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 little Pontiac - 2007 Pontiac Torrent
  By brent - September 17 - 5:40 am

  This is a true Pontiac with its style and features and far less price then many in its class. I live in Montana and have never had a problem with snow in the back country or just going on a sunday drive ( I have the AWD ) Just a fun little SUV to drive.

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  Red Solstice - 2007 Pontiac Solstice
  By Jim - September 15 - 3:53 pm

  Great Car and super service and support from the Dealer. The car is a great fun car and priced right.

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  great car! - 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By pontiac owner - September 15 - 6:26 am

  i bought this car not knowing a lot about it. I had some repairs, the normal. wheel bearing assemblies,intake gaskets,etc. i got a clue for everyone that hates repair bills. Buy extended warranties. Learn how to fix small things on your car. I myself have begun modifications to it. I can honestly say my Grand Prix is unique. And everyone that complains about repair bills, try the other companies. I work at a dealership, working on Saabs. I know about things on the inside. If you think a few thousand dollars is bad over several years. Saabs are thousands of dollars in one repair bill... Honestly people, American cars are great

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  The Bone - 2002 Pontiac Bonneville
  By Cargoguy - September 15 - 6:20 am

  Traded in Lincoln Continental for a reliable GM product. Although the 3.8L lacks a little power it runs great and is a proven design.

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  I feel like a Giant in this thing - 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By Dr. Rob Rice - September 15 - 1:53 am

  All-in-all, I love this car. Handles well, all the gadgets you can ask for and its beautiful. However, Im not a giant (just 61") yet I either have to slouch or lean my head. XM radio should be moved to front or all the way in the back - its covered with sunroof down which makes for poor XM reception especially when traveling S. Both interior and exterior are stylish. People are definately jealous when they get in. Heated seats are awesome. I hate winter.

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  Top Down Fun! - 2006 Pontiac Solstice
  By BP - September 14 - 7:20 pm

  Fun is the name of the game. You spend all your driving time looking for roads with curves. Of course "Top Down" is the way to go. The interior suffers from a lack of nooks and crannies to put stuff but it is driver fiendly as far as visibility and reach goes. Dont expect off the line screams but the wieght distribution gives you G- force thrills. Have fun!

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  Fun car! - 2007 Pontiac G6
  By G-6 Hardtop converti - September 13 - 8:50 am

  We have really enjoyed our G-6 Hardtop convertible. It has been so much fun to have a fun car at a reasonable price.

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  2003 Pontiac GTP - 2003 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By Flyer Scot Sailor - September 12 - 8:46 pm

  Owned the car for 3 years. Have had no problems whatsoever. Car is very reliable. Fun car to drive, handles well, good acceleration, rarely have the supercharger come on but still has very good pickup. Mileage around town is 15 gets 31 mpg on the highway. Very nice car.

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  Love this car - 2004 Pontiac Vibe
  By Janet Adams - September 11 - 3:03 pm

  I purchased my Vibe when I was searching for an economical car with lots of cargo space. The Vibe is perfect. It is a great 4-5 passenger car that converts to a practical station wagon. My vibe has gone thousands of miles carrying show dogs to competitions. It has transported cargo as large as a screen door for my house, furniture and bales of hay. After nearly 38,000 miles of in town and highway driving I still have never had a single problem with my Vibe. My best MPG was 37, but normally I get around 32-33 MPG on the highway. Cant say enough good things about this car. I just love it. It is so well thought out. Thanks Pontiac!

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  Great Car, Fun to drive!! - 2005 Pontiac G6
  By Dawna - September 11 - 8:00 am

  Its been a wonderful car and does have great handling! Very sporty car and can definitely keep up with the higher price sedans anyday