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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  Always came back - 2007 Pontiac G6
  By stst - October 31 - 9:23 pm

  Id been looking at cars for almost a year and every time it always came back to the G6 Convertible. Before this car came out I never would have thought to purchase a GM vehicle. This car is a blast to drive. Not a techy car by any means. No NAV, Bluetooth, A/V jack etc. but when its sunny, and the top goes down who cares!

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  Typical GM Junk - 2006 Pontiac G6
  By Chuck - October 30 - 6:33 am

  We got our 2006 G6 buy assuming a lease from a family member. Normally I have always bought/leased a foreign auto but since we were paid to assume this lease from our family member, I decided to give it a shot..Yeah that was a MISTAKE. CAUTION: This car has intermittent loss of powersteering while you are driving. I has happened to my wife several times and we have taken it to the GM garage(towed it actually)and then when the car is restarted, the powersteering works for a short time until it stops working again. My wife wont drive the car anymore especially with the kids. Since I have taken it, it happens all the time. Fortunately, my lease ends in a few days so I can get rid of this car

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  A bargain that will have you smiling - 2006 Pontiac GTO
  By iblyth79 - October 30 - 12:43 am

  I traded my well loved 2004 Grand Prix Comp G for a red-on-red GTO and the smile has never left my face and my kids for that matter. This car reinforced my faith in Pontiac and the companys ability to build exciting cars, even if its underpinnings are Australian. I think the car’s looks are great, the interior is well crafted especially for a 30K car and my car has been reliable. From a performance and driving perspective, I have not driven a better car. This is not luxury coupe loaded with all the "bells and whistles" but a back to basics muscle car with some refinement and I think this combination works. Turn the key, mash the pedal and steer; you’ll be amazed. I know I was.

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  puts the fun back in driving - 2006 Pontiac Solstice
  By nick stratso - October 29 - 3:03 pm

  The US auto industry has finally designed and manufactured an automobile that is fun to drive and is affordable. I cut my teeth on TR3’s and this has the same feel with reliability. I can slide around corners again.

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  Vacation - 2006 Pontiac Torrent
  By Fred Holt - October 29 - 2:03 am

  We went on a trip from Alabama to Branson, Mo then on to Arizona to the Grand Canyon and then on to Yellowstone Park and back to Ala. The performance overall was great. Had a great time

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  Sunfire - 2004 Pontiac Sunfire
  By Michelle3975 - October 29 - 2:00 am

  I have a 2000 Pontiac Sunfire and the resale stinks! Its only 4 years old, has only 47,000 miles, is in excellent shape, and only Im being offered $3800 from dealers. Please be very careful when buying this car. Its an awesome car, but as soon as you drive it off the lot, the value is gone. FYI.

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  Update from 7/10/02 - 2002 Pontiac Bonneville
  By 2XBonnie Again - October 29 - 2:00 am

  This is an update from my post on 7/10/02. Since then the car has had the following additional issues: 1. A recall for a potential motor gasket failure. Can u believe it? 2. 2 separate electric component failures on the power windows. 3. a leaking power steering hose. 4. an intermitant alternator malfunction (hasnt failed yet). All within 15.5k miles and 21 months of being new. You can decide if this meets your criteria of acceptable quality. Oh yes. The depreciation has been breath-taking. Apparently the market knows something Id wish Id known before buying this car.

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  New GTO Rocks! - 2004 Pontiac GTO
  By DrSBSNYDER - October 29 - 2:00 am

  After a 30 year absence, Pontiacs legendary GTO is back. A trim midsize coupe, this car features the LS1 5.7 litre engine, packing 350 horsepower driving the rear wheels (as a proper sports coupe should). The GTO sports one of the most attractive interiors ever in a GM car.

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  Nice Family Vechicle - 2003 Pontiac Montana
  By MPiela - October 29 - 2:00 am

  This is a nice family van. The DVD player is great for the kids, especially on longer rides. We have the cordless headsets, so we can listen to the radio while they watch the movie. The dual slding doors are a must.

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  A good Solid Car - 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By twinoklahoma - October 29 - 2:00 am

  We have had this car for nearly 2 years and have had absolutely no problems. We bought it with 30K + and currently have close to 90k+. It still looks, runs and feels new! I owned a Grand AM before this and have gained a new respect and appreciation for Pontiac. This is a Power Sport vehicle that handles wonderfully. I am 65 and always have plenty of room. Just a great Car! If you are thinking of buying this car do it. It is a wonderfully reliable car with style and power!