3
0
Midsize SUV; Built in Canada
  • 4-door wagon
  • transverse front-engine/front- or all-wheel drive
Good condition price range: $7,200 – $16,500*


2007 Pontiac Torrent


2007 Pontiac Torrent


2007 Pontiac Torrent


2007 Pontiac Torrent

Pros:
  • Acceleration
  • Cargo room
  • Control layout
  • Seat comfort
Cons:
  • Fuel economy
  • Noise
  • Ride (GXP)
  • Steering/handling

A base Torrent makes some sense as a space-efficient people mover with attractive pricing. Overall refinement trails class leaders, however. Vague steering and sloppy handling take all the fun out of driving. The aggressive GXP offers a meaningful amount of extra power, but suffers from a rough ride and excessive noise. Despite Torrent’s relatively low resale value, any number of midsize crossover SUVs deserve a higher place on your shopping list.

Overview

Pontiac introduced a new midsize sport-utility vehicle for 2006. The Torrent crossover wagon shared its car-type platform and drivetrain with the Chevrolet Equinox, though the Torrent’s suspension was tuned to impart a sportier feel. All Torrents seated five; no third-row seat was offered. The Multi-flex 60/40 split, reclining rear seat slid fore and aft by 8 inches, to maximize either passenger or cargo space. The front passenger seat folded down to allow carrying of longer items. A one-piece rear hatch did not include separate-opening glass. Pontiac claimed the widest rear door openings in the Torrent’s segment.

Torrents came with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, which lacked low-range gearing. A 185-horsepower V6 with five-speed automatic transmission was the sole powertrain. Antilock brakes were standard. Traction control was standard on the 2WD model. Head-protecting curtain side airbags were optional. Remote keyless entry was standard. Available features included leather upholstery, heated front seats (cloth or leather), satellite radio, and 17-inch aluminum wheels in place of the standard 16s. Potential rivals included the Honda Pilot, Hyundai Santa Fe, Nissan Murano, and Toyota Highlander.

Yearly Updates

2007 Torrent
For 2007, standard ABS and traction control were joined by an antiskid system and rear disc brakes. Curtain side airbags, which now included rollover deployment, remained optional. An available Premium Package included leather upholstery and heated front seats. A navigation system and remote engine start were newly available.
2008 Torrent
New for 2008 was a sporty Torrent GXP model with a 264-hp 3.6-liter V6, six-speed automatic transmission, sport suspension, and specific trim.
2009 Torrent
Few changes marked the Torrent for 2009.

Engines

transverse front-engine/front- or all-wheel drive

Regular Torrents used a 3.4-liter engine that developed 185 horsepower, with a five-speed automatic transmission. Introduced for 2008, the Torrent GXP held a 264-hp, 3.6-liter V6 and a six-speed automatic. Torrents may have front-wheel or all-wheel drive.

ohv V61
Engine Size (liters/cubic inches) 3.4/204
Engine HP 185
Engine Torque (lb-ft) 210
Avail. Trans. EPA MPG (city/hwy) MPG avg. as tested
5-speed automatic

 17/24
dohc V61
Engine Size (liters/cubic inches) 3.6/217
Engine HP 264
Engine Torque (lb-ft) 250
Avail. Trans. EPA MPG (city/hwy) MPG avg. as tested
6-speed automatic

 16/24

1. EPA Note: Figures shown are for 2008 models. The Environmental Protection Agency changed its procedure for 2008 to yield more realistic estimates. Therefore, estimated mileage is lower than for prior years.

Road Test

The GXP’s 3.6-liter V6 engine provides very good power delivery from a stop, and for highway passing and merging. The transmission has a tendency to hunt between gears at highway speeds. Base Torrent models have not been tested. Maximum towing capacity is 3500 pounds for all Torrent models.

Fuel economy earns no prizes. A test 2WD Torrent GXP averaged 19.9 mpg in mostly highway driving. All models use regular-grade gasoline.

The GXP’s sport suspension and low-profile tires take a hit on ride quality. Most bumps are felt, but they don’t jar. Despite the aggressive suspensions and tire combination, GXP handling quality falls short of sporty. Steering is rather numb, though grip is decent, but quite a bit of body lean occurs in turns. Tracking and straight-line stability are good; so is braking control.

Quietness is not a virtue. GXP models are alarmingly coarse. The engine is particularly unrefined, the exhaust note is raspy, and tire noise is excessive. One test model suffered from loud wind whistling around the side windows.

