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 Poor Comfort - 2001 Pontiac Bonneville
  By James - November 27 - 12:30 am

  I bought this car used a couple of months ago and although I like the styling, the seat comfort is horrendous. Do yourself a favor and only buy 2003 and newer as the seats were redesigned and are far superior. Ride quality is good and fuel economy is 26 MPG with mostly highway. Overall, Im happy with the car, but am buying new seats.

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  knock on wood (cant complain) - 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By cant complain - November 26 - 5:03 am

  I have seen some of the reviews and have to say that either the only people giving the reviews are people who have had probs or im extremely lucky. Bought my 01 GP SE 2 years ago with almost 28k on it and now have 70k on it. Only prob was computer needed reset while still under warranty, new radio fuse. Ive had no major issues thankfully. I have had some noise occasionally when I start the car which hasnt been figured out but never had a prob starting the car. Gas mileage seems to be getting a little worse with age/more mileage. Piece holding glove box up when opened broke so now it falls out sometimes when opened. Thats it...minor at best. I would suggest this car for sure!

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  Great Adult Sports Car - 2006 Pontiac GTO
  By Kent H. - November 25 - 7:26 am

  Wonderfull performing handling and looking modern performance car.This car is quiet smooth quik and solid.Im 50 yrs old and this is only my second new car, it takes a lot to get my attention but this car did.I bought it without even test driving it i knew i would not be disapointed and it was better than i expected.I have owned several muscle cars including a 70 chevelle convertible with a 540 bbc in it that i still have.The old cars are great but this 06 GTO is by far the best all around performance car that i have owned.A corvette driveline with a different body on it for under 30k thats hard if not impossible to beat.

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  Love my Aztek - 2001 Pontiac Aztek
  By LostNotForgotton - November 24 - 7:03 pm

  I have never had a problem with my Aztek. I put nearly 30,000 miles a year on it and it has never given me any trouble. My Aztek is fully loaded with the exception of AWD and heated seats. The heads up display is a cool feature. The storage tray is convenient although if you set anything on it while drive it will slide around. I think the storage tray should have been coated with a rubber surface. The onboard air pump should be standard on all vehicles. I can pump up an air mattress, basketball or all of my tires. The 6 disc in-dash CD player and factory 10 speaker Pioneer sound system are great. I would say the engine is a little under powered for the weight but overall I love my Aztek.

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  Perfect Car!!!! - 2005 Pontiac Sunfire
  By Tabitha - November 24 - 4:43 pm

  I actually came over from the ford family. After driving a ford all my life, I was incredibly impressed with the 2005 model and am somewhat disappointed that they will no longer be making this car!!! After researching vehicles for over a year, I decided to make the purchase this year and am MORE than pleased with the end result!

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  Supercharged fun & good mileage - 2006 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By tonkota - November 24 - 1:33 pm

  Very nice car for the money. GM needs to change the softy shifting for a car with this much torque. And I love the torque! The last highway trip I took with 4 adults we got 31mpg. Not bad considering the ups and downs and the weight of the passengers. Room enough for 4 pretty easy. The front seats fit me very well (Im a wider type of guy). 25k on it now, and no rattles yet.

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  Good 1st car - 2002 Pontiac Grand AM
  By Brad - November 24 - 7:46 am

  I bought the car new in 02 and have put 54000 miles on it with few problems. Windshield leaked, which warranty covered. Since then I have had to replace 2 wheel bearings and the brakes squeak since theyve been changed. My mechanic says there is nothing they can do to fix that but theyve had that problem with most of the Grand Ams they fixed. Overall it has been a very good car for my 1st car out of college. It runs good and looks good for the money.

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  A Versatile Fun Car - 2009 Pontiac Vibe
  By Brian G. - November 24 - 6:53 am

  Ive only had this car for 2 weeks. Its so much fun to drive, and handles like a much more expensive vehicle. The ride is quiet and smooth, and the 2.4 engine provides more than enough power. The interior seems spacious and all the controls are in easy access. The interior uses alot of plastic, however it does not look or appear cheap. The seats are very comfortable in the front and rear, and the cargo space is incredible when the rear seats are folded down. The A/C blows nice and cold which is a plus, since I live in Florida. I wanted the upgraded radio, but mine has the base radio, however it sounds great. Ive driven in some very heavy rain, and this car was terrific! GREAT CAR!!!

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  Buy the extended warranty - 2002 Pontiac Grand AM
  By IndianaDC305 - November 22 - 2:46 am

  This car was purchased used (1 year old, 20500 miles). It was mostly trouble free until 60000 miles. (Except for front brakes only last about 25000 before needing replacement). At approx. 60000 miles the ignition module needed replaced ($200) then about 50 miles later it required a front hub assembly and an O2 sensor ($550). Approx. 100 miles later the timing chain failed (while idling at a stop light) which caused valve damage ($1900). About 75 miles after that problem the SES light is once again on and Im sure that will result in once again many $$$ being spent on this car. It is not abused and it is maintained properly. Service is done by Pontiac dealership. Unreliable Lemon!

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  montana review - 1999 Pontiac Montana
  By mkeehender - November 21 - 2:00 am

  The vehicle is veratile with good seating. The quality is poor and GMs response has been poor. They failed to replace a transmission solenoid that failed at 31,000 and 72000 miles respectively the second time it failed. The water pump and manifold seal failed at 58,000. The digital displays have intermittant failures. The 3.4 liter engine is not as good as previously offered 3.8 liter engines.