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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  2004 pontiac vibe - 2004 Pontiac Vibe
  By arjayess - March 25 - 10:00 am

  Im satisfied with my Vibe. Its the standard model with five speed manual transmission. I like the way it handles, its comfortable, has good utility and it gets reasonably good gas mileage. My only complaint is that the interior could be a little longer to allow for more storage space. In the future I would hope to see them produce this car as a hybrid with all-wheel drive.

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  Very good show - 2004 Pontiac Vibe
  By smm - March 25 - 10:00 am

  It handles well, it gives good gas mileage, its comfortable inside, and it has a surprisingly lot of space. If it holds true to its Toyota heritage, it should be reliable. Also the 5-speed manual transmission does a better job of allowing you to maintain a constant highway speed than did the auto transmission that comes on the Corolla, which I got ticketed in while driving as a rental car because I couldnt keep it under 65! Overpowering a car isnt a good idea if it puts you in a first- relationship with your local highway patrolman.

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  Awesome little ride - 2004 Pontiac Vibe
  By p_sincere - March 25 - 10:00 am

  I dont know if it is just me but the 5 speed manuel gives the engine the feel of the GT version. I honestly couldnt tell the difference between the higher rated GT, which is why I opted for the 130 HP version. I never envisioned purchasing a Pontiac, but you cant mistake its better looks than that of the Toyota Matrix. I have the say GM has finally got its stuff together!

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  LOVE this car! Will drive it till the wheels fall off! - 2006 Pontiac Vibe
  By osuraerae - March 25 - 6:46 am

  I love this car! It has been a dream to own. No major problems and coming up on 80000 miles, only routine maintenance needed. It is reliable and comfortable.

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  Amazing car at any price - 2009 Pontiac G8
  By DallasTex - March 24 - 5:43 am

  I purchased my 2009 Maverick Silver G8 GT in lieu of a BMW 550. Not only was the G8 almost $50,000 less than the BMW, it actually performed better. I am 64" and weigh 330lbs. I fit perfectly in the car. On the road, I average 28mpg, and about 15mpg around town. The car is very quick, and handles well. It has been trouble free up to this point, and believe it or not, the car is quite exclusive. I can go a month without ever seeing one on the road, and I live in N. Dallas. Sadly, the G8 is no more, but the legend will live on. I am very happy with my purchase.

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  fun car, great MPG - 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By jimp259 - March 24 - 4:43 am

  average of 25 MPG city and hwy combined!

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  i love my fire - 1997 Pontiac Sunfire
  By sunfireredhot - March 24 - 2:00 am

  i have had my car since it was brand new only 5 miles on it when bought it now has a lil over 110,000 and still going strong looks great and still sporty never had a major problem yet they are built to last thanks for such a great car

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  My First New Car - 2004 Pontiac Vibe
  By Joyce Malloy - March 24 - 2:00 am

  This is the nicest car Ive ever owned also the most reliable. I have not even slid once this winter and I live in Pittsburgh, Pa. and this is one of the worst winters we have had in about 5 years.

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  Better than my VM or Nissan - 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By al22 - March 24 - 2:00 am

  It handles really well. Great traction. Roomy yet nimble. Powerful - accelerates quickly. Many features that others charge more for. The best car for the price. Four years and not one problem. Knock on wood.

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  Bimmer 550 in Sheeps Clothing - 2009 Pontiac G8
  By Gr8GT - March 23 - 5:30 am

  I bought this car (G8 GT) 2 months ago after test driving my fathers and just loving it. I got an excellent price from the Pontiac dealership who seemed to want to give these cars away. This car has everything I admire about the BMW 5-series: power to spare, aggressive styling, refined ride, an extremely rich set of features, and even a little cachet (I still dont see too many of these models on the road). And just as important, it doesnt have the one thing that is synonomous with all BMWs, a large price tag. Anyone who is interested in owning a BMW 550 at half the price should seriously consider the G8 GT.