven the GT for 3 weeks, am very excited with all aspects of the vehicle. Sound system (monsoon) is superior, seating is similar to my previous Firebird, which is no longer produced. Adjustable pedals a plus, very smooth ride with excellent gas mileage (30mpg) on the interstate. My Fusion orange color turns heads. Plenty of rear seat room.

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  Glad I bought it - 2010 Pontiac Vibe
  By budman - June 7 - 3:13 pm

  Really like the car. Rides nice, handles better than expected. Got 35.5 MPG on 600 mile trip. Have 11000 miles on it and no complaints. Used Clunker money, GM rebate and GM card rebate. Paid 9900.00 for a new car. Thought that only happened to other people.. Plus GM 5 year/100,000 mile power train protection.