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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  05 GTO Feedback - 2005 Pontiac GTO
  By 05worldclass - March 6 - 8:40 am

  Previous Car to This was a BMW 740 I SPORT.An Excellent Car with Great Driving Manners. What a surprise the Quality/Fit Finish and Performance that the GTO offers.The Handling is Just as Good as the BMW and Includes a Nice Ride as well. Also had a Mint 2000 Mustang GT 4.6/5 Speed (NO COMPARISON). This Car is an Awesome Value and The Aussies Totally Have Their S-T Together compared to GM Quality Over HERE. Try One. You Will love it!

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  My midlife crisis car - 2007 Pontiac G6
  By L SQRD - March 6 - 6:40 am

  I have been enjoying this car since the day I got it as a birthday present from my hubby! Great looking car, people definitely stop and look. I put on custom chrome wheels and the chrome package on my black G6...looks great. Love the monsoon sound system. I live in the desert so I can put the top down almost every day.

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  hates it - 1999 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By Bree - March 4 - 1:36 am

  i have had my grand prix for 2yrs and i have had nothing but problems with it i had to replace the transmission new intake manifold, wheel bearings,starter, and every time it rains my car fills with water???? I could go on and on just basically everything you could think of i would never buy another pontiac again!!!!.

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  My Aztec - 2002 Pontiac Aztek
  By Hofmanms - March 3 - 12:33 am

  I bought this used from a private seller. Within about 4 months the BCM quit while driving to a wedding 300 miles away. Luckily this only affected electronics and I was able to continue with little more than inconvenience. Had the BCM replaced by the dealer for about 500. I dont think the A/C ever worked but I hear its a 1000 dollar fix so I wont. Despite these problems I love the car. It can handle snow better than any car I have seen and I live in upstate NY so I see real snow. I get a lot of compliments and you cant beat the tent option with the cooler. Very Happy with the Aztec

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  Best car made - 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By Lori Davenport - March 2 - 3:33 pm

  We purchased this car 3 years ago and took many trips in it. It is very comfortable, reliable, and fun to drive. It is one of the best cars I have ever owned. I will purchase another one when I get this paid off. It has everything you could ever want in it and I have never had any problems with it. It is an awesome car and I am proud to own a Pontiac considering I was a Chevrolet Monte carlo person. The Pontiac Gran Prix is the best car made and I would not trade it for anything. The gas mileage I get is amazing. I will buy another one and highly recommend this car to anyone looking to buy a car.

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  Excellent Car! - 2007 Pontiac G5
  By Stryker - March 2 - 2:53 pm

  This is my first brand new car, and I couldnt be happier. The engine performs great on the highway, as well as in the city. The heated leather seats are nice in the cold Colorado weather. And it handles better than most cars Ive driven. I cant think of another car that even compares to this one in the same price range.

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  I love my G6 - 2007 Pontiac G6
  By Mikein Mich - March 2 - 1:40 pm

  I have been very happy with my 2007 G6 V6 Sedan so far. No problems so far and I love to drive it. It is responsive, quick and quiet. The controls all feel good and they are so simple without gimmicks and complexity. The stereo system sound great too. I average right at 25 mpg with moderate driving. The exterior fit and finish could be better but it is acceptable. I would recommend this car for the price for sure.

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  Great Car - 2003 Pontiac Vibe
  By Choosing Cars - March 2 - 10:00 am

  We have had the vibe for 3 months now and have only had good experiences with the vehicle. The car was to be my commuter vehicle, but my spouse fell in love with it and now I only drive it on the weekends. The car has plenty of power and is fun to drive. It has a smooth ride at all speeds. The interior is very useful with all the seating/cargo configurations available.

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  Good First Car - 2000 Pontiac Grand AM
  By JAB2588 - March 2 - 10:00 am

  My experience with this car is very good. I have had no serious problems nad the still runs great after 50000 miles.

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  The BEST car Ive ever driven - 2005 Pontiac GTO
  By Michelle Alava - March 2 - 9:33 am

  Ive ALWAYS wanted a Corvette, but could not swallow the price tag... Now I have my Corvette engine, but half the price... Same leather,stereo system, performance as the vette,and to my mind a FANTASTIC looking car. LOVE this car... will probally stay with the GTOs for quite a long time.