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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  Awesome GT1 - 2005 Pontiac Grand AM
  By Harley_Devil - July 20 - 7:36 pm

  Awesome car!! Fun to drive, love the look and feel. Ive owned my GT1 for 2 years and have never had any issues or regrets about purchasing it. I love the large trunk and rear folding seats, but have found the trunk opening to be a little on the small side. The sound system is great and I love to open the sunroof on warm days. The Ram-Air hood and engine are a great addition to the car and the hood scoops give it such a sporty and fast look.

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  Great car for the Buck - 2006 Pontiac G6
  By John - July 19 - 3:26 pm

  I purchased the G6 after owning Toyotas only for the last 18 years. The incentives were the first thing that caught my eye, and after a test drive in both the V6 and 4 cylinder models, I decided to give the Pontiac a shot. I have put just over 10,000 miles on the car, and can say the performance, ride and handling are great. What makes this a somewhat negative experience for me is the advertised Hwy mileage, compared to actual mileage. I commute 50 miles one way to work, so the 28 city and 34 hwy miles was what actually sold me. About 95% of my drive is highway, and I have not achieved more than 29 mpg. Its a great car, but GM should put more realistic mileage estimates on the sticker.

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  P.O.S. - 1999 Pontiac Grand AM
  By cromag - July 19 - 2:00 am

  Paint came off the 2 side panels between windows. The same noisy brakes that everyone talks about. The battery leaked and died. The rear view mirror fell off. The rubber stripping on both doors is severly warped. The Cd player rarely works. The volume control on the steering wheel no longer works. Headlamp assembly had to be replaced from taking in too much moisture. It shorted out the bulb. $375 (out of warranty)If Im parked and my front end is higher then the rear, the car takes in water. Drivers side window regulator replaced.$575 (o.o.w.) The car only has 37,400 miles on it and Im currently shopping for something else.

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  Never again GM - 2006 Pontiac Montana SV6
  By Ger - July 18 - 7:40 am

  Bought this car NEW and found out it had over 500 miles on it. Major problems with front end, alternator, brakes, rear wiper. Then had a total engine failure 750 KM from home. Two days after paying for $1900 to service it) GM paid for a rebuilt( at 50,000 KM) engine but is refusing to pay for a rental car as we stayed a few nights with relatives while waiting for the local dealership open over a long weekend.

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  My Pontiac Grand Am SE 3.4 V6 - 2005 Pontiac Grand AM
  By wdsgto - July 17 - 9:15 am

  We bought our Grand Am used with 21000 miles in 2006. It has 71000 on it now, it has been quite reliable. The only issues have been: the turn signal switch clicking (the factory put too much grease, I just removed some with a q-tip and it went away) and a battery. Otherwise it has been a good car. It is hard to see out when backing up, and it has a lot of road noise.

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  Pretty good value - 2006 Pontiac G6
  By okcar - July 17 - 6:03 am

  I have 85k miles on this car (bought with 27k)and have replaced only "wear" parts, such as brake pads and tires. The replacement of the original battery did seem a little early. No mechanical problems and gets pretty good gas mileage ~27 with more highway driving. OK in snow with FWD and traction control but not the greatest. Snow buildup in wheel well seems to cause vibration at approx 45mph. Just need to remove before driving.

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  Good value - 2007 Pontiac G6
  By maa - July 17 - 3:03 am

  I got a good price on this and needed a commuter car. It is peppy for a 4 cylinder and roomier than others in its class. The seats are comfortable and it is easy to see out of. This thing flies when I get it on the open highway. I am getting keyless entry put in aftermarket - cant believe it did not come with this

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  Most bang for the buck - AWESOME - 2006 Pontiac GTO
  By Jimmy - July 16 - 1:46 pm

  Recently purchased a Red 2006 GTO. This car is outstanding considering the price range. I can stay up with anyone on the road, including high priced Euro sports cars. Very fun to drive. Handles well, very rigid and well build, no sway whatsover. Test drove a Dodge Charger prior to purchase, and there was no comparison. I have owned and driven many Ford Mustangs, and other very fast vehicles, the GTO demolishes all of them. The one negative would be... the exterior could use a bit more styling and not look so much like a typical Pontiac. Although you can look at like this, it blends in with traffic, not to fancy looking, and it is a true SLEEPER. Beautiful interior!!!

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  Just wish it was faster - 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By edwin - July 16 - 10:20 am

  I dont have a lot of complaints about the car. I got a really good deal on it, the car only had 50,000 miles on it when I bought it. For the most part it handles well for a front wheel drive. I really think it would have given out a lot more if they would have made the car a rear wheel drive. I also think the car lacks performance but a few adjustments cant fix. The car seems to be pretty reliable. So far all Ive had to do is get a new battery but Im pretty sure the old one had about ten years on it.

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  Awsome Car - 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By capinshane25 - July 16 - 3:33 am

  I got this car for my 18th birthday. It has the looks of a speedster and the engine of one too. Never had anything wrong with it at 150,000 miles. If your a tuner this is the car for you I put flowmaster pipes and two turbochargers on it along with racing tires and 93 gas. it had way enough power before (205 hp)but now it will roll with any mustang or challenger on the road I had it dynoed at 481 hp All in all GREAT CAR good work GM. I hope the Pontiac name plate returns in the future.