When I stepped into the silver metallic 2006 Pontiac Torrent and twisted the ignition key, I was pleasantly surprised by this new SUV. My test vehicle was decked out in black leather, gray metallic trim, and chrome accents. On the XM satellite radio, “Watercolors” emitted mood music through the impressive speakers. Then, after adjusting the driver’s seat and mirrors, I selected ‘drive’ and headed out on a 30-mile journey. It didn’t take long for the Torrent’s Chevrolet Equinox genes to make themselves evident.

Fundamentally, the Equinox and its new Pontiac brother, the Torrent, are fine crossover SUVs that blend the utility of a truck with the ride and handling of a car. The problem is with the execution, not the design.

For example, a 3.4-liter, 185-horsepower engine is under the hood. Why GM’s corporate 3.5-liter or 3.9-liter V6 motors are missing from the Torrent is a mystery to me. The Saturn Vue, which shares the Equinox/Torrent platform, gets a powerful Honda V6 good for almost 60 more horsepower. Perhaps I’m mistaken, but I thought Pontiac was the performance division at GM, not Saturn. Anyway, the Torrent’s engine works hard, and it’s loud, though wind and road noise battle for supremacy in the aural-annoyance championship. At least the Torrent’s numb electric steering features more heft off center than the Equinox, and the suspension is tighter. But because of the weak all-season rubber on the Poncho, the Torrent’s stiffer underpinnings serve mainly to create a tauter ride and reduce body roll.

Inside, the Torrent’s front seats are quite comfortable, making it a great place to sit while commuting and grocery getting, but the upper door panels are covered in elbow-unfriendly hard plastic. In fact, there’s lots of hard, deeply-grained plastic inside the Torrent, and the leather is rather dry and somewhat shiny in direct sunlight. The back seat is equally comfortable, with tons of leg and foot space, and like the Equinox, the rear bench can slide fore-and-aft to create more passenger or cargo room. Adding to comfort levels, getting into and out of this SUV is extremely easy. In back, a six-footer clears the tailgate for loading, and the back seats will fold down for maximum cargo capacity. But don’t try to slide anything too wide into this rig, because invasive shock tower covers limit the width of the floor.

Indeed, the Pontiac Torrent makes a handsome, comfortable, and useful family hauler. Just don’t expect much in the way of refinement from the driving experience or interior materials in exchange for what seems to be a rather steep price premium. – Christian J. Wardlaw

Photos courtesy of General Motors