This Pontiac minivan nameplate began in 1997 as the Montana appearance package on the Trans Sport, giving the van a more upscale, SUV-like identity at a time when GM was trying to make minivans feel less utilitarian. For the 1999 model year, the Montana name was moved from trim package to standalone model in the United States, with Canada following shortly after, and the vehicle continued as Pontiac’s mainstream minivan entry through the early 2000s.
The first-generation version carried Pontiac’s rounded, aerodynamic minivan styling and was closely related to other GM U-body vans of the era. In 2005, the nameplate was revised into the Montana SV6, reflecting a substantial update and a shift toward a more contemporary, crossover-influenced look while keeping the same basic mission: a practical family van with Pontiac branding and a slightly sportier image than its corporate cousins.
In the United States, the SV6 was discontinued after the 2006 model year, but the nameplate remained on sale in Canada and Mexico through the 2009 model year. With Pontiac’s own discontinuation soon after, the Montana ended as one of the brand’s last minivan entries and a notable example of GM’s last push to keep a traditional van relevant during the crossover boom.