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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  Excellent purchase - 2006 Pontiac G6
  By cbc1327 - March 17 - 12:36 pm

  I purchased my 2006 Pontiac G6 with less than 400 miles in March, 2006. This car has been my daily driver for the last 7 years. I have put over 197,000 miles on this vehicle. Of course, I have had regular routine work such as brakes and rotors. Have had a wheel bearing replaced. Very pleased with this car. Just wish it was bigger now that I have children.

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  Cars likes and favorites - 1996 Pontiac Grand AM
  By Pollys288 - March 17 - 2:00 am

  I am very impressed with this car and how it handles, I need to know more about ABS and automatic transmissions.

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  worlds best car ever!!!!! - 2003 Pontiac Bonneville
  By john anderson - March 17 - 2:00 am

  this car is amazing i love every moment i get the pleaser of riding in it. it gives me something to look forward to every time i hit the highway for work.best car i have every owned.3800 seres 2 v6 has great pick up.

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  worlds best car ever!!!!! - 2003 Pontiac Bonneville
  By John Anderson - March 17 - 2:00 am

  this car is amazing i love every moment i get the pleaser of riding in it. it gives me something to look forward to every time i hit the highway for work.best car i have every owned.3800 seres 2 v6 has great pick up.

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  Love it - 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By Whammy - March 15 - 12:10 pm

  Love the ride and performance. Need more storage in the front and a little hard to see my blind spot when changing lanes, other than that its great. Very sporty, great handling and excellent pick up when I need it. The red illumination is great also.

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  Best Car We Ever Had - 2007 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By Ed and Lois - March 14 - 6:06 pm

  We love our Pontiac Grand Prix GT four door car. We have made several trips between Henderson, Nevada and Reno, Nevada. We have XM radio so great for sports, news, and music. We love our car!

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  Love It - 2007 Pontiac Vibe
  By Linda - March 14 - 3:36 am

  I love this car. Very versatile and practical, but still cute and fun. Just returned from a road trip and it felt solid and controlled on the interstate. Very maneuverable around town.

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  GTP review - 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By Greg - March 12 - 4:20 pm

  It has been a fun car to drive. Very responsive. good mileage on trips, handles well. I have had a few minor repairs, but otherwise it has been very reliable.

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  It only has 4 cylinders? - 2002 Pontiac Grand AM
  By Adam - March 12 - 12:36 pm

  I bought a 94 Grand Am SE sedan as my first car and i LOVE IT! I was a bit upset i could only afford a 4 cylinder but this car can hold its own against most v-6 engines, the car has been forgiving despite my driving habits. The 4 speed auto tranny with a quick pump of the gas will pin you to the seat. The interior is nice, but i wish the front belts werent on the door. I cant really complain, only think about how many tickets a v-6 wouldve gotten me

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  Take an Aztek , not a Zantac !!!!!!! - 2003 Pontiac Aztek
  By BLOSSOM - March 12 - 10:00 am

  We rented one from AVIS,back in October 2002,to go from New Orleans to Houston (which was ~ 5 1/2 hours.).My husband,was a hater,until he saw how much we spent on gas.The incredible price we paid was a total of $14.50.WOW! Then,he turned from being a hater to lover of this suv.We went to this dealership "Brian Harris Autoworld in Slidell,La.".They let us test drive a 2003 Aztek,this weekend.It was an incredible ride,hit a bump you dont really notice, smoooooth turns,it was very spacious,great sound system,etc..... WARNING! Be careful not to fall asleep behind the wheel,its that COMFORTABLE!