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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  Vibe review - 2003 Pontiac Vibe
  By P.Jones - July 11 - 5:56 am

  The Vibe has been a very trouble free auto since day one. It is 3 years old with 30,000 miles on it. It still looks new.

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  GTP with Comp G Package - 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By JPatton - July 10 - 10:00 am

  This car is amazing. Very fast and comfortable for long trips. I drove to Tennessee and to Boston and both trips it was fantastic(I live in Philadelphia.) The seats are amaizingly comfortable and the Supercharger really pushes you into them. I have enjoyed every second of owning it.

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  Holy COW, this car is great! - 2006 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By Mr. Hyde - July 8 - 9:23 pm

  Drove every other car in its class and this one came out on top by a HUGE margin. Super engine, quiet, awesome driving position and seats. Very good mpg and incredible brakes. Consumer Reports rated this car poorly. I think they must have hit their heads on a few washing machines. This car is FANTASTIC. Try it, then see if you agree with me. The GXP is an animal.

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  Desperate for help - 2007 Pontiac G6
  By Andrea W - July 8 - 7:53 pm

  I do love my G6. The handling is great, love the way the steering feels. My complaint seems to be an isolated one, but I have had mine in for repair over 10 times. The SES light keeps coming on. Doesnt seem to drive differently when it does, just annoying. GM has not been cooperative. I suggest going with an auto make who cares more about their customers.

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  GTO - 2006 Pontiac GTO
  By Dean Wheatley - July 8 - 3:13 pm

  I needed a sports car with back seats that actually had some performance - and thats one thing this car plenty of: performance. The vette V8 engine is the reason that you buy this car. Fit and finish is good (as good, if not better than the vette) but handling is, unfortunately, nothing to write home about. The suspension setup is a bit too soft and the tires are nowhere near grippy enough to keep traction. With 400 ponies, you need the traction! The stick shift is just awful and the stick shift is just OK (no overdrive ). Despite is many failings, I believe this is the best bang for the buck. Tighter handling than the gt-500 and almost as quick. A bargain!

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  I like it - 2009 Pontiac Vibe
  By sassysparky - July 6 - 8:30 am

  We just purchased the 1.8L Vibe (09) this past weekend, with some upgrades like AC, cruise control, and power doors and locks. Its been handling extremely well in the Michigan winter, and Im already getting great gas mileage on my little jaunts around town. Love the way it looks, it feels solid yet zippy. I wish the base model had some radio controls on the steering wheel, but the car comes with XM radio which is great where I live. So far, so good. Having some issues figuring out the proper tire pressure though!

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  06 FWD - 2006 Pontiac Torrent
  By richard houser - July 5 - 3:43 pm

  Wife and I purchased an 06 fwd torrent as her daily driver. we traded in our 1998 olds intrigue with 114,000 miles, was a great car. we got the preferred package,17" alloy wheels and the security package. black with ebony cloth interior. we drove an 05 rendezvous and the torrent is more comfortable,stable, quieter and easier to get in and out of. first tank of gas got 21 mpg over some hilly terrain. the rear leg room is great and all the seats are comfortable. it has only 400 miles on the odometer but the engine has plenty of power and is very quiet.

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  Goin GTO - 2004 Pontiac GTO
  By Tommyson - July 4 - 10:00 am

  Very comfortable while sitting in drivers seat. Downside to me is gas mileage and some styling. Although the performance makes up for any dissapointments.

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  The Vibe is Great! - 2004 Pontiac Vibe
  By kfelker - July 4 - 10:00 am

  I just bought my Pontiac AWD Vibe and I love it! It sits up high, the seats are pretty comfortable, it has nice pickup (going up hills does cut down on the pickup, but thats to be expected with the AWD model). Im very happy so far with my experience, and I would recommend the car to anyone.

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  Great Drive! - 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By Tiger II Jim - July 4 - 10:00 am

  What a drivers car! I have the GTP Comp G version, and I get a big grin on my face every time I get in and drive it. Comfort, convenience, and performance all rolled into one beautiful package.