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New Car 2006 Pontiac Torrent Review

Recommended alternative to the more well known models in its class (CRV, RAV4, Escape, Sante Fe, etc.) I was surprised at the interior finish and comfort. Even though the seating position is higher up than a car, its a very easy vehicle to get in and out of. I wouldnt classify this car as a sporty SUV, the engine output and handling just dont live up to that description.



For a more performance-oriented/sporty driving experience, you would probably look elsewhere. It is however a very capable everyday car that is more than capable of hauling around 4 adults with ample luggage room.

I think this is a great vehicle. For those people who feel they need to step up to an SUV, this is a great first step.

News

The one possible near-term change for Torrent involves the brand it wears. General Motors is putting together a new Buick-Pontiac-GMC sales channel, leading some to think that Torrent may soon be sold under the GMC label. That makes sense, as GMC sells nothing but trucks, and Torrent can be construed as either a truck or a car. Pontiacs assigned role under B-P-G is to produce cars exemplifying "passion and performance," so whether Torrent remains a Pontiac depends on whether marketers think the vehicle fits--or can be made to fit--that mission statement. Stay tuned.

New For 2006 Pontiac Torrent

Pontiac introduces a midsize SUV for 2006. Torrent shares its car-type platform and drivetrain with the Chevrolet Equinox, though Torrents suspension is tuned to impart a sportier feel. Torrent seats five; no 3rd-row seat is offered. The rear seat slides fore and aft 8 inches to maximize passenger or cargo space. The one-piece rear hatch does not include opening glass. Torrent comes with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive without low-range gearing. A 185-hp V6 with 5-speed automatic transmission is the sole powertrain. Antilock brakes are standard. Traction control is standard on the 2WD model. Curtain side airbags are optional. Available features include leather upholstery, heated front seats, and 17-inch wheels in place of standard 16s.


Interior Design and Special Features

Thanks to its long wheelbase, the Torrent offers plenty of room for its occupants. To make way for larger passengers or cargo, the 60/40-split rear seat can slide nearly 8 inches fore and aft. The Torrent offers 35 cubic feet of luggage space behind its rear seats; folding down the rear seat bumps the total to 69 cubic feet. An adjustable rear cargo shelf makes the loading of multiple small items easier and can also double as a picnic table. Up front, the Pontiac Torrent features relatively stylish chrome-ringed gauges and a sporty three-spoke steering wheel. While most of the controls are simple in design, the stereo head units collection of small buttons is unnecessarily complicated.

Safety

ABS is part of the Torrents standard features list, and traction control is standard on front-drive versions of the vehicle. Full-length side curtain airbags are optional. In NHTSA crash testing, the Pontiac Torrent earned a five-star rating (the best possible) for its protection of front occupants in frontal collisions. The Pontiac SUV also earned five stars for front- and rear-seat occupant protection in side collisions.

Powertrains and Performance

The Pontiac Torrent comes with one engine: a 3.4-liter V6 good for 185 horsepower and 210 pound-feet of torque. Towing capacity is rated at 3,500 pounds. The Torrent is available in all-wheel-drive and front-wheel-drive configurations, but only one transmission is offered -- a five-speed automatic.

Body Styles, Trim Levels and Options

The five-passenger Pontiac Torrent crossover SUV comes in one trim, and is available with either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. Standard equipment highlights include 16-inch wheels, air conditioning, remote keyless entry, a CD player and power windows, mirrors and locks. Further optional equipment is grouped into three main option packages. A Preferred package includes a power driver seat, uplevel cloth upholstery, an auto-dimming rearview mirror and steering wheel-mounted audio controls. If one orders the Preferred package, a Premium package becomes available; it equips the Torrent with leather seating and heated front seats. Theres also a Sun and Sound package that includes a sunroof and a premium six-CD audio system.

Driving Impressions

The Pontiac Torrent gets good acceleration out of its 185-horsepower V6 engine. It uses an older, overhead-valve design, however, so its not as smooth and quiet as, say, an overhead-cam engine from Toyota. EPA rates it 19/24 City/Highway miles per gallon. We averaged 18 mpg, but our test vehicle only had 579 miles on it when we began driving, and engines loosen up and get better mileage over time.

The five-speed automatic transmission may be the smoothest thing about the Torrent. The upshifts are nice and tight. Theres good engine torque, with 210 pound-feet, and the transmission ratios and electronically variable shift points are well matched. We drive two steep hills every day in all kinds of vehicles, including those far more powerful than the Torrent; many other transmissions have to kick down, but the Torrent did not. Its also rated to tow 3500 pounds.

The Torrent offers good handling for the class without any sign of harshness to the ride. The longest wheelbase and widest track in the class surely add to this capability. The ride was good, including over some rough gravel roads, and. Its not hard to spin the front wheels when taking off quickly, and the front-drive Torrent comes standard with traction control to mitigate that. We havent driven an all-wheel-drive version. Our experience with all-wheel-drive versions of the similar Saturn Vue are that the rear wheels are only driven when the fronts start to slip. This works okay for getting through snow, but doesnt significantly improve handling on wet roads.

Wed prefer the Torrent had disc brakes on all four wheels, but it comes with drum brakes in the rear, which are less costly. Four-wheel ABS is standard, but no Electronic Brake-force Distribution is available. We made one panic stop from 70 miles per hour, and were satisfied with the feel of the pedal and stopping distance.


Favorite Features:

The exterior appearance. The roominess. The exterior color is great. Great leg room in the back. Great head room, even with a sunroof.

Overall Review:

This is a great SUV. Its got a lot of interior room for the smaller size. The sound system is nice, but could have more reliable speakers (already broke one). It is not powerful enough to tow more then a little trailer to the dump. The 17" wheels are really nice. Great SUV.