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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  GTP - 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By MAPhil - March 23 - 6:23 pm

  Great lines with quick response. I have taken down a few of the competitors...sorry Monet Carlo, Im glad I didnt buy one! Too bad it is front wheel drive w/ no manual...oh well the rest is good to go.

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  Excellent Car! - 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By RGUTE - March 23 - 2:00 am

  This is an all around great car for someone looking for a sporty, comfortable, and affordable vehicle. The supercharger gives you a lot of punch when you need it, and it handles really well. Climbs steep hills with no problem. Im satisfied with the fuel economy.

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  Great Little SUV! - 2004 Pontiac Vibe
  By Gilbert Fuller - March 23 - 2:00 am

  This awd model replaced a awd subaru. We have had no problems whatsoever, in fact we liked it so much that we bought another one (not awd) this december. We have always had a large car (cadillac) but we felt the difference in the ride was far outweighed by the convenience of our Vibes!!!

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  Fun in the Sun Solstice - 2007 Pontiac Solstice
  By darrell Lattanzio - March 21 - 3:53 pm

  Good bang for the buck, great styling, at lot of fun to drive.

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  One of Best cars I have owned - 2003 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By Jim P - March 21 - 3:20 pm

  The Grand Prix GT I purchased off- lease in June, 2006, had 33000 miles at purchase. It now has 55000 trouble- free miles. I have replaced only the battery and a heater fan switch. The styling is still one of the best even after five years! Fuel economy is 17 mpg in stop-and-go city and 30 mpg at 70 mph on the highway. I still feel great about this car and, every time I think about something newer, I change my mind and stay with this car. Too bad GM is dropping this model after 2008.

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  Eye-Catcher - 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By Thunder - March 21 - 2:23 pm

  Blue-Green Crystal gets lots of compliments in parking lots, gas stations, etc. Great performance, but if the idea for bigger tires in the front really was to reduece torque steer, I dont notice much improvement over my former 98 GTP. Still, be aware of it and its not a problem. Very solid ride with little or no body lean into corners. City mileage hasnt worked out as advertised yet, though I only have 600 miles on it, so far. Hopefully itll get better than the current 14 mpg after a couple of thousand miles. Highway miles are decent (26mpg) and should also improve, soon. HUD is much better and more informative than older models. Exhaust? Aaaah, sounds like my old Z- 28.

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  What was I thinking???!!! - 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By R3800 - March 21 - 10:00 am

  My girlfriend bought a Red 2000 Grand Prix SE with the 3800 and loved it... I liked how it looked, but I didnt think much of it until I drove it. Man was I a goner. 15 minutes later, I was picked up for "Qualifying" (he aparently had a problem with me passing 5 semis at once on a divided highway, oops.) I loved her car so much that I bought myself one. Im not one to be out done, but Im willing to be in the dog house over this car. Im the proud owner of a Black 2000 Grand Prix GT with all the toys. Now, I have to keep her from taking mine.

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  Great Car - 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By kw4001 - March 19 - 4:56 pm

  Been a great car. Only had one malfunction and that was an alternator had to be replaced. Over all mechanics have been great.

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  Love This Car - 2001 Pontiac Grand AM
  By LOVE IT - March 19 - 12:23 pm

  I bought this car with 75K miles a year ago, and I travel to work 40 miles round trip daily and often across the state. Its always been very reliable and comfortable to drive. Very powerful! The only part I really didnt like was that the turning signals didnt always work, but they were covered under a recall, and were fixed free of charge. Corners and handles very well, and hasnt let me down in the snow yet. Heat, A/C, Cruise, Power Locks and Windows.. all work great. The gas mileage isnt too bad considering the get-up-and-go it has. Most costly fix was the headgasket after I first got it, which was $600, and the hubs ($400).

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  Awesome - 2007 Pontiac G5
  By Kate - March 19 - 11:20 am

  When looking to get a new car I knew that I needed something that was decent in the snow, smaller in size, appealing to the eye, and better gas mileage. I chose the Pontiac G5 because it looks great and gets me to where I need to go using very little gas.