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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  Love my goat - 2006 Pontiac GTO
  By James - April 16 - 12:43 pm

  Bought my 06 Cyclone gray GTO in march of 07. It now has 20,000 miles on it. And theyve been trouble free thus far. This car has a better build quality, inside and out than the domestics seem to have. The performance is first rate. Mine has the 6 speed tranny. This engine has so much midrange power...It flat out hauls.

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  2007 G5 - 2007 Pontiac G5
  By 07g5 - April 15 - 7:20 pm

  I have had my 2dr coupe for almost a year now and overall it is a good car. I have never had maintenance done on my car except for necessary oil changes. I do not have any problems with seeing through the back window because of the rear spoiler like a lot of other people have mentioned. I actually think the spoiler gives the car a more sporty look. Some people may not like the firm seats but personally I find them quite comfortable. The car accelerates well considering the 4 cylinder and is a great around town driver. I would not however recommend this car for someone who does a lot of highway driving as it is very light on the road and tends to sway because of the loose steering.

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  I Got 1 - 2006 Pontiac GTO
  By igot1gto - April 14 - 5:13 pm

  At 400 H.P. and 400 ft/lb torque and around town mileage with my 6 speed at just over 20 mpg, what else could you want? It is great fun to drive ... it is fast with crisp handling and very effective braking. The 200 watt Blaupunkt stereo/CD with surround sound is almost as enjoyable as just driving around with the windows open just listening to the motor hum ... the fit and finish of the interior rivals any of my buddies BMWs and the 6 way power adjustable leather seats are very comfortable ... which is excellent ... especially when you consider the GTO is a reborn MUSCLE CAR built for speed and a feel for the road!

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  Love It - 2007 Pontiac Torrent
  By S.Roylance - April 13 - 9:06 pm

  We took our Torrent for test drive and knew that this was our vehicle. I love the leather seats. The only thing that I would like to see is the cup holders and the emergency brake changed. They are a pain where they are and the window controls took a bit to get used to, but overall I love my Torrent and will be buying another one when this one is too old.

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  very safe! - 2007 Pontiac G6
  By nash - April 13 - 12:43 pm

  it is a very safe car i recently got into a accident with the vehicle and i walked out without a scratch i hit a duelley on the highway going about 60 he was completly stopped on the highway. 13,900 in damages and they didnt total it out. they fixed it and since then it has run great absolutely no problems. although i hate the dash lights go on and off. plus i find the car to have a very harsh ride. overall my rating for this car is above average.

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  Aztec Experiences - 2005 Pontiac Aztek
  By Sam Miller - April 13 - 10:00 am

  This car has performed excellently on the road and in town. Its fun to drive and people always stop us and ask how we like it? Very, very reliable.

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  extraterrestrial - 2004 Pontiac Aztek
  By sixteen - April 13 - 10:00 am

  Never have enjoyed an SUV so much. Predict this "Edsel" will become wildly popular--lots of style and value.

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  SATISFIED CUSTOMER - 2004 Pontiac Montana
  By MAX HOLLAMON - April 13 - 10:00 am

  This vehicle was purchased for hauling a motorized wheel chair in the back. So far we have been well pleased. If I had it to do over I would get the auto leveling kit factory installed in case I needed to carry 8 passengers and the wheel chair or pull a trailor.

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  Lots of car for the money - 2004 Pontiac Vibe
  By GotVibe - April 13 - 10:00 am

  Just got the last 2004 off the local lot and am very impressed based on the first 1000 miles. Great looks, good handling, lots of room, nice options packages, and great gas mileage (avg 33 ist. A true bargain with incentives on the remaining 2004s if you can still find them.

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  Excellent Quality - 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By Dave- - April 13 - 10:00 am

  This is a well-built fun to drive car with good acceleration. Only car Ive owned with little/no problems.