Gauges are large and easy to read. Major controls are logically positioned and easy to find. Some test-drivers found the center-console-mounted window switches an annoyance. The available navigation system incorporates audio functions, but does not complicate their use. Quality of interior trim improved for 2008, though the overall tactile experience still trails most competitors. More surfaces are hard and shiny than soft or padded.

Front occupants get plenty of headroom and legroom. Seats offer fine support. Thick front roof pillars block vision when cornering, and rear sight lines are hindered by the sloping roof.

Rear riders enjoy ample headroom. The clever Multi-flex sliding rear seat adjusts easily to create generous legroom. Split 60/40, it can accommodate three child safety seats; and two can remain in place while one seatback is folded.

Cargo room is generous. While the seatbacks don’t fold completely flat, they are no major hindrance, either. The height-adjustable cargo shelf is handy but feels flimsy. Cabin storage consists of a smallish center console and shallow glovebox.

Ratings

Model Tested: 2008 Torrent GXP w/AWD

Ratings values are on a 1-10 scale, with 10 being the best. With the exception of Value, these numbers reflect how the vehicle compares against the universe of vehicles, not just against rivals in its class.

Performance

Acceleration - 7
70%
Fuel Economy - 4
40%
Ride Quality - 4
40%
Steering/Handling - 4
40%
Quietness - 3
30%

Accommodations

Controls/Materials - 6
60%
Room/Comfort Front - 7
70%
Room/Comfort Rear - 6
60%
Cargo Room - 8
80%

Other

Value - 3
30%

Total: 52

Specifications

4-door wagon
Wheelbase (in.) Length (in.) Width (in.) Height (in.) Weight (lbs)
112.5 188.8 71.4 67.0
Cargo Volume (cu/ft) Payload Capacity (cu/ft) Fuel Capacity (gal.) Seating Capacity
68.6 16.6 5
Headroom Legroom
Front Rear Front Rear
40.9 40.1 41.2 40.2
Safety Ratings

Model Tested: 2008 Pontiac Torrent 4-door wagon

NHTSA

(5 is the highest rating)

Front Impact Test

Driver Injury - 5
100%
Front Passenger Injury - 5
100%

Side Impact Test

Driver Injury - 5
100%
Rear Passenger Injury - 5
100%

HLDI

(A score of 100 is average. Lower is better)

Collision N/A
Injury N/A
Theft N/A

Trouble Spots

Brakes
Description: The brakes may become spongy or the pedal may go almost to the floor unless the brake modulator valve is replaced. (2009)
Keys
Description: The key may be hard to remove from the ignition and an improved lock cylinder is available. (2007-09)
Audio system
Description: When using a portable music player (e.g. iPod) there may be noise in the car’s speakers whenever the vehicle’s power adapter is used and a ground loop isolator (from Radio Shack) is required between the device and the power outlet to prevent the noise. (2007-08)
Windshield washer
Description: The windshield washers may work poorly or quit working because the filter on the pump gets clogged, and continued attempted use may burn out the pump. (2007-08)
Wipers
Description: The windshield wipers may only work on one speed and/or the other functions on the turn signal stalk may quit due to voltage spike from the wiper motor damaging the body control module. (2007)
None
Description: The DVD monitors in the front seat headrests may quit working because the video feed cable comes loose requiring installation of cable clamps. (2007-08)
None
Description: The hatch may be hard to open in cold weather (below freezing) due to problems with the support struts. (2007)

Recall History

2007 Torrent
Description: Incorrect primer may have been used when installing windshield, so it may not be retained properly in a crash.
2007 Torrent
Description: Right front-passenger seat’s sensing system may fail to respond correctly if a small adult or a child is occupying that seat.
2007 w/o optional roof rail airbags
Description: Airbags or optional sunroof may not comply with federal safety standards, increasing risk of head injury in a crash.
2007 Torrent without roof rail airbags or sunroof
Description: An interior surface falls short of a Federal safety standard and poses an increased risk of head injury in a crash. Dealers will install an energy-absorbing foam piece to each of the A-pillar trim assemblies.

Equipment Lists

Equipment lists are only viewable on larger screen sizes.

Pricing

Used-car pricing varies widely depending on local market conditions. Therefore, we recommend visiting websites that list used cars for sale to get a better idea of what a specific model is selling for in your area.

More about Tom Appel
Written by: Tom Appel on July 24, 2014.
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