Pontiac was once a behemoth brand and a name synonymous with American cars until its downfall in the 2000s. After a 90-year tenure, Pontiacs parent company, General Motors, discontinued the brand despite a once impressive track record of classic units and reliable machines.
Some Pontiac years and models have indeed been more reliable than others, but under the right conditions, a well-maintained Pontiac is as good as any other used car. From classic muscle cars to standard sedans, these are some of the most reliable Pontiac cars you can buy used.
10 1970 Pontiac GTO
It would be a sin to write about Pontiac and not mention the 1970 GTO. The GTO became a model synonymous with the Golden Age of American Muscle cars and that was especially thanks to the 1970 model.
The car comes with a 6.6-liter naturally aspirated V8 engine capable of 366 horsepower and can be found with either a 3 or 4-speed manual transmission or a 3-speed automatic. Well-maintained GTOs can be sold for as high as $100,000, but some are going for closer to $50,000.
9 1989 Pontiac Trans Am Turbo
The 1980s were an odd decade for Pontiac sport and muscle cars because the gas crisis of the late 1970s and the increased number of environmental regulations required engineers to come up with better engines.
But necessity is the mother of invention, and thus Pontiac gave the world the 1989 Trans Am turbo. This rear-wheel-drive car's turbocharged V6 engine yielded 250 horsepower. The car can be found for anywhere between $10,000 to over $50,000 depending on its condition.
8 2002 Trans Am Firebird
Although Pontiac was on its way to exiting the market in the 2000s, it still managed to deliver a respectable model with the 2002 Trans Am Firebird.
The V8 engine gets over 300 horsepower and the car comes with rear-wheel drive, a 4-speed automatic transmission, and the combined fuel economy comes to 19 MPG. Edmunds averages the starting MSRP to be close to $32,000 for a car in good condition.
7 2005 Pontiac GTO
Although some have reported issues with the car's catalytic converter and throttle, the 2005 GTO is an underappreciated machine. Both of its V8 engine options could hit between 300 and 400 horsepower and, at its peak performance, the car could get 29 MPG on the highway, which is pretty decent for a mid-2000s muscle car.
2005 GTOs are usually sold for approximately $20,000 and $30,000, but cheaper units can be found if buyers do not object to buying cars with higher mileage.
6 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix GXP
2005 seems to be a good year for Pontiac as the Grand Prix GXP from that same year is one of the better Pontiacs to buy used. The V8 engine could hit 303 horsepower and came with some interesting GM trademark technology. That technology was what GM calls "Active Fuel Management" otherwise known as Displacement on Demand.
This technology allows V6 or V8 engines to turn off cylinders under light load conditions (passenger or otherwise) to improve fuel economy. Grand Prix's are incredibly affordable as well, buyers are asking for less than $10,000 in some cases.
5 2006 Pontiac G6
This sedan is probably one of the better Pontiacs produced when it comes to fuel economy. The G6 gets 23 MPG in the city and a whopping 34 MPG on the highway. Models come with either a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder or either a 3.5-liter or 3.9-liter V6, the latter of which can hit 240 horsepower.
One might be lucky enough to find it with a six-speed manual transmission as well, which was less common for mid-00s sedans of any brand. The average MSRP for a used G6 hits at around $16,000. Consumer reviews of the car are usually quite positive, save for issues with tires and suspension.
4 2002 Pontiac Bonneville
The Bonneville nameplate had a darn good 50-year run on the market, existing for more than half of Pontiac's tenure as a manufacturer. While the tenth generation is far off from its predecessors as a classic design, as it resembles its sibling cars the Grand Prix and Trans Am more than older Bonnevilles, the 2002 is still a decent ride.
The V6 engine in the base model got over 200 horsepower and some models were built with V8s. A 4-speed automatic transmission was standard as well. The car can easily be found for less than $10,000.
3 2008 Pontiac G8
Models come with either a 3.6-liter V6 or 6.0-liter V8 engine and either a 5 or six-speed automatic transmission. They could get 17 MPG in the city and 25 MPG on the highway.
While not the sexiest of cars, it is a perfectly respectable sedan that is handy for day-to-day driving. Units are leaving lots for anywhere between $10,000 and $20,000.
2 2000 - 2002 Pontiac Sunfire
Once again this Pontiac is a winner when it comes to fuel economy. While some are not fans of the low and weirdly divided grille underneath the hood logo or square inset headlights, others appreciate the car's slopped and pointed front end.
Unlike other models on this list, the 2000-2002 Sunfires only came with a 4-cylinder engine, but consumers did have a choice between a 2.2 or 2.4-liter engine. The 2000 is valued to be worth around $14,000, but models can be found for much less than that.
1 2005 Pontiac Sunfire
Rounding out the list is the 2005 Sunfire, and like the preceding 2000 year model, it will not be winning any points for looks. The layout of the headlights and the long curved hood make the car look like an angry alien. That said, the car's engine only gets 140 horsepower, but again it's a sheer winner when it comes to fuel economy with 26 MPG city and 36 MPG highway.
They can be found with either a 4-speed automatic or a 5-speed manual transmission. The approximate price of the 2005 Sunfire now comes to $10,000, but again, with a little shopping, it can be found for a significantly cheaper price.