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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  Fun, crowed pleaser car. - 2006 Pontiac Solstice
  By Solstice - February 1 - 1:43 pm

  This is a fun car to drive and gets plenty of attention on the road. Top is a bite of a challenge to fit in trunk when new. Glad to hear they have a better engine option now. The car looks like it can go.... but is slow with the base engine.

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  More bad reviews for G6 - 2006 Pontiac G6
  By annette - January 30 - 10:13 pm

  I too have replaced the rotor and brakes on my car. I cannot believe I have spent so much money on this car. My air compressor went out and I lost control of my car. I am so frustrated with this car. I cannot wait to get rid of it. I havent purchased anything but GMC. I have always been loyal but now I question where is their loyalty? I am out money.

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  What a disappointment! - 1999 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By Cooper - January 30 - 8:20 pm

  I have had nothing but problems with this vehicle. It has been to the Pontiac service department 16 times and counting. The defroster does not function properly, which ahs been acknowledged by the dealership. They say it is the same on all Grnad Prixs - it is "normal." The dealership is unable to repair problems without numerous visits. What a disappointment this car has been!

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  Too Many Poor Quality Parts - 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By Tom Shay - January 30 - 4:20 pm

  Bought it new as a leftover. Ran great until about 70,000 miles, then things started to go. Front wheel bearing failed and needed wheel replacement. Pitted brake disc. 2 Failed speed sensors. Failed AC compressor. Even the radio display failed so I cant see the time or station. Failed transmission solenoid is in such a difficult location, it takes 5 mechanic hours and more than $750 to replace.Ive driven other brands over 150,000 miles without these failures.

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  Wonderful - 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By Eldin - January 30 - 7:53 am

  Just when I was thinking about switching to an import I walked into a Pontiac dealership in Grand Rapids, MI. The customer service was great and I drove out with my brand new 2004 GP GT2. I absolutely love the car. Only thing i would note is that fuel efficiency is awsome. There were times where I could do up to 400 miles per tank on HWY. Car handles awesome even in recent winter storms that we had in Michigan. Only thing I would change about it is the interior design where to my taste the designer did not pay much attention to the details. Yes wheel is nice and so is the control board, but I believe when a car costs you 25K enterior should be not good but astonishing. Still a HOT ROD.

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  Not a bad car considering, but not great. - 2003 Pontiac Grand AM
  By rumrunner83 - January 30 - 6:12 am

  I bought my Grand AM SE 2.2L brand new in November of 2002. I still have the car just over ten years now. Its a sporty car with a particularly powerful four cylinder engine. That being said, it is a four cylinder, and while the car is absolutely fantastic for highway driving, the car is simply too heavy for hills and cold weather. Even when the car was new it did not like climbing hills, and in the cold the engine loses significant horsepower. However, the car is amazing on gas if properly maintained and I have driven from southern Massachusetts to Bangor, Maine (Approximately 300 miles) before refueling.

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  Loved this car. - 1998 Pontiac Grand AM
  By NYCGirl - January 29 - 11:53 pm

  I really did love this car. I purchased the 1998 SE Coupe in 2001 with 28k on it. Drove it from NYC to Florida, to Detroit, Chicago, Cleveland (love the roadtrips), and never had a problem save normal wear and tear. The engine was ridiculously fast (and it was cherry red.. yes, I got many speeding tickets), and it STUCK to the road. I hated to get rid of it, because it was still in excellent condition, but I couldnt afford to park it in Manhattan anymore ($400 a month.. ouch). Really do love this car, though.

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  Goat - 2006 Pontiac GTO
  By BOB - January 29 - 4:56 pm

  Great performance; handling on par with european cars; acceleration fierce; excellent interior fit and finish

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  Ugly? Maybe, but I love it - 2003 Pontiac Aztek
  By Joe Gutierrez - January 29 - 10:00 am

  Im not sure how Edmunds.com could say that this Mini-van has too much roll in its handling, or that its underpowered at the higher end. As a confirmed sedan driver, I have always prized a car with a firm, stable ride. I really didnt want a mini-van, but decided on this one because of its sure-footed, firm ride. The 17 inch tires, on the FWD only, help it corner very well. I had no problem driving on this winters snowy roads either. The 3.4 V-6 has plenty, and its geared to give a nice kick at higher speeds as well. Of course, in the final analysis, it is a mini-van, not a sports car.

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  Great Prix - 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By Wish - January 29 - 10:00 am

  Love this car! Especially the throaty purr of the engine!