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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  Reliable, Dependable, Fun - 2002 Pontiac Sunfire
  By LOVEIT - August 12 - 7:43 pm

  I have never had a problem with my car. Regular oil changes, change of battery, new front brakes, and this car still runs like a champ. I have no plans to buy a new car, as this one still runs like it did when it was brand new! I am happy with this car, it has never let me down, as others have. I have complete faith in a Pontiac, now more than ever. Keep your foreign cars. This one is built right here, in the USA...

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  A Fun Car - 2006 Pontiac Solstice
  By Frank Siebke - August 12 - 5:03 pm

  I drive to the extreme and my Solstice makes that driving fun. It maneuvers great in traffic. It has the pick-up I need when moving into traffic and handles like a true roadster. There is some wind noise, but that makes it a roadster, I want to hear and feel the space around me. It is just a fun car to drive, and I love the looks I get when we are on the road.

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  Great Car - 2006 Pontiac G6
  By SgtD - August 10 - 6:10 am

  Fun to drive, plenty of power, Ill end up with tickets with this (if they can catch me) because it gets to 90 fast.

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  Not bad at all - 2005 Pontiac G6
  By Vigla - August 9 - 11:53 am

  Youll do well with this car as it is not overly expensive and has very good fit and finish for a Pontiac. Its a sharp handling car and it has enough power so that you feel you can punch it once in a while. Compared to an Accord, it certainly looks better, has a V6 instead of a 4 cyl for the same price and has a ton more options. XM Radio is a nice feature. Side Airbags are a must and mine has them. OnStar was included as well.

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  Vacation - 2006 Pontiac Torrent
  By Fred Holt - August 8 - 5:16 am

  On a trip from Ala to the Grand Canyon and then on to Yellowstone Park and the Teton Mts. The Torrent was very comfortable and roomy. Fuel Economy was great approximately 25 to 27 on Hwy. Had no problems it performed perfectly.

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  a Pontiac convert - 2006 Pontiac G6
  By mj1pate - August 7 - 12:50 pm

  Never before interested in Pontiacs, until this model series. There is something interesting and refreshingly unPontiac about every aspect of the GTP GT (sedan). Peformance, comfort, ergonomics and seductive appearance make this care a gem. This car has the best of Italian and Japanese aesthetics. If I had been told that this was an 80s Maserati compact GT replica, Id have fallen for it. This is the best looking 4 pass sports sedan made by either Ford or GM.

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  Nice Family Car! - 2003 Pontiac Vibe
  By DRB007 - August 6 - 10:00 am

  Comfortable car for two adults and two car seats. Went on a 1,200 mile trip, almost completely satisfied. Had a TV and cell phone plugged in for the Whole trip with barney on the CD. Highway road noise was a little much. Needed more power driving through the Smokeys.

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  AWESOME!!!!! This is the best car ever! - 2001 Pontiac Aztek
  By AztekHeather - August 6 - 10:00 am

  My 2001 Yellow Aztek GT (YAz) is the most fun car Ive ever owned. Versatility, comfort, surprising luxury, and great gas mileage are some of the many reasons why I fell in love with YAz. But mostly, hes unique and just plain fun to Tek around in!

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  Great Car for the Price - 2005 Pontiac Grand AM
  By New Pontiac owner - August 6 - 2:23 am

  Ive only had this car for a few weeks, but so far Im loving it. I was a little hesitant to buy this car because I like a lot of bells and whistles on an automobile. It came down to practibility for me. And for the money, Im really pleased with my purchase. The car has a sporty feel even in the 4 door model. Makes me feel young again. HA!

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  LOVE IT! - 2009 Pontiac G8
  By whitehotter09 - August 5 - 11:21 am

  Love everything but the RED dash lights, if the color was selectable Id buy a spare G8 GT. I debadged mine & have A GTO license plate. LOVE IT! Glad I was able to purchase NEW at the end of the model run........ I worked at Pontiac in the 60s but never owned one, now I own the best they never made because its really a HOLDEN with a Corvette\Chevy engine.