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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  Good & bad - 2005 Pontiac Vibe
  By ART - May 22 - 6:26 am

  Great fuel milage 29 to 32 city and 40+ hwy,too many rattles,safety concern, when emergency braking shoe is applied to brake and gas pedal at same time so car cant stop safely. Ive had two very close calls. Shoe size is 10 d. Very uncomfortable to drive on long trips.

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  Just Lovin It - 2002 Pontiac Aztek
  By mcml - May 22 - 2:00 am

  Actually I have a 2001 Aztec. But these same comments still apply to the 2002 model. Very smooth highway ride. Handling is very good for an SUV type vehicle. Large amount of cargo space. The strong low end torque on this vehicle is very apparent when climbing hills. Very good fit and finish to this car. I have not had one problem with it. The large amount of plastic trim actually complements the Pewter exterior color of this car very nicely. Of course the Aztec generates a lot of stares, but most comments about it have been very positive, especially once they have seen the interior.

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  Great car - 1998 Pontiac Firebird
  By chuck-98 - May 22 - 2:00 am

  Great car for the money! I only paid $16,500 for it. By far the best looking and most fun to drive for that kind of money. I bought this car new in 1998 and have only had it in the shop 3 times for minor work in 36,000 miles (drivers side mirror broke twice and one spark plug wire went bad). The performance of the car has been great. With intake and exhaust mods, it ran the 1/4 mile in 15.3 seconds. I get 28-30 mpg on the highway easy, 18 around town.

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  Great car, lots of power, fun to drive. - 2001 Pontiac Sunfire
  By Jamie LinerMan - May 22 - 2:00 am

  This car is great its a good handling car, very good pick up and isnt hard on the wallet. Only thing i would change is the quality of some of the interior pices they ratal a little bet at high way speeds.

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  a o k - 2001 Pontiac Sunfire
  By gtman - May 22 - 2:00 am

  it rocks and i wouldnt sell it ....shes my baby

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  Awesome Car - 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By LouisZ03 - May 22 - 2:00 am

  I bought my Grand Prix in January of this year and i love it. The car has a lot of power and it handles really well. On the street, it is more than a match for other coupes in its class. The interior is comfortable and the controls are easy to use.

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  Power, Performance, Fun and Romance - 2002 Pontiac Firebird
  By T/A lover since 74 - May 22 - 2:00 am

  The Pontiac Firebird is fun to drive, with a muscular V-6, 16 inch wheels, and four disc anti-lock brakes. This car is meant for serious drivers only. The handling is superb, responsiveness is excellent, and the cornering is great. The car is sexy and I get compliments all the time. I opted for the optional six year/sixty-thousand mile warranty, I plan on keeping this car till death. If youre thinking about it, go for it. This car is well worth the money and insurance.

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  Formula - 2002 Pontiac Firebird
  By firehawk - May 22 - 2:00 am

  Great engine in this car and ride and handling is just right for me, but the build quality from GM continues to be poor.

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  Its going to be a fun summer - 2002 Pontiac Firebird
  By gmanpopo - May 22 - 2:00 am

  I enjoy driving the T/A and it is alot more fun driving it with the ram air package, that added horse power is great.The only down fall is that all of the plastic on the interior, It could have been designed with alot less. I already have scratches on the interior door panels near the feet.

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  How dumb can GM get! - 2002 Pontiac Firebird
  By Cancerman - May 22 - 2:00 am

  I purchased my black 3.8l 5M Camaro some months ago and still love it. Bargain performance. Great fun to shift. 205 horsepower blows away the pitiful little more expensive imports.Love the look--sleek and sexy. Seating is adequate, although sometimes difficult to see the gauges unless the wheel is positioned correctly. Its a shame that GM cant see the value in this excellent product.