Meet the 2006 Pontiac Torrrent AWD
Meet the 2006 Pontiac Torrrent AWD
When is a Chevy not a Chevy? When it's a Pontiac. So if you suggest there's a strong similarity between the Pontiac Torrent and the Chevrolet Equinox you'd be right. It's an old game at General Motors and considering how Ford has harmed Mercury by re-badging Fords, the strategy may be questionable. That aside, simply by adding the signature grille plus a few trim changes and a sportier suspension, Pontiac has a mid-size SUV it can call its own.
To this reviewer, however, the Torrent seems less a sport-ute than a crossover, or to put it more accurately, a tall station wagon with the option of all-wheel-drive. It's a concept that worked well for Toyota with the Highlander so perhaps it will do the same for Pontiac. Indeed, the Torrent has some distinct advantages over the competition including a long wheelbase, multi-adjustable seating, and a standard V-6 engine with 5-speed automatic. Wisely, Pontiac has limited the lineup to two models: front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive. It was the latter that I tested for About Trucks.
Torrent prices begin at $22,990 for the front-wheel-drive model, $24,890 if you choose all-wheel-drive. A range of options can, of course, push the price up. And if you drive like an EPA computer you can expect to achieve 23 mpg on the highway and 18 mpg in the city with all-wheel-drive. Foregoing the latter will get you an extra mile for every precious gallon. Something to think about.
A gently-curved rear end adds to the illusion of sportiness, while pronounced wheel arches and a tubular roof rack provide distinctive touches. Overall, the Torrent's an attractive-looking vehicle with an aura of friendliness once you climb aboard. What do I mean by friendly? Though not normally enthusiastic about sport-utes I got into the Torrent and with only a moment to adjust myself to the interior environment was able to drive away feeling confident. That's a "plus" in my book.
The Torrent is a car-based vehicle with car-like features such as a unit-body construction, full-independent suspension, rack & pinion steering, head curtain airbags, and front-wheel-drive unless specified in rear-wheel-drive layout. Yet it's a rugged, purposeful-looking machine that seems capable of sneering at nasty weather and road conditions. It may not be as sporting a trip as Pontiac would have us believe but that's not what matters to most buyers in this class.
It's on the inside that the Torrent really shines and here the word is "versatility," as the designers found more ways to trick the seats than a magician has rabbits.
Normally there are two buckets up front and a bench in back, comfortably seating three full-size adults. The rear seat can slide eight inches for even more legroom and its back is adjustable for rake.
Since the rear seat is 60/40 split-folding, one or the other seatback can lay flat, adding more cargo space while still providing room for a passenger.
Which side gets folded depends, I would guess, on the size of the cargo vs. the size of the passenger. If no one sits back there the entire seat folds flat. Torrent's front passenger seatback also folds so with only the driver's seat in use the Torrent turns into a delivery van.
Incidentally, the front seatback, when folded flat, functions as a work table. As well, there's a removeable panel hidden in the cargo floor that can be used as a height adjustable shelf, a party table, or as a security cove. Storage spaces abound in the Torrent and thanks to the roof rack, bikes, skis, tents and other recreational paraphenalia can fit up top.
The rear door is extra large, step-up height is relatively low, headroom would fit the Cardiff Giant. In fact, there is so much useable space it's hard for me to conceive why anyone could possibly want anything larger unless their needs are very, very special.
What makes a real SUV is its ability to go where ordinary automobiles wouldn't dare. Trails laced with sump-destroying rocks, knee-deep streams, steep sandhills where ascent and descent can be downright scary; these are the challenges a genuine off-roader takes in its stride. While the Torrent is certainly capable of light-duty trail-bashing it's best suited to what our friends at Edmunds.com call "soft-roading."
Clearly the Torrent is more wagon than sport, yet acquits itself well on normal roads. Its 3.4 liter 185 hp pushrod V-6 may be old-fashioned but it accelerates eagerly, thanks to a standard 5-speed automatic; on a lengthy uphill climb, however, a fully-loaded Torrent will begin to feel the strain.
