The 2009 Pontiac Torrent is a five-seater SUV crossover that is surrounded by talk of its imminent demise. This may not be such a bad thing. The crossover class has been so fashionable in the last five years that it has been inundated by more models than you can poke a stick at. Unfortunately a lot of these models are really just opportunist attempts to jump on the crossover bandwagon without a great deal of thought or engineering expertise put into them, and many fall down in the execution. The Pontiac Torrent is a prime case-in-point. What was a good idea for a cross between a station wagon and SUV translates into a vehicle that, while being comfortable and reasonably stylish, compromises handling and performance to such an extent, particularly in the GXP, that it leaves little to be loved.
2009 Pontiac Torrent Performance
There are two trims available for the 2009 Pontiac Torrent. The Base model carries a 3.4-liter V6 engine that produces 185hp with 210lb-ft of torque at 3,800rpm. It has 5-speed automatic transmission and makes 17/24mpg city/highway driving for fuel economy. The sportier GXP is powered by a 3.6-liter V6 with six-speed automatic transmission which produces 264hp and 250lb-ft of torque at 2,300rpm. Its fuel economy is amazingly almost the same as the base model, at 16/24mpg city/highway.
The base model sports adequate power for general use, even when towing, and has reasonable acceleration and braking ability. The GXP however, seems to personify everything that can go wrong in the performance department, with constant gear changes from the automatic transmission in highway driving, unresponsive steering, extreme body-lean in cornering, overly stiff “sport” suspension that thumps over every bump in the road, and excessive noise from the engine, tires and body. It is widely acknowledged that if you are buying a Torrent, it is better to stick to an option-packed base model.
Both trims are available in front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive and the base model sports standard 16-inch wheels while the GXP has 18-inch wheels.
2009 Pontiac Torrent Interior
The interior of the Pontiac Torrent is its plus point, and offers many optional packages that allow you to personalize it according to taste. The seats are comfortable and spacious with plenty of leg and head room, and the second-row seats slide forwards and backwards for even more space for legs or cargo in the rear. With the second-row seating folded down, there is an impressive 138.6 cubic feet of cargo space available.
Standard features include the flat-folding front passenger seat to carry long items, reclining back seat, tilt-steering, 12-volt auxiliary power outlets, iPod connection, OnStar plus navigation system and satellite radio plus a rear lift-gate. This can be enhanced with the “Preferred” package, which offers remote vehicle starting function, steering-wheel mounted controls for the stereo and automatic dimming rearview mirror. Step up a grade to the “Premium” package and you score heated leather front seats, then the “Sun and Sound” package adds an enhanced pioneer seven-speaker premium audio system with MP3 playback and sunroof. The “Chrome” package jazzes up the interior with – you guessed it – chrome accents on the door handles plus chrome roof rails, front and rear skid plates with chrome trim, and a chrome grille.
The Torrent has been criticized for its over-use of cheap hard plastics on the console and other interior surfaces, but overall the controls are easily visible and accessible and a significant improvement on some of the more complicated and illegible styles that are on the market these days.
2009 Pontiac Torrent Safety
Government crash tests rated the Torrent with a perfect five stars for front and side impact situations and four stars for rollover resistance. This put it in the top “good” ratings category thanks to the wide range of standard safety features. The full range of airbags are available including dual-stage frontal plus side curtain bags and the passenger sensing system avoids unnecessary activation of airbags when there are no passengers. Electronic stability control is standard, as are ABS disc brakes and anti-skid and traction control, all of which aim to keep the vehicle under control in emergency situations. Tire pressure monitoring system and daytime running lights are also included.
Safety features:
- Electronic stability control, ABS disc brakes, traction control and anti-skid.
- Full airbags and passenger sensing system.
- Tire pressure monitoring system.
- Daytime running lights.
- LATCH (lower anchors and tethers for children)
- Electronic trailer sway control integrated into the stability control system.
Overall the 2009 Pontiac Torrent is not the world’s greatest SUV crossover, thanks to some significant oversights in the steering and handling department and stiff competition from the likes of the Honda Pilot, Dodge Journey and Toyota Highlander. But if it is comfort and space you are after and you have a particular love for Pontiacs, it may offer an adequate solution for your family needs.