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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  Grand Prix High on Performance & Quality - 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By W. Slater - December 30 - 10:00 am

  Plenty of great standard features usually found only on more expensive vehicles. Standard features included Stainless steel exhaust system, 4 wheel ABS disk brakes, dual driver / front passenger climate controls, excellent Delco sound package and computerized functions for automatic exterior lights on / off, automatic door lock/unlock & remote key lock

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  I LOVE my G5 GT - 2008 Pontiac G5
  By Heather - December 29 - 4:03 pm

  I love the G5 GT! I have had mine for two years! It has been very reliable and is so much fun to drive! When I first test drove the car it was just a standard G5, I would recommend buying the GT. The handling of the car is a lot better and the performance is better as well. It comes with great stuff! The pioneer system! heated seats, remote start and its sporty looking! I get so many compliments on the car.

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  110,000 miles - 1998 Pontiac Trans Sport
  By van owner - December 29 - 1:30 am

  Great power, fun to drive good looks, plenty of room, trans went out 40k, replaced under ext warrr, both headlight covers fell off 150each, clock radio controls work when they want, moisture in lights bulbs goes out every 3 months, added coolent and leaks sometimes, great power for hills, nice lay out, cup holders break

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  Cheap unreliable car - 2009 Pontiac G3
  By chente1 - December 28 - 10:12 am

  My wife got this car new on a emergency.( Cheap and need it a car right away). Since she got it, it had problems with the electrical system. She took it to the dealer several times but they always give her excuses not to fix it, even thoug it was under guarranty. Car have 80000 miles and already need it a new tranny and radiator, which GM didnt want it to fix, even thoug it was under warranty, 100,000 miles power train.($5500.00 repair) at this point, the A/C is acting up, even thoug we took it to the dealer before the end of warranty, but they didnt want to fix it. So now we have a car with bad sensors ( four total at $150.00 a piece) plus airbag and tire sensors all acting up. Thanks GM!

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  I love my WS6 vert! - 2002 Pontiac Firebird
  By WYO_VR4 - December 27 - 12:10 am

  I was very happy got a great deal on my car. Its a true performance bargain and so much fun to drive. Turns heads wherever I go and gets over 30mpg in 6th gear on the highway - a nice feature these days! Cruising around with the top down this summer was awesome. Its the best car Ive ever bought. I much prefer the instant torque of the LS1 to any turbocharged import. The car is easy to work on and upgrade, if desired. Im happy with mine as it is but I did upgrade the stereo. The one in the vert is rather puny compared to the coupes. Then again, who needs a stereo when the car sounds this good. American muscle at its finest. Highly recommended but dont forget that radar detector!

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  A Great Car - 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By Robo19 - December 26 - 10:00 pm

  This car is everything you need in a sports car but the best part is that its a sedan. I love driving this car it handles so well and it has a very racecar kinda feel to it. The dual exhaust sound GREAT!! So all in all this is a great car!!!!

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  Pontiac Sunfire - 2004 Pontiac Sunfire
  By WA Moseley - December 26 - 10:00 am

  I feel the car is a great buy for driving around town and short trips. The price is fair and the gas milage is excellent. The only bad feature is that the interior could be a little bigger.

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  Thinking of buying one?......Buy it ! - 2004 Pontiac Vibe
  By philndz - December 26 - 10:00 am

  This car is fantastic. I cant really say much more than that. I am averaging 24,000 miles per year and the gas mileage, comfort, and fun to drive factors are amazing. This car is very nimble in stock form and I have improved the suspension and added some engine power in order to be even more competitive in Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) Autocross Racing. All in all a fantastic vehicle....very happy with my purchase.

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  Love My Vibe - 2004 Pontiac Vibe
  By From Maine - December 26 - 10:00 am

  Love my Vibe especially interior versatility (see "favorite feataures"). Very cool looking for a wagon and SUVish without the obnoxious size and gas consumption. I average 35 mpg!

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  Good car - 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By Olivier - December 26 - 10:00 am

  Its a fairly good car. Not very expensive for what its gives. I love love the feeling and the sound of the supercharged 3.8 liers engines. It would be funnier with a 5 or 6 speed transmition rather dans just 4.