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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  Fast but unstable - 2004 Pontiac Sunfire
  By Adowler01 - May 9 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car only 2 weeks ago brand new. It was definatly the best bang for the buck. I replaced my 01 Saturn sc2. This car is def. faster (lov the ecitec motor), howevr compared to my sc2 it handles like junk.also the build quality could def. be better. I see places all over the car where the body panals are placed with poor spacing compared to the asian compediters.

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  Check It out - 2003 Pontiac Aztek
  By TtheMack - May 9 - 2:00 am

  We purchased a 2003 Aztek this past week and it is truly a pleasure to drive. We drove some of the other SUVs and noticed the firm ride in the Aztek is comparable to all of them. Minimal roll in fast corners, Rail- road tracks are barely detectable and Believe it or not, my wife and I have gotten Plenty of compliments about the aggressive appearance from the front when the fog lights are on!!!!

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  The best car Ive ever owned - 2004 Pontiac GTO
  By IRINGEM - May 9 - 2:00 am

  The 04 GTO has to be the best car Ive ever owned. From its understated exterior, to its Corvette underpinnings, to it excellently appointed interior the GTO is the perfect car. The $33,000 price tag is a real bargain given the performance and total vehicle package. In the interior you will not find another vehicle with better seats. The controls are clearly marked and easy to operate. There is not a lot of "fluff" inside to distract the driver, just a great stereo, good HVAC control, a non-GM cruise control (this is good) and a trip computer with meaningul information.

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  Good vibes from the Pontiac - 2004 Pontiac Vibe
  By Da Marshallz - May 9 - 2:00 am

  After looking for a vehicle that gives of the feel of a sedan but still has the presence of an Suv,The Pontiac Vibe was my choice. along with its desighn and Handsome shadom grey color the Pontiac Vibe can compliment my family when where dressed up or just cruisin through the town. Always on go were starting to wonder if we need to travel or just finding excusines to drive the Vibe. Next is probably an Aztec or a Rendevoux (how ever you spell it).

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  i love my vibe - 2004 Pontiac Vibe
  By tim kind - May 9 - 2:00 am

  my wife and i bought our first vibe last year and she drives it daily to work. with the front wheel drive, i feel safe in the winter time and the gas milage is 33-34 mpg.we travel quite often from ohio to north carolina and the nine hour drive doesnt wear us out.what with only stopping once each way for gas it is only about $30.00 round trip. we will be buying another vibe in the near future.

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  Pontiac Vibe, front wheel drive - 2004 Pontiac Vibe
  By Marcie Bakker - May 9 - 2:00 am

  I love this car! It has lots better fuel economy than an SUV yet I sit up higher than in a car. My car is comfortable and great looking. Handles well even in our recent snow and ice.

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  Its a great car! - 2003 Pontiac Grand AM
  By Doctor O - May 9 - 2:00 am

  This is only the second American car Ive ever owned. Turned in my Nissan Altima at the end of a lease and decided to buy a car. I was able to find a great deal on this car which used to be a rental car. It has a lot of power and looks great. I love the headlights that go on automatically and the fog lights look great. It is very responsive and has a lot of kick. I love this car, its got so much more power than my 4 cyl Altima. Ive had no issues with the car. I strongly recommend it for its reliability, its great looks and its power.

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  A Great Car - 2004 Pontiac Grand AM
  By FireyRedHead - May 9 - 2:00 am

  After having test driven a Nissan Sentra and Altima, also the Pontiac Grand Prix, I found this car to be the best handling and the most fun to drive. The pick-up speed for getting on the freeway is exceptional, as living in the Bay Area CA, that type of speed is needed at times. Also the ride is extremely smooth even on the roughest road...Excellent buy

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  2004 Pontiac GTP - 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By Robert Gair - May 9 - 2:00 am

  The Pontiac GTP is an excellent car. The power, performance and interior styling coupled with both standard and optional features makes it a driving pleasure. GMs hot new fusion metalic orange color makes this car a head turner.

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  Great - 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By EmWiant - May 9 - 2:00 am

  The dealership I bought my car from was extremley friendly and very helpful in the whole process and the follow up.