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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  G8 GT THE CORVETTE OF LARGE/MID SEDANS - 2008 Pontiac G8
  By JUNIOR - September 22 - 6:53 pm

  This car is very beautiful in the exterior design. The fenders around the wheel area are amazing. The aerodynamic feel to it is great. The upshift is smooth as possible. The gas mileage is much of a concern when you know what your getting into (G8). The interior is also awesome. No Navigation or XM radio but the thing is that you are going to have to pay for XM after your first year. And you can a navigation anywhere. The Red Digital Battery thing is okay not the greatest but its not the biggest of concerns in the fun car matter.

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  Awesome GXP Street Edition Sedan - 2008 Pontiac G6
  By GXP Street Edition - September 22 - 9:30 am

  This car replaced a 2005 Altima 3.5SL - The Pontiac has a taut smooth ride that doesnt feel too harsh. The transmission is very smooth shifting and the engine turns low rpms at highway speeds in 6th! Interior is very nicely appointed and feels contemporary with a European influence. The longer wheelbase on this car compared to many of its direct competitors gives the Pontiac a more refined ride and drive. Great build quality and a quiet interior makes for a stress free ride! Plenty of power on tap for any situation will put a smile on your face. All this at a very competitive price. Pontiac hit a home run with this GXP package! You cant go wrong with this vehicle in your garage

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  Excellent Car! - 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By evej - September 22 - 6:36 am

  I bought my Grand Prix used in 2009. I bought it with 60,000 Miles... Now July 6th 2012, It has 96,348 miles... it still runs great! The car was originally from California, and ever since i bought it i have never had any problems with it other thank the usual( breaks, wipers, etc..) i greatly recommend this car to any one who is considering buying one! Me and my son ( a high school/college student) share the car. We drive it A LOT everyday... gas mileage is okay. I would buy another one of these any day!

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  Great car to drive for the money - 2007 Pontiac G6
  By G6 Owner - September 21 - 1:46 am

  With my daughter off to college, I traded by big, old Chrysler Concorde for a small, fun to drive, 2007 Pontiac G6 hard-top convertible. I love this car! I wanted a convertible and since I drive 100+ miles a day, I also wanted quiet and comfort. This car provides both with its retractable hard top. Steers great, back seats are comfortable. The only problem Ive experienced was a rubbing noise when I made tight turns. The dealer trimmed the seam sealer which was pushing out on the fender liner and all is good!

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  2000 Montana Extended Van - 2000 Pontiac Montana
  By GM3 - September 20 - 10:00 am

  Should have bought Japanese! Good, comfy vehicle (kind of like riding a sofa!) When I had to replace intake manifold gasket it cost about $1000 because of labor! Any more repairs and I am trading! Look at Siennas, Oddyseys or MPVs and save yourself the trouble!

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  Hope to buy another Bonne - 2000 Pontiac Bonneville
  By Great Car-Joleen - September 20 - 10:00 am

  Love this car! Hate green but bought this green car because it was worth the money. Husband wanted a Bonne so I relented. Now I wouldnt trade it off and hope to put 200,000 miles on it. I now have 120,000 miles on it and have had very little wrong with the car. The cup holders are somewhat small and I do hate the battery behind the back seat. Under warranty, the alternator had to be replaced but really has worked great since. Handling is a major plus! And the car has plenty of power with the 3.8 engine-pretty good fuel mileage (25- 30) too.

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  Talk about a Muscle Car - 2002 Pontiac Firebird
  By Arturo59 - September 20 - 10:00 am

  With all the kids in college it was time to get rid of the minivan. We always wanted a vet but could never see spending all that cash. Never was a Ford man, so the Mustang wasnt an option. Then saw the Ram Air hood and that sold us. Looks were the biggest thing, the fact that it was fast, had the same engine as the vet and was about $20k less, sealed the deal. The last of a dying breed, but we love it. If we have to take somebody with us, they can squeeze in the back, too.

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  Still in Love - 2004 Pontiac GTO
  By BayouGoat - September 20 - 10:00 am

  Ive had my GTO since February,and still have the grin on my face. No problems after 6700 miles, and having fun safely and with authority on the road. I have the automatic, and after a recent dyno tune and tranny adjustment, the car has a performance level close to a manual transmission. The sleeper look keeps me out of traffic court, as does the necessary radar detector. This car is a bargain at MSRP--the deals offered right now make it an absolute steal.

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  Quality car - 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By neilb - September 20 - 10:00 am

  Very well puy together car

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  Engine failure - 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By New Mexico Smith - September 20 - 10:00 am

  My new 2005 GP lasted less than 500 miles before smoke started pouring out of the exhaust. The dealer has had the car for 2 weeks and still has no idea what is wrong. They have torn down the engine and are at a loss what to do next. Pontiac has suggested that they may have to crate up the engine and replace the whole thing. This is quite an investment to have sitting in a garage. I suggest you think twice before purchasing a 2005 GP.