Don't expect to knife through the corners in a Pontiac Torrent. Though it handles as well as anything in its class, the ride/handling balance has been dialed in favor of comfort which, for a family vehicle, was undoubtedly a wise decision. Electric power steering helps reduce fuel consumption and in my view the Torrent's system has just enough road feel to keep sensitive drivers happy. Order front-wheel-drive and you'll get ABS brakes and traction control: combined with all-season tires, a pretty good rationale for buying the least-expensive of the available models.
Too bad Pontiac's marketing team settled for drum brakes in the rear, though. If I was descending a long mountain grade with a loaded Torrent I'd prefer the added safety of discs all-round.
We got along fine without minivans and sport-utes.
In order to critique the Torrent I had to imagine myself as a modern parent whose activities are different than mine were in those halcyon years. Would I still choose a station wagon because I like to drive and any good wagon is more fun than a sport-ute? Or would I be impressed with the Torrent's versatility, power, and handsome looks? Setting aside those old preferences, I might say "yes" to this Pontiac. There was much to like.
I appreciated the ebony coloring of an elegant dashboard. Gave full marks to the large knobs and controls. Liked the smallish steering wheel and short, leather-covered shifter, even though it was sometimes necessary to glance at the PRNDL indicator to know exactly where I was at. It's placed horizontally on the console: good idea or gimmick? Little things like the easily-reached door-pulls appealed. Heck, I also enjoyed the sound of that ancient V-6. Concern over crash safety would influence my wife, for the Torrent got five stars from the NHTSA.
Yes, I'd buy a Torrent with front-wheel-drive but I'd never call it an SUV. Sport-wagon sounds good to me.
When is a Chevy not a Chevy? When it's a Pontiac. So if you suggest there's a strong similarity between the Pontiac Torrent and the Chevrolet Equinox you'd be right. It's an old game at General Motors and considering how Ford has harmed Mercury by re-badging Fords, the strategy may be questionable. That aside, simply by adding the signature grille plus a few trim changes and a sportier suspension, Pontiac has a mid-size SUV it can call its own.
To this reviewer, however, the Torrent seems less a sport-ute than a crossover, or to put it more accurately, a tall station wagon with the option of all-wheel-drive. It's a concept that worked well for Toyota with the Highlander so perhaps it will do the same for Pontiac. Indeed, the Torrent has some distinct advantages over the competition including a long wheelbase, multi-adjustable seating, and a standard V-6 engine with 5-speed automatic. Wisely, Pontiac has limited the lineup to two models: front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive. It was the latter that I tested for About Trucks.
Torrent prices begin at $22,990 for the front-wheel-drive model, $24,890 if you choose all-wheel-drive. A range of options can, of course, push the price up. And if you drive like an EPA computer you can expect to achieve 23 mpg on the highway and 18 mpg in the city with all-wheel-drive. Foregoing the latter will get you an extra mile for every precious gallon. Something to think about.
First Glance at the Torrent
From the front, at least, the Torrent is clearly a Pontiac, thanks to the prominent twin-port grille and flared fenders. The overall shape is moderate wedge, a styling characteristic seldom seen in vehicles of this type but one that Pontiac applies to all its cars except the Solstice. Personally I think the wedge is outmoded but I can more readily accept it in the Torrent as a relief from the boxiness we associate with SUV's.A gently-curved rear end adds to the illusion of sportiness, while pronounced wheel arches and a tubular roof rack provide distinctive touches. Overall, the Torrent's an attractive-looking vehicle with an aura of friendliness once you climb aboard. What do I mean by friendly? Though not normally enthusiastic about sport-utes I got into the Torrent and with only a moment to adjust myself to the interior environment was able to drive away feeling confident. That's a "plus" in my book.
The Torrent is a car-based vehicle with car-like features such as a unit-body construction, full-independent suspension, rack & pinion steering, head curtain airbags, and front-wheel-drive unless specified in rear-wheel-drive layout. Yet it's a rugged, purposeful-looking machine that seems capable of sneering at nasty weather and road conditions. It may not be as sporting a trip as Pontiac would have us believe but that's not what matters to most buyers in this class.
