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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  AZTEK - 2001 Pontiac Aztek
  By Firsttime user - October 16 - 10:00 am

  Best part of the vehicle is the gas mileage with over 10,000 miles on the car we are averaging over 27 miles per gallon which includes city as well as highway driving. Really handles well and is comfortable.

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  Pleased with my Montana - 1999 Pontiac Montana
  By Carol Kincaid - October 16 - 10:00 am

  No problem with my Montana. Of course, we always have had the regular maintenance performed and that is the only thing it has required.

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  A pleasure to own - 2002 Pontiac Bonneville
  By michael A DeLisio - October 16 - 10:00 am

  I purchased my Bonneville in Oct. 01 and have had no problems with .It has plenty of power and good fuel milage .the ride is comfortable and the interior is pretty quiet.

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  cool - 2008 Pontiac Solstice
  By denver jessie - October 15 - 2:38 am

  really like

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  Fun little sports car!! - 1999 Pontiac Grand AM
  By Brandon - October 12 - 2:36 pm

  I love my grand am, but have had some problems with it. The window motors absolutely suck. I have had to replace both sides twice. The mirrors are also pretty flimsy. One of them broke off while getting a car wash. Otherwise i love driving it. It has a decent sound system and is very reliable.

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  Simply Awesome! - 2005 Pontiac G6
  By Tim - October 12 - 1:43 pm

  This is the first brand new car that I have owned, and I know that I made a great choice. Cars have never been so much fun for me until now. The 200 horsepower V6 is definitely enough power for me. I am honored to own a 2005 model, because it is the first year that the G6 was introduced. I am very happy with my choice.

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  best car i have ever owned - 1995 Pontiac Grand AM
  By mark nelson - October 12 - 2:00 am

  this car has been the most reliable car i have ever owned. very little maintance a very very good car i change oil every 3000 miles. never had a problem with motor.210000 miles and still very strong and very clean.

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  Awesome Car - 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By Roy Adams - October 12 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car almost 7 years ago and have loved it every day. The 3.8 L is one of GMs most reliable engines and it has lots of power when you go to pass. On the interstate I have gotten about 31MPG while at 21MPG in town. I have enjoyed the ergonomics and the heads up display. The sound system with the equalizer rocks. Traction control has been good in slick conditions.

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  Best car ever - 2004 Pontiac Vibe
  By gotmyVibe - October 12 - 2:00 am

  This is, by far, the most fun car I have ever driven. Its extremely peppy and handles really smoothly. The AWD version goes off road really nicely, going through places where my friends heavy truck gets stuck.

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  Vibe Rant - 2004 Pontiac Vibe
  By The Hawk - October 12 - 2:00 am

  With a monotone black body (the car - not me), moon roof, and power package, this car can turn heads! I love the retro look of the interior (i.e., love the circular vents and chrome display). What a fun car to drive! The interior is also surprisingly practical and spacious. You also cannot go wrong at 33mpg on the highway. This car also won a 5 Star Rating in its weight class during front end collision tests.