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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  Sporty for the Cash - 2009 Pontiac G6
  By RLM - April 8 - 5:53 pm

  I replaced my old truck with the G6. Dealer gave great incentives plus CARS program $3500. Leather interior is comfortable, sunroof works great. Like the 4-cylinder for smoothness and enough power. Getting 32 MPG on the highway at 65 MPH. Plenty of room for me (63, 250 lbs.) in back seat. The radio is okay - Works well with my iPod. Happy with it so far.

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  I love this car! - 2003 Pontiac Vibe
  By kbowser`05 - April 7 - 9:03 pm

  Great Gas mileage; fun Moon & Tunes package; comfortable. Just a great vehicle for an affordable price! Personally, I think the Vibe is much better looking than its "twin" the Toyota Matrix.

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  Excellent car - 2008 Pontiac G6
  By Alex - April 6 - 3:13 pm

  This is a really good car at this price. Good exterier, fantastic stereo, good power, 100000 miles/5 years limited warranty, etc. A lot of good things. I love this car. Although somebody told me the interior is not good, I chose the light interior, and it is really great.

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  love the torrent - 2006 Pontiac Torrent
  By juanita hammersley - April 5 - 11:30 pm

  The torrent has a smooth ride. The controls are easy to use. The only things that are not easy are the cup holders and ash tray. They are in an awkward position. The torrent is very comfortable on long trips. The sound system is terrific.

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  1998 GTP Sedan - 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By Andrue - April 5 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car new in 1998. It was my first new car and It had everything that I wanted. The car had excellent acceleration, especially for a large car. It handled well and it looked good. I can also attest to the safety. I was involved in a wreck that totaled the car but both myself, and my 6 year old son walked away with no problems. This GM product served me well from the moment I bought it, until it met its untimely demise. It sacrificed itself to protect its occupants. Excellent engineering!

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  My first brand new car - 2004 Pontiac Vibe
  By rosemachine - April 5 - 10:00 am

  This car is a dream to own,its everything that I wanted and it is perfect for me and my kids.

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  WOW! - 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By GTP - April 5 - 10:00 am

  Overall, a great car. I would admit that it would have been nice to have cup holders in the back seat and an auto dimming rear view mirror, but these are just minor details. Great handling, fast - maybe too fast. I love the new look. I suppose for someone who traded in a 99 Cavalier this is a slight step up in quality and performance!

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  We love our AZTEK - 2004 Pontiac Aztek
  By SethNShannon - March 30 - 2:00 am

  We disagree with your editors review of this vehicle. We researched and drove many vehicles before purchasing our AZTEK. My husband, who has experience with racing vehicles claims that the all-wheel drive traction control system is one of the better designed. Its visibility is better than any car we have owned. It has proven to be quite safe. We were rear-ended recently and were barely left with a scratch, while the other vehicle had to be towed away. It handles exceptionally well and we would recommend it to anyone who wants an SUV packed with the features and performance you would expect, without the price tag of more common SUVs.

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  the best - 2004 Pontiac GTO
  By George Suarez - March 30 - 2:00 am

  The best ride i have ever taken on a car thats for shure!!!

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  Lovin it - 2004 Pontiac Vibe
  By dschavey - March 30 - 2:00 am

  I had a smart buy on a 2001 sunfire that was due. I had received a letter from my dealer that I should come in and see what was new. I had not planned on getting rid of my sunfire because I loved it, but when I saw the new Vibe I fell in love with it and drove it home that afternoon. And my husband and I have been enjoying driving around town and receiving so many compliments. I also love the color (orange fusion metalic)! Its great a can find my Vibe anywhere I park. Thank you so much for our new comfortable ride.