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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  Not As good as my 2002 Grand Prix - 2007 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By PontiacGuy - October 17 - 12:50 pm

  This is my 2nd Grand Prix. I was hoping for the same overall performance and economy as my 2002 but it didnt happen. The fuel mileage is nowhere near 27, 18 is the highest to date. The transmission is sloppy from 1st to 2nd in traffic, the dealer says its "hunting" to save fuel. Then it does find the gear it slams hard. It is very unpredictable. On the plus side the interior is great, car is very power full and fun to drive and it looks great.

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  great touring performer - 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By aldinero - October 17 - 10:00 am

  very nice dash,comfortable front seats,hard unsupporting rear seats.ride has improved handling is a little better than earlier grand prixs.

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  GREAT CAR!! - 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By zkjsfbdkws894 - October 15 - 11:36 pm

  This car is great! The car is very well constructed. I recently got this car as my first car and I wouldnt take anything else. Its pretty fast for being 13 years old and that 3800 Series II engine is a beast. My car personally has trouble starting and the key gets stuck in the ignition. i know the key getting stuck in the ignition is a common problem, but if this happens, there is a hole (you may need to remove a little plastic cover) under where you would insert the key on the steering column. You just use a pen or something, push in the little knob and you can remove the key. There are some websites or videos telling you how to. But this is a great car and would recommend to people!

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  Better than you think - 2002 Pontiac Aztek
  By mike - October 15 - 11:23 am

  I bouth this car in 04. Used to sell them, and I was always a fan. Killer motor after you replace the head and intake gaskets(warranty) Front wheel bearings after 90k. Otherwise, its been a great car. 22-28 mpg with a K and N filter and has good power. Tons of room and a killer interior. Rear seats fold up or pull out, and even recline. The console cooler is the best! So is the stereo! Have 115k on it now and it runs perfect! Understeers in snow, but once you learn to drive it, it will go most anywhere with good tires. Buy this car used and it will not let you down.

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  Great car - 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By Danfm1 - October 15 - 12:50 am

  The car is amazing - Pontiac has really improved their products and it can easily challenge foreign cars. The turning is tight, the engine provides plenty of power while sipping gas, there are no rattles and the interior quality is great. Its safe, good looking, and a great ride.

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  Why I decided to buy an Aztek - 2002 Pontiac Aztek
  By KvB - October 14 - 1:40 am

  I test drove every SUV (foreign and domestic) in the up to $30,000 price range and NOTHING compared to the Aztek for comfort and the quiet ride. The combination of its extremely odd looks and the fact that I have never owned a domestic-made car made me quite leary of purchasing the vehicle. I kept going back and re-test driving the foreign models, but as there was really no comparison for comfort and ride, I took the plunge and bought the Aztek. If something happened to my Aztek today, I would rush right out to buy another one. It is such a pleasure to drive!

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  DONT buy a Pontiac G5 or Chev. Cobalt - 2009 Pontiac G5
  By rogerandsally - October 13 - 4:03 pm

  Do not buy a Pontiac G5 or Chev. Cobalt. If you could buy one for half the MSRP maybe otherwise look else where. Seats very uncomfortable. Gas mileage not that good for a small 4 cyl. Mine did not even come with a spare tire or jack. It is not only plastic, but cheap plastic. And I am sure resale will be horrible. Do not learn the hard way like I have. I LOVE AMERICA, but not their small cars.

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  Dont buy one for the looks - 2000 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By melissa - October 13 - 3:33 am

  The first several months, it drove like a dream. I fell in love with the design. Big mistake. Back door sides have been popping off, transmission has been going out, replaced starter, keys get stuck in ignition, only the passenger window will roll down, the vechile now shakes when under 45MPH, twice a year the windshield wipers need replaced, no trunk light, console cup holders have fallen off. This all happened within 3-4 yrs. of having the car. I have always taken care of my cars, but no matter how good I treat it, everything keeps breaking. My rear view mirror fell off after several months. If you have money to spend then this is the type of car youll want.

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  Versatile - 2004 Pontiac Aztek
  By Selig - October 13 - 12:03 am

  Unlike many SUVs, the trunk allows you carry taller objects. The seats come out to create a cargo van. It carries 4 adults comfortably. The versatility is really useful for the outside sales type. The spoiler is the rear-view can create some sight problems, but overall the rear view options are pretty good. I average 22 miles per gallon, which is a huge change from the Dodge Ram I used to drive. It has a nice balance of features: High seating for good road vision, reasonable pick up, good gas mileage for an SUV, and versatile (camping trip or diner for four). From experience, this vehicle does not hold its value.

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  GXP Awesome and it growls - 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By Matthew - October 12 - 4:40 am

  I have`just purchased a Pontiac Grand Prix GXP after trading in an 04 COMP G. The new car is awesome and it growls like a. tiger. If you want some power and need an exciting ride this is the car for you