Pontiac Cars

Within the GM family, Pontiac primarily serves to fill the performance niche. That might be hard to believe after seeing Pontiac cars like the G3 and G5, both slightly veiled copies of efficient little runners sold by Chevrolet. But dive deeper into the lineup and you'll get a better glimpse of the brand's sporting intentions. Even rides like the Pontiac Torrent and Pontiac Vibe are offered with performance-oriented trims.

Pontiac Torrent Overview

Pontiac TorrentPontiac Torrent

The Pontiac Torrent is a well-equipped midsize crossover SUV that's available in either front-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive configurations and two trim levels -- base and GXP. Standard equipment on base models includes alloy wheels, stability control, antilock brakes, side curtain airbags, air-conditioning, satellite radio and full power accessories. Upgrading to the Torrent GXP gets you more power, a performance-tuned pontiac torrent accessories like suspension and steering, bigger wheels, dual exhaust outlets, heated front sport seats and a power driver seat, among other features. Some of the GXP's upgrades are available as options on the base Torrent, and the GXP itself has an options list as well. A navigation system, a rear-seat DVD entertainment system and Bluetooth are available as stand-alone options.

Base Pontiac Torrents are powered by a 185-horsepower 3.4-liter V6 engine coupled to a five-speed automatic transmission, while the GXP model comes with a 264-hp 3.6-liter V6 mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. The base V6's power is relatively meager for this segment, but around-town acceleration is thankfully adequate. The uplevel V6 in the GXP, on the other hand, provides ample thrust. The midsize Torrent offers plenty of room for its occupants and their stuff, including plenty of rear headroom and legroom. To accommodate larger passengers or bulky cargo, the 60/40-split rear seat can slide nearly 8 inches fore and aft. An adjustable rear cargo shelf further expands your loading options, and can also function as a picnic table.

Tuned more for ride comfort than acrobatic maneuvers, the Pontiac Torrent's fully independent suspension should satisfy most folks shopping this segment. Putting serious miles on the Torrent is relaxing, as the suspension swallows up the bumps and the lack of wind and road noise makes for a relatively calm cabin. Our only real complaint is with the fun-sapping electric power steering, which is overly light and struggles to keep up with the rest of the package.

Pontiac Torrent Spoiler