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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  Best Ive owned - 2001 Pontiac Grand AM
  By Sam - April 24 - 4:10 am

  I have not had any repairs outside of normal wear and nothing prematurely. It holds the road well and it never lacks power. With good tires well balanced, its smooth far beyond the legal limit. Ive only undercoated once, and the body is still solid. I purchased this car, off lease, just over a year old. I typically only keep a car 2 - 4 years, but Ive had this one 5 years and dont have any plans to trade yet.

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  Pontiac 3.8L transmission - 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By hymark - April 22 - 1:06 pm

  Excellent car, transmission went at 120,000 miles, had it rebuilt, still the same problems, no one can find the problem 12,000 miles later!

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  A great car for the money! - 2003 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By gpfan4life - April 22 - 2:00 am

  The Pontiac Grand Prix GTP is a great car for the money. Peformance, looks, and comfort are great, not to mention the good gas mileage for a performance engine. I would recommend this car for a person that needs something practical yet fun and fast.

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  Still like new - 1997 Pontiac Bonneville
  By Steve S in TX - April 22 - 2:00 am

  Smooth, quiet, powerful. Looks nice and rides nice. Not mushy like the other full size GM front wheel drives. Handles well. Good mileage for bigger car. 26MPG city/highway and 30+ highway MPG. I bought it with 80,000 on the clock and you couldnt take it away!

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  All around excellent vehicle - 2006 Pontiac G6
  By Mark - April 21 - 10:43 am

  If you are looking at Accords or Camrys you had better check out the G6 before you buy. GM hit the bullseye with this car. Great styling, great fit and finish. Interior is well laid out and comfortable. I have had the car 6 months and have 21,000 miles on it. I average 28 - 30 mpg on the highway, and I dont baby it! Tremendous room inside for a car this size. One word of caution. If you are tall (0ver 6 ft) the large sunroof may cut into your headroom. I am 510" and have no problems. Trunk size is larger than I expected. Because of the adjustable pedals and steering wheel, both my wife (52") and I (510") can easily find comfortable driving positions.

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  Worth the wait - 2006 Pontiac Torrent
  By AverageGuy - April 21 - 5:26 am

  Our 1998 Chevy Tracker fit in the garage allright, ran without any problems for many years; but was always a SUV wanna-be. We needed an SUV that was small enough for the garage but big enough for comfotable trips to and from our daughters college; 450 miles return. The Torrent exceeds our expectations.

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  Great Car to Drive - 2006 Pontiac Montana SV6
  By Frank256 - April 20 - 9:53 pm

  The fit, trim and overall attention to detail is excellent. The visibility is good. Driver positiion is excellent. The DVD player is awesome. Why didnt they have this when our kids were younger?

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  My First GTP - 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By tj1davis - April 17 - 10:00 am

  I have had my Sport Red GTP for about 6 weeks and love it. It is a big step forward over the previous model years. I love the look of it from the outside and inside. Any time there is a body style change if you loved the old style it takes a while for the new one to grow on you.

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  Great Reliable Car - 2004 Pontiac Grand AM
  By ROBERT - April 17 - 5:23 am

  This car starts for me all the time in the dead of winter especially here in norhtern Il. I love this car, it is the best car I have ever owned. I love the acceleration of this car while on the highway especially going through Chicagos expressways.

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  A great blown Grand Prix - 2006 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By Joe - April 12 - 6:23 pm

  Ive owned this car for 2 years, was a previous owner of an 04 non- supercharged version, and I love it. Its fast and stylish and gets pretty good gas mileage. Although good, I have to clarify the mileage rating as was given in a few of the other ratings. This car has never averaged 30 mpg for me, and I live 7 miles from my job. My trip computer indicates 21 mpg (avg) on good days, 17 if I get on it hard. The trip computer will show avg, instant, and range mpg info. Its good, but not that good. Still, for the size of its motor, its weight, and the hp rating, its plenty good for me. It provides a very smooth and stable ride and can hold the road very well for its weight.