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 - 2003 Pontiac Vibe
  By kevin_junger - June 15 - 12:20 pm

  Purchased the car in March 03 and have been very pleased. As of today the car has 58,000 miles and has never been back to the dealer for any reason. Handling is excellent. Acceleration is acceptable but the 1.8 liter is a little noisy above 4,000 rpm. Overall I am very satisfied with the purchase and would buy another Vibe in a second.

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  I love my car! - 2004 Pontiac Sunfire
  By JennyJ - June 12 - 2:00 am

  Sunfires are the very best! I love mine so much its not even funny. Its so fun to drive and it hugs the turns of the road so much! Not to mention the fun and sleek design of the inside. THIS car is so awesome, and if your looking for a cool car for literaly a GREAT price you should take another look at the sunfire, its so perfect! If you dont believe me then go test drive one for yourself!

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  The Best - 2004 Pontiac Vibe
  By cg71811 - June 12 - 2:00 am

  I traded in a jeep for this car and I love the vibe so much more.

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  melissa bachmann - 2006 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By melissa - June 11 - 11:13 am

  i previously owned a doge intrepid but after owning my grand prix ill never buy any other make of car. its absolutely perfect!

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  Happy with my Comp-G - 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By Bad Dave - June 10 - 6:40 pm

  I have now had my 05 Grand Prix GTP Comp G for 2 years and 32,000 miles. I cant complain. Build quality and reliability are excellent. The s/c 3800 is fantastic! Instant power when you need it, mash the gas and hold on. Average 24 to 25 mpg overall on mid- grade fuel. This car handles the twisties with ease and glides over the highway. Handles the Vermont winters with no problem due to a set of Blizzacks and Stabilitrak. Huge trunk, excellent heated leather seats, and sound system. Lacks a bit on headroom though and rear legroom can be tight. Installed K&N filter. Overall, a good little daily driver and nice upgrade from my previous Grand Ams. Cant wait to trade up to a V8 GXP!

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  Nothing like it on the road today! - 2005 Pontiac GTO
  By GTO48 - June 9 - 11:40 am

  This thing is bad to the bone! I have owned numerous "fast cars" Buick Grand Nationals, Mustang GT, as well as a 427 powered 67 Chevelle for old school muscle. Nothing comapres to my GTO. The fit and finish are outstanding for $30,000. Oh and did I mention 400 HP? Disappointments are few and far between... Small trunk space, slow seat movement for rear seat ingress. Who cares! I didnt buy it to haul stuff in the trunk or the back seat. Which by the way will fit a 6 foot tall passenger with ease once you do get the front seats out of the way. Pontiac hit a home run with this bad boy. If other car makers followed Pontiacs lead, Id need a bigger garage!

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  My Vibe - 2004 Pontiac Vibe
  By paintt70 - June 8 - 10:00 am

  Iam a GM retired. always buy GM. I have vans since 1996 3 Ventures & 1 Montana gas prices are so high we decided to get a more effecent auto. Vibe fits the bill. It brought fun back to driving.

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  My Vibe, I love it!! - 2004 Pontiac Vibe
  By nola - June 8 - 10:00 am

  Its been 8 months since my purchase of my Vibe, and I still love it! The newness has not worn off, neither has the new car smell. It stood the test of this past winter with flying vibe colors. Im so happy with this car, there so much to say, but not enough words to say it. I could only recommend this car to anyone who is tired of stodgy,look alike tin cans with wheels. This car has personality. And you feel the excitement when you drive, even to work! Its so versatile too, car wagon, sport ute. Ive been calling it my spagon. A little bit of everything, and still dressy enough to take to any event without feeling out of place. Simply, I love it.

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  Southtown Auto, great service great car. - 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By Makayla Woodward - June 8 - 10:00 am

  You want a fun experience and a great car. Buy a Pontiac Grand Prix from Southtown Automotive in Worthing South Dakota. Best buying, best pricing, best service in the Sioux Falls, metro area! Not to mention the new Pontiac Grand Prix new 3.8 engine. The ride of your life!

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  Love My G6 - 2007 Pontiac G6
  By Dano - June 7 - 7:36 pm

  What can I say about my G6? From the first day I bought it I have loved every minute. The way this car handles around tight corners to the smotothness of everyday driving. I have owned Toyotas to Fords and have never thought much of American made vehicles till my G6, GM has really set the bar for demestics. I am excited to see what they will come out with next, and yes I will be a GM owner for many more years to come.