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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  You best be "Holden" on for this ride - 2009 Pontiac G8
  By Gary - July 25 - 5:56 pm

  Ok, all humor aside, this is a great car. Its fast, nimble, quiet, does what it does better than anyone else, for half the price, and I cant believe how many people ask me about it. This is quite an experience, sort of like dancing with the hottest person at the dance, and knowing youre definitely being envied. Its a very great car, which goes a long way to show that GM does it right, too bad most people dont realize just how well they do it. I love this car, its easy to drive, simple in execution and delivery. What an AMAZING machine!

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  GREAT Car! - 2001 Pontiac Sunfire
  By Miranda - July 25 - 3:10 am

  Great car. Never ever had a problem with it. Could leave it outside unplugged at -40 and it would still start in the morning. Only replaced wear and tear parts. INCREDIBLY safe car. Was T-Boned by a semi truck and lived let alone walked out of the hospital with nothing but bruises. Great crumple zones. SAFE and RELIABLE car. Worth every penny I ever spent on it!

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  The Car You Should Get - 2007 Pontiac G6
  By Smosy - July 24 - 11:43 pm

  This is the car you want. The 0-60 is the same as the new Charger police cars, and the handling is unbelievable. The 6- speed manu-matic is so smooth, you dont even feel the shifts for normal driving, and when you want to gun it, the shift remains smooth (try downshifting - vrooom) The leather seats are extremely comfortable, and the seat heaters come in handy. With the remote start, I never have to get into a hot car in the summer, or a cold car in the winter, big plus.

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  424 of 888 - 2008 Pontiac G8
  By wesson smith - July 23 - 1:50 pm

  "Mean" look vehicle. I have never owned a vehicle which causes so many heads to turn as when I drive by. I even had a Pontiac dealer who had not yet received a G8 chase me down to look at my car. I have the Sedan, which is quicker than a lot of V8s. Some cheap features such as flimsy door handles and no XM is disappointing. Cheap stereo controls on the steering wheel. Flip open key looks cool, but seems flimsy and surely will not last. Hugh trunk and great back seat leg room.

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  4door GTP - 2007 Pontiac G6
  By Ira - July 22 - 8:53 pm

  Impressed with engine performance and quietness of engine and vehicle. Handling and steering effort have a nice balance. Interior done well Recommend change chrome trim on instrument cluster to a titanium metal look as sunlight can reflect. Also, needs more aggressive spoiler. Seats are very comfortable and supportive. Electronic rear view mirror a plus. Monsoon sound system is excellent sound quality. A real blast to drive.

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  For the money it cant be beat - 2009 Pontiac G8
  By S V - July 22 - 7:06 pm

  Have had this car for 6 months and about 7000 miles. It is an incredible value and I have no regrets on the purchase. The car is refined yet powerful in a way that no other sedan in the 20s (real world price) can touch. The torque is always available and free flowing and lets the car cruise at highway speeds effortlessly. Mileage is acceptable on the freeway, quite bad (10 or so mpg) in stop and go. The interior doesnt match the exterior style-wise and there are a few cheap plastic bits but I can live with it and the styling is nowhere near as tacky as some past Pontiacs. Big flaw is passenger seat does not go back far enough for taller people. Car was delivered with warped rotors.

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  A Winner in my Book! - 2000 Pontiac Montana
  By Snowbird - July 22 - 4:36 pm

  I purchased this vehicle used and was delighted with it. Not only was the ride comfortable (2 trips to Florida from New Jersey in 2 years) but the fuel economy was great for a 6 cylinder engine (27 mpg on the FL trips). Plenty of room. My only complaints were the air conditioning (it rarely ever got cool enough) and the middle seat removal latches. Both were difficult to operate and one actually broke. Other than that, it was a great car. Seat belt restraints and air bag saved my life in a recent accident that totalled the vehicle.

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  First cr - 1999 Pontiac Bonneville
  By Bill88nc - July 22 - 3:13 pm

  This was my first car and it is great. I am a Ford fan but this Pontiac is awesome its powerful looks good and is a nice first car.

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  Not happy with GM - 1998 Pontiac Trans Sport
  By quehouse - July 22 - 2:13 am

  I have put 135000 miles on this van. I have only recently had to do any major repairs. I just had the intake manifold gasket done. The radio display went quirky and died. A few electrical problem such as windows and rear windows not working. Just replaced the water pump a few months ago. And so far I have changed wheel bearing assemblies and both ball joints.

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  Best Pontiac I Ever Owned - 2005 Pontiac G6
  By rgilm2468 - July 21 - 7:43 pm

  This is my wifes car but I drive it every chance I get. This is our 8th Pontiac, and I would rate it the best. No body side molding, 17 inch wheels make for excellent cornering and panoramic roof is a lot of fun. Im 62 and it has more than adequate leg room. It looks fairly small from the outside but the cabin is quite large. Adjustable pedals and telescoping steering wheel would make it hard for anyone not to find a comfortable driving position.