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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  pontiac GTO is great - 2005 Pontiac GTO
  By glenn cummings - April 21 - 12:26 am

  this car is the best car i have ever owned to this point. i am 67 years old but i still have my passion for cars and performance. in high school when everybody was driving fords and chevys i drove a 1950 olds "88". i have always driven performance cars be they two doors, four doors or pickups. in my opinion the GTO is the best i have owned or driven ever.

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  Very good car - 2006 Pontiac Vibe
  By snoey - April 20 - 8:03 pm

  I went from a Grand Prix to the Vibe. I wanted better gas mileage (which I got) but plenty of storage room. Overall I love the vehicle. Im averaging 30 miles to the gallon and think it could get better. There are 3 things that I miss from the Grand Prix that I think Pontiac should make standard: stereo controls on the steering wheel, power drivers-side seats, and the radio that stays on even after you shut the car off (until you open the door). I am surprised at how much I miss those features.

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  Review of 2001 Bonneville Se - 2001 Pontiac Bonneville
  By Jim Richerson - April 19 - 10:00 am

  vehicle has been repair free for the 38000 miles I have driven it. It now has 47000 miles on the odomoter.

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  Fun! - 2004 Pontiac Vibe
  By H888 - April 19 - 10:00 am

  This car makes running errands fun! Just bought it and the next day took a 400 mile trip. Great on gas, handled well.

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  Black Beauty GT - 2004 Pontiac Grand AM
  By AmyP - April 19 - 10:00 am

  I recently upgraded from a Sunfire to this car and i must say THERES quite a difference!! First this car is very sporty and very very comfortable. Second this car has pep especially when jumping on the highway and i need to accel to pass other cars and third, the features are awesome

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  Like my old car better - 2006 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By moms ride - April 19 - 4:50 am

  I have had the car a few months and I have to say I miss my 1999 Grand Prix GTP. I regret selling it to buy the 2006 Grand Prix GXP I have now. My old car handled much better and had GREAT fuel economy. 25-30 mpg for my daily driving. The GXP is getting tops 18 mpg. This is WAY under what I was told. The full size pickup with the same motor is getting 20 mpg. I also have lots of rattles and squeaks in the interior. It is also dogging and is missing. I am actually thinking about selling it already. I love the overall look of the car. It is a definite head turner. Guess I just got the bottom of the pile on this one.

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  dependable no frills little car - 2001 Pontiac Sunfire
  By JJ - April 18 - 3:56 am

  I bought this car used w/ 41000 mi.about 6 mo. ago and have been pleasantlysuprised with it. While not the most robust on the road, it is efficient w/my 34 mpg (and given my daily commute of 90 miles round trip-its vital!). I havent had any problems with it other than needing brakes and a new battery. Always starts right up and have not had any other problems with it. With the 2.2L engine in mine, its not the most powerful force on the road but it does its job. If youre looking for something to get you back and forth cheaply, this may foot the bill for ya.

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  have you driven a PONTIAC lately? - 2009 Pontiac G3
  By Pontifan - April 17 - 3:36 pm

  Traded in a 95 Jeep Cherokee for this beauty! Anything better than 12mpg in town was worth it. But this car is amazing! Love the interior, only it needed a full center console for storage. Love the lumbar support. It really is FUN to drive. I look forward to going to work every morning just to get in it! I, too would like to have tinted windows. Im down south, and it makes a difference. Got it fully loaded for $10,200!! By the way, I was going to get a g5, but muuuch less head room! Thanks, Pontiac, for the great car.

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  My friends call it the - 2002 Pontiac Aztek
  By Outdoorsfellow - April 17 - 10:00 am

  Ive put nearly 3,500 miles during this yellow puppys first two months of life and it has given me nothing else but total satisfaction. Ive driven it in shorts and sandals, in jeans, in a tuxedo... and it has behaved just peachy in every situation. The driving is so comfortable and the AWD system seems to make a difference in the crooked, ponded Acapulco highway. All my friends and relatives say that giving a try to my Aztek has definetly changed (for good) the original opinion they had about this SUVs.

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  this car rocks! - 2004 Pontiac GTO
  By jeremy west - April 16 - 3:06 pm

  The car is simply awesome! As an everyday driver, it more than gets me from point a to b, but also actracts thumbs up from many. At the drag strip, I reigns supreme... stock times were 13.3sec.s @ 104.9 mph. which is much better than the advertised time of 14 sec.s. Ride quality is great in all 4 seats, during long or short trips... it is a ride to look foward to.