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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  Nice car but not for me - 2005 Pontiac Vibe
  By John - June 2 - 2:00 am

  I bought my wife a 2004 Vibe and have to say we are not very impressed. Gas mileage is great but performance is lacking. I realize I did not buy a fast sports car but this car cant get out of its own way. On the highway the car is all over the road the second a 5 mph. breeze blows. The car does not hold the road good at all and my wife and I feel very unsafe in it. The inside of the car is very stylish with nice gauges and switches but that just doesnt cut it.

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  sunfire - 2004 Pontiac Sunfire
  By cody197689 - June 1 - 10:00 am

  It has a lot of spunk, is realiable, and love the change to the front end

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  my review - 2004 Pontiac Grand AM
  By patrico cobalt - June 1 - 10:00 am

  it has a great and fast smooth accelerating 4 cylinder. The suspension rides rough and doesnt even come close to its german import competitors.

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  THE BEST CAR OUT ON THE STREETS!! - 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By starr72881 - June 1 - 10:00 am

  This is my third GM car since 2001, and this is by far the BEST CAR OUT THERE. I made a very the choice that I HAD TO HAVE THIS CAR after having one as a rental. And I am so happy that I did. The way this car rides is awesome. I suggest that you seriously consider purchasing this car if youre currently searching to buy a car. You will not be disappointed

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  grrrreat - 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By wnjbrown - June 1 - 10:00 am

  great car,,, very satisfied with price,,,quality,,, performance

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  fun car - 2004 Pontiac Vibe
  By K Koepping - June 1 - 3:26 am

  We bought the Vibe as a company car. We needed a reliable vehicle with great gas mileage and lots of room to haul stuff. Its been great. When we got 39 mpg on the road last month driving between jobs we were thrilled down to the wallet. Its been a great car.

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  Good vehicle with minor repairs - 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By jiggles - June 1 - 12:33 am

  Overall this has been a very good car. Its very comfortable and fun to drive. At about 100,000 miles I had to replace the alternator and water pump. I have also put two driver power window switches in it already. Other than that Ive had no major problems and will buy another Pontiac when I get rid of this one.

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  Sporty and comfortable - 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By DIANA WRIGHT - May 31 - 6:06 pm

  This car has a lot of power and maneuvers very well with the front wheel drive. It has a sporty appearance but yet roomy on the inside. The front seat is extremely comfortable and there is lots of room in the back seat for 3 more passengers. I also like the easy access to the trunk from the back seat. This is a nice feature for long road trips. We really enjoy our GRAND PRIX we had a GRAND AM for years and were excited to see the GRAND PRIX.

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  2009 Pontiac G3 - 2009 Pontiac G3
  By 2009 Pontiac G3 - May 31 - 1:26 pm

  I bought this "used" with 1200 miles. I now have 3000 miles on it. Like the car - however, having similar issues with the check engine light keeps coming on. In 2 weeks, I have driven the car for 1.5 days. It is BACK at the dealership and they cant figure out why it keeps coming on. Changed coils and wire and not happy that I am driving a G6. I bought the G3 for better gas - but so far, I am spending more money on the loaner car this year than I wouldve saved keeping my other car. If they can fix this, I will be happy very happy.

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  I Love It - 2007 Pontiac G6
  By deb - May 31 - 11:26 am

  I bought a G6 Convertable in Iowa in Jan. 06- talk about faith! It was quieter to drive than a Camry and more fun than an Accord!! This car has been a wonderful drive for my husband and I! It is a solid and dependable drive and even is comfortable for 4 adults and a Yellow Lab dog!! The mileage is impressive and handles solidly! Thank You GM!