On sale since 1997, the Pontiac Montana is about a zillion times better than the Dustbuster-nosed vans that GM was previously hawking to buyers. The General thankfully phased out those vans (the Poncho version was known as the Trans Sport, remember?) and eventually replaced them with the Venture/Montana/Silhouette trio, sold by Chevy, Pontiac and Oldsmobile, respectively.

Despite its fifth-place ranking, the Montana is actually a pretty nice rig. It's just that some aspects of the other vans are better, be it safety features (Windstar), driving dynamics (Town & Country), quality construction (Sienna) or overall value (Odyssey). That said, let's take a look at why the Pontiac entry is worth your attention.

Included in the standard vehicle price of our test example was a preferred equipment group listed as 1SJ. Yes, this package made our test van the most expensive version of the extended-wheelbase Montana (at 121 inches, the Pontiac has the longest wheelbase of all six vans) but it positively jam-packs this machine with tons of great features. Check this out. Package 1SJ includes (GM lists it as a "no charge" option on the window sticker) an OnStar satellite communication concierge system, power rear quarter windows, remote keyless entry, a power sliding door for the right side, front and rear air conditioning, a driver-information system, a universal garage door opener, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with radio controls, a theft deterrent system, rear audio controls, a reverse-sensing system and the Montana Vision entertainment system that includes an LCD color monitor, a video cassette player with remote control, a six-headphone outlet, a video-game input and four wireless headphones. Oh, and we'd be remiss if we forgot to mention that 1SJ also gets you a performance and handling sport package that includes a sport suspension, automatic suspension level control, traction control and 15-inch aluminum wheels -- though most of the vans in this comparison do come equipped with larger 16-inch wheels.

Comprehensively equipped, the Montana drives down the highway with confidence. And although it scored in the lower half of the group in the suspension and steering categories of our road-test evaluations, some still liked the Montana's road manners. One driver noted, "The overall highway ride was quite pleasant."

Seating comfort inside varied, with the positive comments coming mainly from those riding in the back of the Montana. Second-row passengers gave the Pontiac high marks. "It feels like a regular front seat," noted one passenger. He also said that it was more pleasant to sit in the Pontiac's second row compared to some of the other vans and that there was plenty of foot space. Legroom was also deemed plentiful and comfortable armrests were further appreciated. Passengers found the third-row seat, which folds like the Mazda's and Honda's, to have an adequate amount of head and legroom. However, it doesn't fold totally into the floor like in the Mazda and Honda vans, and furthermore lacks a "well" or storage area like those two vans have.

As for the front seats, some felt the headrests were too far away from the driver's and passenger's heads. The seatback adjustment was also manual, which in a $34,000 van seems a little low-rent.

Despite having the smallest engine of the American-made vans, Montana's 185-horsepower 3.4-liter V6 moves it adequately down the road. But it's not quick, by any means, taking more than 10 seconds to reach 60 mph, trailing the Windstar by a half second.

There are other shortcomings, too. For example, safety considerations with the Montana are a mixed bag. While its safety features are plentiful, its National Highway Traffic Safety Administration crash-test scores are the lowest of all six vans. That doesn't mean the Pontiac did badly in NHTSA testing, it just means that the other vans scored better overall; the Montana was the only van to get a three-star rating in one of the four categories (see crash-test scores chart at right). Clearly, the bar is high in the minivan category, because the Montana is still plenty safe.

Though the Montana is at the bottom of this barrel in terms of crash-test scores, it fared well when we took a look at its safety features. Standard in all Montanas are side airbags for the driver and front passenger. You have to pay extra to get them in a Toyota Sienna, and they're not even available in a Honda Odyssey. Other safety items worthy of mention that will help you avoid an accident in the first place are ABS, self-sealing tires and traction control. All in all, the Montana is quite safe, despite its one three-star NHTSA crash test rating.

The Montana seemed to elicit stronger positive or negative opinions than any of the other vans. Detractors griped about such things as "a disconnected feel from the road due to the soft suspension" and "convoluted dash controls." Yet others praised such things as the "engine that's notably smoother than the one in the Windstar." There was also positive feedback on the transmission, as one driver noticed that in addition to excellent shift quality (GM automatics are among the best in the industry), there are separate detents in each gear, and you don't have to push a button to lock out overdrive.

