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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  Love it, Love it, Love it! - 2007 Pontiac Vibe
  By nanalehew - August 25 - 3:03 am

  Ive been driving a 1998 Dodge Ram truck for 10 years purchased new. Never minded the 17 mpg till last year driving 40 miles one-way to work everyday. Finally decided it was time to look at fuel efficiency. Did all my research and honestly I reluctantly purchased my Vibe just because I really didnt want to drive a car again after driving a truck for so long. I have about 12,000 miles on my Vibe now after 6 months of ownership. Never had less than 30 mpg off the dealer lot. Average 30-35 in combo driving. All I can say now is that I LOVE MY VIBE! Roomy, fuel efficient, smooth riding, no mechanical issues so far. Road noise is a little more than expected, but no complaints. LOVE IT!!

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  Lets go somewhere - 2009 Pontiac G8
  By Dan - August 23 - 10:30 pm

  Had an03 BMW 325i that I drove to 100K miles, then an 08 Accord V6 that I hated from day 2...their cylinder deactivation was very noticeable, and now have 2K miles on 09 G8 GT. Have the same feeling for the G8 that I had for the BMW...lets go somewhere! Dont think I will ever get tired of that sweet engine rumble. Lived in Australia for a few years as a teen and admired the Holdens back then so great to have one stateside now. Im in sales and live in my car. Very impressed with interior ergonomics, sound system, seat comfort, and low interior noise level on the highway. Way to go gm. Wasnt sure I would ever buy another one. Now if this car just got the hwy mileage of a vette.

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  noises inside - 2007 Pontiac G5
  By lco - August 23 - 9:50 pm

  I love my car, but not long after buying it things started rattling inside. My husbands Pontiac does that, too. Does anyone else think the interior of Pontiacs just doesnt hold together very tightly?

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  Im through with this car - 2005 Pontiac Sunfire
  By AG - August 23 - 1:43 pm

  I had an 04 but totaled it - bought an 05 and have had slew of problems. Bad brake rotors to the point of where they snapped while I was driving leaving me stranded. The engine stalls, the cd/mp3 player frequently shorts resetting my clock, the model itself affects my tires in which Ive replaced 6 in the past 21/2 years that I purchased this car. The window motor shorts leaving one of my Windows down in Atlanta during winter. Power steering flawed, trunk shorted out and wouldnt close for about three months. My gauges cross over each other in some malfunction preventing me from checking my speed/rpms. Fuel gauge backlight does not fully turn on. Everything on this car sucks!

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  Pure American Muscle w/ a Plush Interior - 2005 Pontiac GTO
  By Nick - August 23 - 4:26 am

  If you are looking for a car with great performance and a reasonable price tag, look no further. The 2005 GTO is nicely equipped with an LS2 400hp engine, and a very "plush" interior. It has the best of both worlds, Performance and Comfort. ...And the truth is that the GTOs naturally aspirated engine will smoke an 05 GT and keep up with an 04 Mustang Cobra!

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  Grand Prix GT - 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By swimminomar - August 23 - 2:00 am

  I have just purchased this car about 3 months ago. After these 3 months I have found the Grand Prix very exilerating and enjoyable to drive. While it is also very flashy and a powerful car with a great build and excellent fuel efficiency!

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  Bad Mistake - 2001 Pontiac Grand AM
  By lg9090 - August 21 - 11:10 am

  I loved the exterior of the car and it drove great the first six months I had it. The best decision I ever made was to buy the extended warranty because had I not I would have spent about $4,000 dollars on this car. Its been to the shop 3X in the past 4 mo. Ive repaired the ignition coil module, fuel injector, spark plugs, A/C resistor blower (2X), blinker recall problem, broken a/c knob, window motor and regulator (not just one, but all 4 windows!!), side mirror fell off, ignition switch, pass lock cylinder, body control module, some sort of connectors and computer body replacement, and Ive had it towed 2X!! I cant wait to sell this piece of scrap metal, but the resale value stinks!

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  I hate it!!! - 2009 Pontiac Solstice
  By IOB - August 21 - 8:10 am

  I regret every buying this car! Sure, it is fun with the top down and driving on weather permitting outings, but otherwise it stinks. My car has been in the shop three different times and had a camshaft sensor problem that was repaired. The motor seems sluggish IMO and it is fairly quick, but seems harsh for a turbo. Power is not a smooth delivery. Clutch is quirky with a notchy shift linkage. The damn thing is horribly uncomfortable and interior is cheap at best. No room for anything.The top execution could be much better. The car is not what I expected. Fuel economy on the highway is good and it looks good, but otherwise I hate it!!!! I would trade this pain in a heartbeat if I could.

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  The worst care I have EVER owned. - 2009 Pontiac G5
  By LadyRae - August 21 - 7:51 am

  I cannot WAIT to get rid of this car. It is simply the worse car I have ever owned. Ive had the ignition replaced on recall TWICE. At less than 78,000, Ive had to replace the brakes at 63,000 (I owned 3 Cavaliers and NEVER had to replace the brakes this early). Ive replaced one wheel bearing and the other needs replaced (again, never had that issue on any other vehicle Ive owned). Basically, the front end is shot. The body is rusting through on the doors, hood, and trunk. It is simply horrible in snow, rain and wind. The front stereo speakers stopped working within 2 years of ownership. The car is noisy, cramped. I will say the engine itself is good. Just everything attached to it is simply horrible.

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  Excellent - 1998 Pontiac Bonneville
  By natalie - August 20 - 8:23 pm

  This is a great car. Excellent in the snow and very reliable. Even with over 100,000 k miles, it has get up and go.Very roomy for 4 people. Lots of trunk room. Not to many problems, just a few minor ones. The check engine light comes on if the gas cap isnt on right. That can be a nuisance. Other than that, I love this car!