TheCarConnection.com's editors read the latest reviews on the new 2008 Pontiac Torrent to write this comprehensive review. The car experts at TheCarConnection.com also drove the 2008 Pontiac Torrent, and they use that experience to steer you to the right opinions and advice, so you can choose a perfect car.
Likes
New GXP edition
Power from 3.6-liter V-6
Improved ride of base models
Lots of interior room
Easy-to-use controls
Dislikes
Cheap-feeling interior
Flexible chassis leads to squeaks
Poor driving feel for base model
The 2008 Pontiac Torrent is an older crossover with good room, but some shortcomings keep it from being a top choice in the segment.
However, properly equipped, the 2008 Pontiac Torrent has some good qualities. The five-passenger Torrent SUV/crossover can finally live up to its name, once it becomes a GXP edition. The GXP package on the 2008 Pontiac Torrent is built around a dual-overhead-cam 3.6-liter V-6 (sourced from the Cadillac CTS) that's massively more powerful than the 3.4-liter V-6 that's been the standard Torrent powerplant since the model's 2006 introduction. The new engine produces 264 horsepower, a great leap forward of nearly 80 hp over the 3.4's not-so-torrential 185 hp rating. The GXP package (available in front- and all-wheel drive) also includes a standard six-speed automatic transmission with "tap up, tap down" manual shift control, polished 18-inch rims with 50-series Goodyear Eagle RS-A performance tires, a unique hood with twin pressed-in "aero scoops," dual exhaust tips jutting out of the rear valance, and projector-style fog lamps leading the way up front. The suspension's been lowered and tuned to be firmer, too. GM's StabiliTrak integrated electronic traction/stability control system is also included, as are heated front seats, a performance-themed gauge cluster, and GXP-specific exterior and interior trim.
So what kind of performance does the 2008 Pontiac Torrent GXP deliver? Zero to 60 is now reachable in about 6.9 seconds with the front-drive version. All-wheel-drive versions are maybe a tenth or so slower. Either way, this is a huge improvement over the 3.4-liter Torrent, which needs closer to 10 seconds to make the same run. There is a price to be paid for this performance edge, however. This is not the SUV to think about taking off-road. Even a little. The base version is considerably less inspiring, with some noticeable body flex and sluggish steering.
In more introverted matters, the Torrent is a well-sized, well-organized package, particularly if you need the family-friendly versatility. Though it doesn't offer a third-row seat, the Torrent is extremely roomy, even in the backseat (it's comfortable enough for six-foot-tall passengers). The roominess extends to the cargo area, which is almost big enough to handle another person at 35 cubic feet. The controls for the A/C system and radio are simple, effective rotary-style knobs that can be operated by feel without having to look at them as you drive. The dash layout is swell, too, though not as rich and finished-looking as some of GM's newer models such as the new Chevy Malibu and the absolutely gorgeous Buick Enclave. There's still a bit too much rhino-hard black plastic that detracts from the quality feel a $30,000 vehicle ought to convey in 2008.
The Bottom Line: The 2008 Pontiac Torrent offers good room and a great new GXP edition, but other choices in the segment are more refined and more modern.
Other Choices
If you're interested in the 2008 Pontiac Torrent, also consider:
- Hyundai Santa Fe
- Suzuki XL7
- Mitsubishi Outlander
- Toyota RAV4
- Honda CR-V
- Dodge Journey
- Saturn Vue
Reason why
As outfitted, the Torrent GXP will handily run circles around a Hyundai Santa Fe, Mitsubishi Outlander, Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, or 2009 Dodge Journey. None of those competitors even offer performance packages. The 2008 Pontiac Torrent also delivers a far more credible facsimile of sporty handling than the typical truck-based SUV (or even car-based crossover), but its Chevrolet Equinox donor chassis can't keep pace with the Opel that underpins the new Saturn Vue and Vue Red Line performance edition. In the 2008 Pontiac Torrent GXP, though you're not going to out-corner sportscars, you will be piloting something a lot more agile than the typical lumbering SUV--something that's happy to tackle corners at speeds that would make most of its more SUV-looking crossover competition seriously unhappy.
Buying Tip
TheCarConnection.com does not recommend even considering the base 2008 Pontiac Torrent because there are far better compact SUVs on the market at similar prices. However, the GXP edition is worth a look because it offers a level of performance that's otherwise hard to find.
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