2006 Pontiac Torrent New Car Buyer's Guide

New Car Buyer's Guide  » Pontiac  » 2006 Torrent   What's New for the 2006 Pontiac Torrent? The Pontiac Torrent is a new crossover SUV. It's priced to compete against vehicles like the Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, Mitsubishi Outlander, and Saturn Vue. Like its corporate twin, the Chevrolet Equinox, the Torrent is a bit bigger than most of these vehicles. Its 112-inch wheelbase, for instance, is about 9 inches longer than that of the Escape. The Torrent's larger size pays dividends in interior space; there's plenty of room for passengers, and 69 cubic feet of cargo room is available when the rear seats are lowered. Special interior features include a variable-position rear cargo shelf and rear seating that reclines as well as slides fore-and-aft. For 2006, there's only one trim level available. Standard features include 16-inch alloy wheels, air conditioning, keyless entry, and power windows and mirrors. A large collection of optional features, such as 17-inch alloys, cruise control, a six-CD changer, OnStar, heated power front seats and leather upholstery, are grouped into two main option packages. Antilock brakes are standard while front side airbags and head-protecting side curtain airbags are optional. For power, the Torrent relies on a 3.4-liter, China-sourced V6 rated at 185 hp and 210 lb.-ft. of torque. A five-speed automatic transmission is standard, and the Pontiac Torrent is available with either front-wheel or all-wheel drive. Advantages of the 2006 Pontiac Torrent: Roomy interior with adjustable rear seating Comfortable ride Good crash test scores Objections to the 2006 Pontiac Torrent: Lifeless steering and drab handling dynamics Minimal off-road ability Editor's Advice: Don't let Pontiac's marketing or the meaning of the Torrent's name fool you. This is certainly a decent crossover SUV but the level of performance provided is more like "bubbling stream" rather than "raging and uncontrolled river." Differences between the Torrent and the Chevrolet Equinox are minimal so feel free to choose based on which one's styling you like better. And if you really do want some swiftness out of a compact SUV, check out GM's own Saturn Vue equipped with the V6 and the Red Line package. Zip Code:  OTHER WAYS TO SEARCH Search By Make BMW, Honda, Toyota, Lexus, etc. Advanced Search Search by features and other criteria Search By Category Convertibles, SUVs, Vans, etc. Search By Payment Find new cars that fit your monthly budget     CAR PREVIEWS & REVIEWS 2008 Pontiac Torrent GXP Preview Perhaps performance tweaks will help consumers see past this SUV’s flaws 2006 Pontiac Torrent Quick Spin Plan on a torrent of rebates 2006 Pontiac Torrent Preview The next stage of equinox NCTD: 2008 Pontiac G5 Swoopy coupe gets more standard equipment. NCTD: 2008 Pontiac G6 Sporty midsize sedans, coupes, and hardtop convertibles. 2007 Pontiac G6 Sedan Review Basic competence barely cuts it in cutthroat class 2007 Pontiac G5 Review Pontiac performance: a rebadged Chevy minus the optional supercharger? 2007 Pontiac Solstice GXP Review Flawed beauty 2008 Pontiac G6 GXP Brief Pontiac adds a bit more sport to the G6 lineup 2007 Pontiac Solstice GXP First Drive Performance that's more than skin deep ABOUT CARSMART "Since 1995, we've helped millions of customers get connected to a local CarSmart Accredited Dealer for up-front auto pricing and a no-hassle car and truck buying experience. We are the Internet's largest new car buying service, generating over a billion dollars a month in auto sales."

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