It's on the inside that the Torrent really shines and here the word is "versatility," as the designers found more ways to trick the seats than a magician has rabbits.
Normally there are two buckets up front and a bench in back, comfortably seating three full-size adults. The rear seat can slide eight inches for even more legroom and its back is adjustable for rake.
Since the rear seat is 60/40 split-folding, one or the other seatback can lay flat, adding more cargo space while still providing room for a passenger.
Which side gets folded depends, I would guess, on the size of the cargo vs. the size of the passenger. If no one sits back there the entire seat folds flat. Torrent's front passenger seatback also folds so with only the driver's seat in use the Torrent turns into a delivery van.
Incidentally, the front seatback, when folded flat, functions as a work table. As well, there's a removeable panel hidden in the cargo floor that can be used as a height adjustable shelf, a party table, or as a security cove. Storage spaces abound in the Torrent and thanks to the roof rack, bikes, skis, tents and other recreational paraphenalia can fit up top.
The rear door is extra large, step-up height is relatively low, headroom would fit the Cardiff Giant. In fact, there is so much useable space it's hard for me to conceive why anyone could possibly want anything larger unless their needs are very, very special.
What makes a real SUV is its ability to go where ordinary automobiles wouldn't dare. Trails laced with sump-destroying rocks, knee-deep streams, steep sandhills where ascent and descent can be downright scary; these are the challenges a genuine off-roader takes in its stride. While the Torrent is certainly capable of light-duty trail-bashing it's best suited to what our friends at Edmunds.com call "soft-roading."
Clearly the Torrent is more wagon than sport, yet acquits itself well on normal roads. Its 3.4 liter 185 hp pushrod V-6 may be old-fashioned but it accelerates eagerly, thanks to a standard 5-speed automatic; on a lengthy uphill climb, however, a fully-loaded Torrent will begin to feel the strain.
Don't expect to knife through the corners in a Pontiac Torrent. Though it handles as well as anything in its class, the ride/handling balance has been dialed in favor of comfort which, for a family vehicle, was undoubtedly a wise decision. Electric power steering helps reduce fuel consumption and in my view the Torrent's system has just enough road feel to keep sensitive drivers happy. Order front-wheel-drive and you'll get ABS brakes and traction control: combined with all-season tires, a pretty good rationale for buying the least-expensive of the available models.
Too bad Pontiac's marketing team settled for drum brakes in the rear, though. If I was descending a long mountain grade with a loaded Torrent I'd prefer the added safety of discs all-round.
Bottom Line
It's been decades since I was faced with the worries of a family driver. The last vehicle I purchased during my "age of responsibility" was a Volvo wagon and prior to that my ex, two sons, mom-in-law and myself zapped around New York and London in a BMW 2002. So I'm forced to confess that I sometimes wonder what the fuss is all about.We got along fine without minivans and sport-utes.
In order to critique the Torrent I had to imagine myself as a modern parent whose activities are different than mine were in those halcyon years. Would I still choose a station wagon because I like to drive and any good wagon is more fun than a sport-ute? Or would I be impressed with the Torrent's versatility, power, and handsome looks? Setting aside those old preferences, I might say "yes" to this Pontiac. There was much to like.
I appreciated the ebony coloring of an elegant dashboard. Gave full marks to the large knobs and controls. Liked the smallish steering wheel and short, leather-covered shifter, even though it was sometimes necessary to glance at the PRNDL indicator to know exactly where I was at. It's placed horizontally on the console: good idea or gimmick? Little things like the easily-reached door-pulls appealed. Heck, I also enjoyed the sound of that ancient V-6. Concern over crash safety would influence my wife, for the Torrent got five stars from the NHTSA.
Yes, I'd buy a Torrent with front-wheel-drive but I'd never call it an SUV. Sport-wagon sounds good to me.