In the end, the Montana gets our vote as one of the more pleasant surprises of the group. We like its pseudo-SUV styling, and given the feature content, the Montana seems like a good deal.

Factor in the on-board entertainment system (which included the least intrusively mounted video cassette player), a folding third-row seat, rear storage compartments with grocery bag hooks, a self-leveling rear suspension with air inflation kit, self-sealing tires, reverse sensing system and leather upholstery, and it looks like an even better bet.

And while Montana's V6 is rated at only 185 horsepower, it still provided a modicum of mid-range power. The four-speed automatic is well matched to this engine, shifting crisply and responsively when the gas pedal is prodded and unobtrusively when just bopping around town. Our primary hardware gripe was with the brakes, which didn't seem up to the task of hauling the Poncho down from speed as it needed 138 feet to stop from 60 mph -- the second longest distance in the group, just beating the Honda Odyssey by 3 feet.

The two main problems with the Montana are that long-term reliability might not be as good as others like the Honda or Toyota, and the van has the lowest NHTSA crash test scores. But in spite of Montana's age, this van is still quite good. If you buy an extended warranty and drive carefully, the Montana is a viable choice in the minivan market.

Second Opinions

Executive Editor Karl Brauer says:
This was the come-from-behind surprise of the test for me. I was expecting to barely notice the Montana, but instead I found myself captivated by its punchy drivetrain, comfortable seating and high-tech features. Items like a rear parking aid, load-leveling suspension and in-dash six-disc changer gave the Montana an upscale feel. Even cooler is the optional performance package that throws in a sport-tuned suspension and a performance wheel-and-tire package.

Seat comfort was among the best in the test, and GM has been wise enough to design a fold-flat system for the third-row seats. The entertainment system offered a large LCD screen that was great for plugging in the PlayStation and loading up a game of Driver. Wireless headphones and rear audio system controls further added to the much-appreciated passenger accommodations, convincing me that if I were to pick a van for riding across the country, this one would be my likely choice.

I'd like to see Pontiac lose the Montana's side cladding, and I don't know why only the passenger-side sliding door is power-operated. Still, this van forced me to re-examine my position on GM's family-hauler offerings. Seating options can allow the Montana to carry up to eight passengers, and with their modular design, these seats that can be placed anywhere in the last two rows for ultimate flexibility.

Buyers looking for features and fun should at least test-drive the Montana.

Senior Editor Brent Romans says:
I suppose if you're going to name a minivan after a state, "Montana" is one of the better ones. Somehow, the "Pontiac New Jersey" just doesn't have the same ring to it. This test was the first time I had driven a current GM minivan, and it impressed me overall. The V6 supplies good low-end power, and the interior is roomy. The Montana also offers a good selection of standard and optional equipment, including OnStar, an entertainment system, a parking aid sensor, a six-disc CD changer, a fold-flat third row and available eight-passenger seating. In my opinion, there is little wrong with this van other than the non-power driver-side sliding door and the low-grade interior materials. Well, that and the overdone Pontiac styling. But that's enough to keep this van out of the upper slots in the test.

Road Test Editor Ed Hellwig says:
As much as Pontiac's entry surprised certain editors, I was somewhat underwhelmed by the Montana. Sure, it's got plenty of gee-whiz features like reverse parking aid, a load-leveling suspension and a nifty video screen, but for me those added-on perks don't overcome the dated interior design and Fisher Price-quality plastics used on the dash.

I'll concede that the 3.4-liter V6 pulls admirably, but the sounds emitted under full throttle are hardly what I would call refined. Shift quality was noticeably tight, with upshifts coming quickly and little gear hunting. Although the steering communicated good road feel, it's too heavy for a vehicle of this type, making parking-lot maneuvering a far too rigorous affair. Suspension damping was comfortable, and the big tires did manage to give the Montana a somewhat sporty feel.

Inside, the Montana benefited from a fold-flat third-row seat, a unique partitioning system to hold loose items in the cargo area, and plenty of room for big feet and outstretched legs up front. Why only one of its sliding doors was power-operated is something only the bean counters at GM could explain, and the lack of a center console between the front seats doesn't cut it in my book. A nicely featured van, if you like the looks and design, but for my money, give me something with less bells and whistles and more overall refinement.

Stereo Evaluation - 2001 Pontiac Montana

Video Evaluation - 2001 Pontiac Montana