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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  Now you see me, Now you Dont!! - 2005 Pontiac GTO
  By Clyde Harris - March 25 - 5:33 am

  I did some research before buying this car. I wanted something fast but inexpensive, normally that is an oxymoron when it comes to cars. My prayers were answered when I saw the GTO, I cannot say anything negative about this car at this time. I am truly happy with my purchase. the torque/horsepower is definitely "head pinned to the back of the seat" Fast!!! I am 6ft 2 in and weigh 220 lbs and this car is still roomy, not the comfort of my Expedition, but I have traveled over 300 miles and the ride was nice. I cant wait to add mods.

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  Awesome car for the money - 2006 Pontiac G6
  By Eric - March 25 - 4:50 am

  This car is great. The build quality is wonderful. I had an Audi A4 before this and although the G6 is not as nice on the inside, it uses very high quality materials. And of course the G6 costs about $17K less. I recently took a road trip and my highway mpg averaged 32. My mpg around town has been around 25. This car has a lot of creature comforts that I would expect to see on more expensive models. Mine came with a power sunroof, 6-disc CD changer, and power adjustable pedals for around $18K. What a great deal. General Motors should be commended for the great cars they are now making. Theyre on par (if not above for the price) with the rest.

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  Best Car I Have Owned. Fun, Fun, Fun! - 2009 Pontiac G8
  By hitman1970 - March 23 - 5:43 pm

  I bought this car on 17 MAR 2009. After a test drive I was sold. The handling characteristics are fabulous. It looks great in Sport Metallic Red. This is one of those cars that people will still talk about in twenty years. Great value. Great performance.

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  1997 Bonneville SE Review - 1997 Pontiac Bonneville
  By snowwhite612 - March 23 - 12:20 pm

  I bought the 1997 40th Anniversary Edition Bonneville SE in 1997. It is loaded with options and has never let me down. It gets great gas mileage too. One area for improvement would be less rattle noise.

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  Good Vibes! - 2009 Pontiac Vibe
  By goodvibes - March 23 - 5:34 am

  I was looking for a luxurious sporty car, and test drove the Vibe on a whim because it caught my eye. I fell in love with this car and could not be more happy with my purchase. The Vibe is well built for a car of its class. I feel confidant that I will be driving my Vibe for many years. Mine had 36k on it when I bought her. I was able to buy a GMAC warranty for a whopping $1100. due to the low miles. I have my oil changes done at the dealership due to the type of oil the Vibe requires. I have my dogs kennel tethered to the child seat restraint hooks in the back seat.

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  fun - 2003 Pontiac Sunfire
  By chewbacca - March 22 - 10:00 am

  Car is quick and can be made quicker with all of the aftermarket parts coming out for it. The 2.2L Ecotec engine was built to be modded, this engine can hold 250+ horsepower without any major modifications to the engine internals, so strap on your turbos and nitrous boys, its gonna be a fun ride.

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  A super car. - 2004 Pontiac Vibe
  By Darb232 - March 21 - 12:33 pm

  My wife drives this daily many miles. Has been very reliable. We had a little trouble with the stereo when we first got it. None since. The only other problem has benn brake rotors getting warped and making car shake at times. We have replaced rotors twice and pads three times. No other problems.

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  Great fun car to drive - 2004 Pontiac Bonneville
  By balckgxp - March 18 - 1:36 pm

  This is a great car for the money. Much less than any comprable import. Very large and roomy. Handles great with lots of power. Has 275 hp V8. Highly recommend the car, great value

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  Nice car - 1999 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By riker93 - March 18 - 3:31 am

  I just bought this car Feb. 8, 2013, so I havent had it long enough to report any major problems. It runs great, and was well taken care of by previous owner. It looks almost new, no rust and the engine is so quiet. It handles very well, and takes off quickly. Gas mileage isnt bad, so Im not spending too much there. Its got all the options I could think of, so as long as I continue to take care of it, Im hoping to get a lot of miles out of it.

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  Bobs Azzy - 2003 Pontiac Aztek
  By fsop2-8 - March 17 - 10:00 am

  Fun Car to drive. Great storage. Supper Handling!!! Drives more like a sports car than an SUV