Since the introduction of the original "Dustbuster" generation, Pontiac Trans Sports and Montanas were the most popular minivans among consumers in Canada.

As the GMT200 platform was replaced by the fullsize GM Lambda CUVs, the GMC Acadia served as the closest successor.

The Montana nameplate was first used as a trim level of the Pontiac Trans Sport minivan for the 1997–1998 model years.

The Pontiac Montana is based on the GMT200 platform (aka "U-body" in VIN designations), used by the Venture, Silhouette, Sintra, and the first-generation GL8.

The interior remained largely the same as the second-generation Trans Sport, including the steering wheel, instrument cluster, and the like.

For 2001, the Montana received a minor facelift, with a new front bumper and split grille design, the red markers on the rear bumpers being removed, the B-pillars becoming body-colored as opposed to black in most cases, and a new steering wheel that has, among others, removed the audio control buttons and the "PONTIAC" lettering on the airbag replaced with the Pontiac logo.

The anti-lock brakes became optional for the Montana as well as for the Venture, but remained as standard equipment for the Silhouette before the demise of the Oldsmobile brand in 2004.

Inside, it had special two-tone black and grey leather seating, and a perforated leather-wrapped steering wheel.

Prior to its introduction in 2002, the Montana Thunder nameplate was first used on a 1998 minivan concept showcased at the 1998 North American International Auto Show.

In 1996, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) crash tested a 1997 Pontiac Trans Sport among other minivans of the time.

The minivan suffered extreme damage to the vehicle in the 40 mph (64 km/h) moderate overlap crash test, which has resulted in some criticism by contemporary reviewers.

[1] The minivan received a "Poor" rating and was ranked as the "Worst Performing Vehicle" by the institute as a result.

This status was also applied to the Chevrolet Venture and the Oldsmobile Silhouette as they both use the same chassis and body design, including the later first-generation Pontiac Montana.

The safety issues of the Trans Sport/Montana and its U-body siblings were later addressed with the Montana SV6 (and the related Uplander), which earned the highest rating of "Good" given by the institute in the moderate overlap crash test.

General Motors marketed it as the Pontiac Montana SV6, and it was almost identical to the discontinued US version, but different from the Canadian-specification model.

However, several months later, GM announced that the SV6 would be discontinued after 2006 in the US due to poor sales, while production for both Canada and Mexico would continue because the SV6 sold better in those markets.

[3] The last vehicle built was a Canadian-bound Montana SV6 SWB with roof rack in Liquid Silver Metallic.