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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  I love this car! - 2006 Pontiac Torrent
  By Virginia Edington - September 8 - 10:36 pm

  I have owned 13 cars/trucks in 13 years, and this is by far the best vehicle I have owned. Most people say, "You own a what?", but after they see it, their opinion changes. The gas mileage is great compared to a large SUV, but not so good compared to a car. This car has better styling than the Equinox.

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  Im gonna miss ya, Joey - 2000 Pontiac Grand AM
  By jleahcap - September 8 - 8:12 pm

  I bought my Grand Am in 99, and shes still with me at 133,000 miles. I Love getting into this car every time. The color (navy blue), the style. There are just too many things that are falling off - both side mirrors, the overhead light, no visible clock, back window goes half-way up/down depending on mood. Its a good thing I own this car, because I wouldnt be able to afford the repairs every 3-4 months if I had to make car payments. Giving up my Grand Am will be like losing my best friend - albeit a high-maintenance friend. If I could find a way to replace all these problems to make it run for another 10 years, I would in half-a-heartbeat.

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  Fantastic Car - 2009 Pontiac G5
  By g5driverMI - September 8 - 6:20 pm

  For a 19yo 6ft 210lb person i found the car very comfortable. I love the styling and it looks fantastic when cared for. I did find the e-brake under the armrest odd, however not really a problem. I drive very aggressively and still get great gas mileage. Coming from my previous vehicle (2003 Aztek) it is extremely fun to drive. It preforms pretty well, however dogs slightly until you get to 40+ mph. This can be alleviated with affordable after-market parts such as performance exhaust and intake.

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  Bye Bye SUV - 2009 Pontiac Vibe
  By Steve Hale - September 8 - 2:30 pm

  After looking for a replacement for my wifes SUV. I chose the 2009 AWD Vibe over the Subaru Impreza. The sunroof was not available in the Subaru which we desired. We also liked the plastic flat floor when the seats were down. Since the drive train is Toyota in the Vibe we new reliability should not be an issue. Add the XM radio and OnStar into the mix and the value seemed to be much better. So far my wife loves the car. We cant wait to see how the AWD does this winter.

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  awsome car - 2000 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By Adam S. - September 8 - 10:00 am

  Fun and awsome car to have. Trust me i have a 4 dr GTP its a fast sleeper STOCK!!.

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  a good car so far - 2001 Pontiac Grand AM
  By Thebitz - September 8 - 10:00 am

  As I read other reviews on the 2001 GA, I realized I too have had similar problems with the engine not turning over on the first attempt. Hmmm??? This is my second GA. first was a 1996 GA GT. I think the handling of the GT was better. Overall, I have not had many problems with car. I did have to replace a tail light seal which leaked water into the truck/extra tire compartment. I would think this is a good car, but it is not a Nissan, Toyota, or Honda. You get what you pay for. The brakes are not very strong which is a known GM problem.

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  This will be my last GM vechile - 2006 Pontiac Torrent
  By variety - September 8 - 6:21 am

  We loved the looks of this car and for the first year it was a solid car. After that it has been all down hill. We have now replaced all four wheel bearings and it the paint started flaking off around 50k. We now have a large spot on the driver side and on the tailgate. Our dealer told us this was not covered under the supplimental rust protectant we got because it was an issue with the paint.

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  Toes Review - 2006 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By Pontiacseeker - September 7 - 11:43 am

  I love my car. Its gorgeous and drives excellent. I feel like my car is so much bigger than other cars on the road too.

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  Grand Prix GT 2002 - 2003 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By nirvana - September 6 - 2:00 am

  I bought my car in Feb 2002 and have been actually pleasantly surprised by the build quality and handling of the car. You get a lot for your money. Something to at least consider and test drive for your next purchase.

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  Collectors Edition TransAm - 2002 Pontiac Firebird
  By TransAm1 - September 6 - 2:00 am

  I bought my Pontiac Collectors Edition TransAm in April 2002. This car is a real head-turner. The performance, and comfort is good. The aerodynamic styling, yellow exterior, and black stripes is what makes it attractive. The engine sounds clean, and the car handles very good. It is reliable and always fun to drive. I have never had a problem with it.