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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  21 yr. old gal loves her vibe! - 2005 Pontiac Vibe
  By 21&LoveMyVibe - April 28 - 6:36 pm

  The lease on my 2001 Nissan Sentra SE was up and I wanted a car that was fun to drive, look at, and also reliable. I wanted an SUV but I felt as though I was driving a truck in most of them. I then saw how many types of these "mini SUV/wagon" things were out. I narrowed my choices down to the Toyota Matrix (not enough pep, and too noisy, looks kinda cheap next to my vibe) & mazda 3 5 dr. (not really a good lease deal). I was about to give up on finding a car I loved when I decided to pull into Pontiac. I saw the VIBE in the show room, test drove it, and bought it that same day! Everyone at the college I attend has given me compliments. The vibe is so fun to drive and look at, perfect car!

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  Power House - 2004 Pontiac GTO
  By B yron Eichme - April 28 - 6:45 am

  Not a winter off road car.

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  Love my Pontiac Sunfire - 2003 Pontiac Sunfire
  By jrojas - April 27 - 9:33 am

  This was my third Pontiac Sunfire. This one had "all" possible options. I love the vehicle; very dependable; great style; love how "peppy" the vehicle is when you step on the gas.

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  Torrent Terrific - 2006 Pontiac Torrent
  By Macadew - April 27 - 3:36 am

  A fun SUV to drive with a very stylish exterior. Comfortable for long trips in both front and rear seats. Smooth ride, quiet interior and handles well in all weather. Instrumentation panel is easy to read during the daytime, but all the red at night makes it a little harder to see. Cup holders in front in awkward spot with emergency brake hitting them when pulling up. Turning radius needs tightened up some. Overall extremely satisfied with Torrent and would buy another one. Looking forward to seeing GXP edition.

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  My 2nd Solstice - 2007 Pontiac Solstice
  By Roy Wainscott - April 25 - 2:33 pm

  Ive recently traded my 06 Solstice for the 07 GXP. I really was not that concerned about more power to begin with but then I was really turned on with the new feel driving hilly and curvy backroads. This one feels different, like a better control of the road, I love it. To all of those who complain about no storage space, dont buy this car. Go get yourself a pick-up truck.

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  Dont Like it - 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By Wade Buchanan - April 25 - 12:50 am

  It may be supercharged but it still didnt do it for me. I test drove one and I would rather have a supercharged Mustang or Camaro. Just my opinion though.

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  Recent Purchase - very satisfied - 2006 Pontiac GTO
  By Kevin - April 24 - 6:46 am

  Just purchased a 2006 GTO 6L 6 speed manuel. Very Safisfied !!! Runs like a mid-60s muscle car, handles like an Indy racer, and gets the mileage of a late 90s family car. Im going through my "third" childhood and absolutely enjoying it !!

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  The Goat Returns! - 2004 Pontiac GTO
  By DABT - April 24 - 2:00 am

  The 2004 GTO is an awesome car! I actually like the understated exterior look. The interior is very well done, with excellent head room, and comfortable front and rear seating. The Blaupunkt stereo is also a nice touch. However, for me, the new GTO is all about performance. I have the six- speed manual, and have found the power and ride of my car to be simply fantastic. Bottom line, you are getting Corvette-like performance for $20,000 less. For me, this car delivers the goods at a fair price.

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  Luv my Vibe! - 2004 Pontiac Vibe
  By SusanDL - April 24 - 2:00 am

  I generally dont like smaller vehicles and have owned larger trucks and SUVs for years. Decided I dont need all that room and gas going out the tailpipe, so looked into smaller SUVs. Many are so-so on gas mileage, so started researching these "crossover" vehicles and discovered the Vibe. Went right out, test drove it, loved it and bought one on the spot!!

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  THE GR8 WHITE HOT - 2009 Pontiac G8
  By GR8WHITEHOT - April 23 - 6:10 pm

  The Pontiac G8 GT is a phenomenal creation of performance, value, and yes a family sedan. My wife and I traded our 2008 Lexus IS 250 for this modern day muscle car. She rides quiet and smooth until provoked by your right foot, then shell growl at you. A Corvette with 4 doors for well under 30k unheard of, until now.