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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  Second Time Around - 2002 Pontiac Grand AM
  By jkidd - June 17 - 2:00 am

  I owned a 99 GA SE sedan and now an 02 SE1, I even got the same color. This one is loaded, except the V6. Differences? You can turn the DRLs off, but the parking lights remain. Chimes for the various reminders are not as loud as they were in the 99. A nifty cup holder was added on the console. The new 2.2 liter 4 cylinder engine vs the 2.4. I keep reading about how smooth & quiet the new 2.2 is. I find the new engine to be loud, it makes a clicking sound even @ idle. The car is less torquey, fuel mileage is exceptional. 2 nagging concerns on build quality. A rattle in the roof liner near the moonroof button. Plastic pieces in my car are not flush.

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  excellent - 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By billy - June 17 - 2:00 am

  EXCELLENT CAR!!

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  excellent - 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By Billy - June 17 - 2:00 am

  EXCELLENT CAR!!

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  Slammed and Cammed LS1 - 2000 Pontiac Firebird
  By Willy - June 16 - 4:46 pm

  This is my third fbody and by far the fastest. I have modified the cars exhaust, intake, suspension, upgraded to a larger cam shaft, wheels, tires, 4.10 gears. To this day I am leaving cars 4-5 times its worth in the dust. I use it as a daily driver with a large cam and a very loud glasspack exhaust. The only problem the car has ever given me was a dead battery. It is an absolute thrill to drive and to this day still turns heads with its agressive black exterior and functional ram air hood. All the options still work, AC blows cold. Heater works unbelievably good. No oil leaks or burning. Seats are comfortable, even though the "leather" looks sort of plain. Over all this is a great car

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  Great Car - 2003 Pontiac Vibe
  By kevin_junger - June 15 - 12:20 pm

  Purchased the car in March 03 and have been very pleased. As of today the car has 58,000 miles and has never been back to the dealer for any reason. Handling is excellent. Acceleration is acceptable but the 1.8 liter is a little noisy above 4,000 rpm. Overall I am very satisfied with the purchase and would buy another Vibe in a second.

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  I love my car! - 2004 Pontiac Sunfire
  By JennyJ - June 12 - 2:00 am

  Sunfires are the very best! I love mine so much its not even funny. Its so fun to drive and it hugs the turns of the road so much! Not to mention the fun and sleek design of the inside. THIS car is so awesome, and if your looking for a cool car for literaly a GREAT price you should take another look at the sunfire, its so perfect! If you dont believe me then go test drive one for yourself!

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  The Best - 2004 Pontiac Vibe
  By cg71811 - June 12 - 2:00 am

  I traded in a jeep for this car and I love the vibe so much more.

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  Too many problems - 2000 Pontiac Grand AM
  By RED 52 - June 12 - 2:00 am

  Have owned car since it was new. Many problems including heater control switch on dashboard broken, brakes and rotors three times, sun visor falls off,etc. Just out of warranty and had to have intake manifold gasket leak - repaired for $800. Mechanic said, "poor design" and has had others with same problem. Not happy with car for what it cost new - $21,000. Ride is rough. Plan to sell soon and get something reliable, that is to say, something not GM.

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  melissa bachmann - 2006 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By melissa - June 11 - 11:13 am

  i previously owned a doge intrepid but after owning my grand prix ill never buy any other make of car. its absolutely perfect!

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  The Edsel Of The New Millenium - 2002 Pontiac Aztek
  By mayormcmisery - June 11 - 10:00 am

  Upon receiving my Aztek as a company vehicle, I was somewhat skeptical of its practicality and driveability, not to mention its looks. But after a couple hundred miles behind the wheel, my trusty Aztek does shine over other SUVs. Having carrying a huge cargo load everyday, the Aztek still handles nimbly, rides well, and swallows its cargo with vigor. The seats are extremely comfortable. This vehicle is punished daily (250 hard miles), and like an old dog, keeps coming back faithfully and reliably. Ive actually come to really enjoy the Aztek and will heavily consider buying it once the lease is over. I foresee great realiability.