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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  Great for 11 years old! - 2000 Pontiac Grand AM
  By Grego - May 12 - 10:03 pm

  I bought this car, upgrading from a 94 Taurus, from a co-worker. This car is in great condition thanks to the previous owner. Maintenance goes a long way when done properly and on time. Braking seems soft, even with new brake pads installed. Very fun and sporty, and so far I get about 29-31 MPG highway. Great handling on winding roads, even with sub-par tires. Tires for the GT can be a little pricier and is hard to find good all seasons that dont change tire size, which means recalibrating the speedometer. Overall I am very happy, and make sure you do your upkeep! Acceleration can seem sluggish at times, and @ 110K mi. time for new belts, hoses, and a good tune-up.

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  2001 GT 4DR in Canada - 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By Rogue - May 9 - 10:00 am

  2001 GT 4dr. 32000 kms (T.O. Canada) So far the car has been performing pretty good. Only finding minor squeaks. Other than that car is very responsive and fun to drive. Performes excellent in highway driving but, city dirving eats too much gas.

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  MEH! - 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By never again - May 9 - 6:36 am

  its a beautiful vehicle with a lot of base options that would make anyone want the car. The build quality is HORRIBLE. I have had it in for service 12 times in the past 2 years and they have not been able to fix anything. The power steer pump has leaked twice as well as a co-worker rented one and and had the same problem. It collects mildew in the window sills and will smell everytime you open the window during the summer. I have been a die hard GM fan for life, but save your money and get something else... this car is JUNK!

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  Pontiac Montana has a few discomforts - 2005 Pontiac Montana
  By pontiac montana - May 6 - 3:43 pm

  Our experience was good until at 11,000 miles an awful harmonic sound began occuring at highway speeds of 65-75 mph. Dealer could not locate it and we all directed it to the replacement of the passenger side headlamp but to no avail. After 3 visits to dealer,and 3000 miles, it was discovered that noise "probably" taking place in drivers side door as we placed a handkerchief on the weatherstrip by the mirror and it ceased completely for 1500 miles. But the sound is attempting to return but not as painful as before. Plastic door trim on each side appears loose and causes concerns of faulty installation.We miss the lights that stay on on our dodge caravan as well as the door locked sound

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  Solid car - 2002 Pontiac Grand AM
  By JNiz3 - May 4 - 10:30 am

  I ended up buying my 02 GT1 sedan for a fair price with very low mileage. I love how quick it takes off, whether off the line, but more so on the expressway. I have had a few sensor problems (the Body Control Module [bcm]) died within the first year I had it; luckily I had it under the bumper- to-bumper warranty. The monsoon speaker system is decent, but for an audiophile like myself, it doesnt cut it. I love the looks of this car, specially the sunroof and deep grey interior. The breaks squeak all the time when its cold/wet; the only other thing is I wish it was slightly heavier to handle better in the winter. I do enjoy driving my car though - its quick, and handles GREAT!

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  Great Car! - 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By Great Car - May 3 - 5:43 pm

  This is a great car! I get about 24 miles per gallon average, which isnt fantastic, but isnt that bad, either. I love all of the features, like remote access, CD player, cruise control and especially the on-board computer system with trip meters, tire monitor and oil monitor. I feel very safe in this car! The other day I had run over a nail and didnt even know it until my computer system warned me that my front passenger tire was low! I love the sporty style, so unique from other cars out there. This is no boring Toyota! Great power, better than my 1996 Subaru. Only bad thing is the poor quality materials in the interior. Interior is set up nicely, though. Massive trunk space!

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  Brand new car troubles. - 2007 Pontiac G5
  By Kristin - May 2 - 2:33 pm

  Dont get me wrong, I absolutely love my 2007 Pontiac G5. But now it is starting to have problems already and it hasnt even been five months since I bought it brand new off the lot. Im not sure if it is just my car experiencing these problems or if there are others, but there are not any recalls about leaks. Two months after I bought the car, the front windshield leaks. We just recently had a big rainstorm, I go look in my trunk and there is a good 3 inches of standing water in my trunk surrounding my battery. Other than these problems, which shouldnt be happening, this car is a great choice for my first car. Nice and smooth riding.

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  Fun to drive, good on long trips! - 2003 Pontiac Grand AM
  By alessing - May 2 - 12:06 pm

  Owned mine until 2007 when it was vandalized and totaled by my insurance company (ugh.). Very reliable and fun car for a decent price. Everyone constantly complains about the lack of power from the "Ram Air 3400 V6." The title offers more than the engine itself. 8+ seconds to 60 which can be an issue passing sometimes, however it has a ton of torque. Other than that its a fun car with decent fuel economy. Ive taken to the mountains of NC and it was perfect for what we needed.

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  Reliable car - 2010 Pontiac Vibe
  By manitoba1 - April 30 - 5:04 pm

  We have put on 80,000 km with no issues to report. We like the gas mileage and cargo space. Very good on ice and gravel. Noisier and less room than our sequoia, but a lot more practical for 2 or 3 people.

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  Switching To Ford or Foreign! - 2001 Pontiac Aztek
  By TonyaHarding - April 29 - 11:33 am

  When the Aztek was introduced, it was love at first sight! I just HAD to have one! Six pricey years later, I cant wait to get rid of it. I gave it a 5 for reliability because its never broken down and left me stranded, but only a 5 because its been one thing after another with this vehicle. Three A/C condensers,odometer went out so had to replace ENTIRE display, heat/AC control went out, dual temp control went out, head gasket, gas gauge doesnt work, driver side window, black trim paint started fading and peeling away when 4 years old, roof rack clamps rattle in wind, taillights and center brake light weathered & cracked @ 4 years. 5th GM car AND my last! Ford or foreign next time!