2001 Pontiac Montana Review and Specs

Summary

What Edmunds.com says

If you can stomach the heavy doses of plastic trim both inside and out, the Montana offers peppy performance and comfortable passenger accommodations in a feature-laden package.

Pros

Available eight-passenger seating, folding third-row seat (extended length models), optional rear parking aid sensor, spunky V6 and sporty handling.

Cons

Weak offset crash-test scores, uncomfortable rear seats, cheap interior materials.

What's New for 2001

Updated styling and more feature content top the list of changes to the Montana for 2001, but perhaps most importantly, GM has figured out how to provide buyers with a third-row seat that flips and folds to create a flat load floor in extended-length models. New standard features include OnStar communications, power windows, a CD player and remote keyless entry. A rear parking aid sensor, power driver-side sliding door and an in-dash six-discCD changer are new options. When you buy the available TV/VCP setup, you get a larger screen for 2001.

Consumer Ratings & Reviews

Awesome Family Vehicle

Written by: Julie on 09/22/2009

Detailed Ratings

Overall Rating


Performance:	8	Fun-to-Drive:	7	Build Quality:	9
Comfort:	10	Interior Design:	9	Reliability:	9
Fuel Economy:	6	Exterior Design:	9

Vehicle

2001 Pontiac Montana 7-Seat Convenience 4dr Ext Minivan (3.4L 6cyl 4A)

Review

We bought our Montana because we has small children and wanted the convenience of the back seat access for car seats. It has been a wonderful van for us. Love the easy cleanability of the leather seats, the access to rear seats, the ease of lowering the back seat for more cargo space. We have had no major repairs. We have taken good care of our van and had regular maintenance, which makes a world of difference. All mechanical systems still working great. It's a comfortable van, easy to drive and great for families.

Favorite Features

Easy access to rear seats and ability to control air in front and back.

Suggested Improvements

A center console up front would be nice. We bought one which has worked fine, but it absolutely needed it.

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Bought Ours New in 2000

Written by: Airhippo on 08/16/2009


Performance:	9	Fun-to-Drive:	8	Build Quality:	8
Comfort:	10	Interior Design:	10	Reliability:	9
Fuel Economy:	5	Exterior Design:	7

2001 Pontiac Montana 7-Seat Sport 4dr Ext Minivan (3.4L 6cyl 4A)

We purchased this van new in November 2000 right before the 2001 hit the market. This Van has been an awesome mode of transportation. We still have it and our Teenage Daughter loves driving it to hall her friends. We had some minor AC issues at 75,00 K and had to have the head gaskets and heads redone at 120,00 Wife drove it and it got hot. That cost around 2,000. But other than that this has been a vehicle well worth the drive. We still have it so that says all. around in.

Fun to drive seat are very easy to remove when you need to hall stuff. Rear air and radio are a huge plus if you have children. Alloy wheels are the only way to go gives this baby an excellent ride.

Make the adjustment on the heads adding addition bolts to heads could keep from blowing head gaskets in the future. Windshield wipers are a pain to replace need to be shorter.

So Far, So Good...

Written by: Auntbetty on 06/25/2009


Performance:	8	Fun-to-Drive:	7	Build Quality:	8
Comfort:	7	Interior Design:	8	Reliability:	9
Fuel Economy:	9	Exterior Design:	8

2001 Pontiac Montana 7-Seat 4dr Minivan (3.4L 6cyl 4A)

We've had our Montana for 5 years and it had 60k miles when we bought it. Now it has 175k on it and seems to be doing ok. No major repairs and have avoided the head gasket issue. The intake manifold gaskets had been done before we bought it. Basically just routine maintenance (brakes, wheel bearings in front, tires). It's not as tight as a Honda or Toyota, but that's a given so don't expect it to be since you're paying thousands less for a comparable year. Fuel mileage is very good for a van (20-24mpg depending on season).

Captains chairs, split seats in the back make them relatively easy to take out.

Overall, not too much. Build it like Honda? LOL! A tighter hatch would be nice as ours rattles bad on rough road.

Never Again

Written by: S James on 11/12/2008


Performance:	6	Fun-to-Drive:	6	Build Quality:	2
Comfort:	6	Interior Design:	6	Reliability:	2
Fuel Economy:	8	Exterior Design:	7

OK, I was smitten by it's good looks for a mini van. What a pig it turned out to be. I have sworn off any GM built vehicle for as long as I drive. (And I control the fleet at my work) Read each of the posts and I have had the problem. Fuel tank sending unit made the gas gauge quit. Head gasket blew out. A/C out (twice) Windshield wipers nesting in the "touchdown" position. My wife drove it that way for a month because two of our neighbors were having the same problem at the same time. (It was comical) GM dealers are lame. Could be the corporate policies. Still, they give you no reason to want to even look at another vehicle built by them. I give them less than 10 years.

The day we get rid of it! It has a very low resale value now with 160,000K and we own it, so my thought is the best thing to do is to drive it until it needs another $3000 repair bill. At that point, it will be worth more for the scrap iron.

All the above.

Handling a Montana

Written by: Claire on 09/20/2008


Performance:	10	Fun-to-Drive:	10	Build Quality:	10
Comfort:	10	Interior Design:	10	Reliability:	10
Fuel Economy:	9	Exterior Design:	10

We bought our formerly leased, loaded Montana 6 years ago from a dealer. We got an excellent deal on it and soon discovered it was from a bad odor. After cleaning it several times, we still haven't enjoyed the new car smell, but we have gotten a sweet deal! It has been paid for for 2 years now and until this week, I have only needed regular oil changes, new tires and windshield wipers. Yesterday I spent $600 to replace the rear brake cylinders and the front bushings. The boys are grown and I could sell and get a convertible I have dreamed of for years, but I will drive this Beauty until she can't go anymore.

Classy style, automatic right sliding door, stereo/CD with rear controls, storage, On Star. The front and rear A/C and heat is a treat!

I may get heated seats next time!

2001 Pontiac Montana Consumer Ratings & Reviews