Used 2006 Pontiac Torrent Consumer Reviews

Good Value! I have loved my Torrent!

My Torrent has treated me well! Although, I must say I only drive about 10,000 miles a year. I bought it March 2006 and just had to get new tires about a month ago. I have not had any problems with mine at all up until this week. My check engine light came on? I have not gotten it checked out yet but I really don't think it could be much of anything since I have so few miles. Besides that, I LOVE driving it and really has been a good car, especially for what I paid for it!

An okay car...

Owned a 2006 Pontiac Torrent AWD up until a few years ago, bought it used in 2009. The wife and I liked it at first but then came the notorious GM paint scabs, paint peeling off everywhere!!! It was discouraging since I like to detail my cars top to bottom and you see bare metal everywhere. The plastics and other trims where extremely cheap and delicate, electronics failed multiple times, I'd replace the hubs prematurely and it would still upset the ABS system. The AWD system was meh...It would make you lunge forward very aggressively once you lost traction in the front tires, perhaps that's why the rear driveshaft had to be replaced ($780), Then the rear diff exploded (don't recall how much it cost). Don't get me wrong, the Torrent was really fun to drive and had a surprisingly peppy 185hp V6, but the gas mileage was horrendous, it may have been a smaller tank, but a trip to Toronto Canada from up north where I live is 340kms and I had to fill up once or twice in between....It was that bad.

Love this car!

How's your X5

We have 1200 miles on the Torrent and don't have any complaints. This is a good looking vehicle and have received many compliments. Alot of people think it's an X5 or a Lexus. This is huge considering the price difference, twenty grand. Aside from looking good the ride of the Torrent is excellent. If you want a truck buy an X-Terra. This is a SUV to help get the kids to school in a snow storm not to climb Mt.Overacheiver. The back seat is huge and can can accomadate any trip to the home improvement store. I was in a huge thunderstorm last night aside eighteen wheeler's and the Torrent was solid and handled the dangeourous situation like a champ. 20 miles per gallon going 65-70 with 87oct.

fun to drive, pig on gas

I blew a wheel bearing after 3 weeks of ownership. The blower motor bearing is also bad. I am lucky to get 12L/100km Hwy (40% worse than sticker). This is gentle hwy driving!! It is very comfortable, good visibility, lots of space. Steering is weird and turning radius is a joke. Hard to believe, but delay wipers are not adjustable. No navigation system available. Great in snow, excellent braking, decent acceleration. Don't waste your money on AWD unless you live in remote snowy areas. 99% of the time it is just extra weight and wasted gas. Nissan X-trail and Suzuki Grand Vitara feel very cheap and noisy in comparison, and the X trail wasn't much more gas efficient.

raynez

I am 80-yr.old. Ease of entry, head room, cargo space, are just what I needed. The dashboard is easy to read day or night. My family members are all over 6', and they fit well in the front and back seats.

Torrent

I fell in love with the Torrent the moment I saw it. I found it to be fun to drive and comfortable. While to took so getting use to with the window controls and such, the vehicle was an excellent choice on my part. Power and transmition were no problems.

My Sporty SUV

We've owned many Pontiacs over the years and this one stacks up as another winner for us. I like the feeling of sitting higher up being a shorter person. The interior is roomy with a quiet ride even with the 17" optional wheels. The only thing I would change is the steering. It takes more turns of the wheel to pull into a parking spot, yet on the road it feels fine. The Chevy version is ok but if you want people to notice what you're driving, this sporty Pontiac is the way to go!

Wheel Bearings Again?

Bought the torrent because it's American made. Have all my 26 years of driving. But this torrent has been fixed 5 times for all of the wheel bearings. Ignition cylinder as well. Bought brand new tires at 55k, had loud vibrating sound coming from front and back, thought it was the bad tires. Not. The rear wheel bearings are once again going bad! Gm builds a quality product, but they need to concentrate on their brakes. This gm vehicle is really getting me down. Good thing I purchased a 100k warranty!

My first new car

I love driving my new torrent that was a gift given to me by my husband of 11yrs. I wish it had cruise control though. Cruise control should be installed including basic models. The winfdows should be tinted on the basic model as well. I am sure in the future these concerns will be addressed and changed.

Worth the wait

Our 1998 Chevy Tracker fit in the garage allright, ran without any problems for many years; but was always a SUV wanna-be. We needed an SUV that was small enough for the garage but big enough for comfotable trips to and from our daughters college; 450 miles return. The Torrent exceeds our expectations.

Happy but won't buy American again

Have owned my Torrent almost 3 years. Over all I have to admit I have been happy with it. I like the roominess, the stereo, and the power. The problems I've had are the right front door speaker had to be replaced, twice. I had to replace the windshield in it, twice. Both times no explanation for why the windshield cracked. Too much flex in the body? Also the remote clicker wouldn't always unlock the car. That seems to be working okay now. The car is nearing the end of it's warranty and I had planned on trading before it expires but the car has depreciated so much that I owe more than it's worth. Now that Pontiac is going away wonder what that will do to the value? My next car will be a Honda

A Great SUV

This is a great SUV. It's got a lot of interior room for the smaller size. The sound system is nice, but could have more reliable speakers (already broke one). It is not powerful enough to tow more then a little trailer to the dump. The 17" wheels are really nice. Great SUV.

Almost bought a toyota!!!

We just bought our Torrent this week so we've only had it for 5 days, but already loving it and every day finding more things to love about it. And to think, we ALMOST bought a Toyota...until we wandered into the pontiac dealership and saw this vehicle, took a test drive, and the rest as they say is history! Great looking SUV, great riding SUV, creature comforts everywhere! Absolutely love the "extra" room under the console, especially handy for placing your purse so you don't have to have it next to your feet like in other vehicles. Love the window buttons -- totally different than any other vehicle out there. Looking forward to many more miles -- right now we have 67! Thanks GM!!!

2006 Pontiac Torrent

Great SUV. Fun on trips, excellent leg room front and year--more than any we looked at. We got 27 mpg on trips and about 24-25 city miles. There are a couple of items we wished it had, like the grap bars above all the windows and a different design for the center console. CD holder in awkward place and the drink holds are rather flimsey, storage pockets in rear would be nice. Other than that, it's a great SUV for traveling and the fact that the back seat moves forward and backward eight inches really is a plus for this. Very comfortable car to drive and ride in--plenty of room. The windshield design is great for sight seeing and the aerodynamics is good as well. Very little road noise

What a surprise, I had no idea

That this SUV was out there either until my husband showed it to me online. I had been looking at the Rav4 and the Saturn VUE but when I sat in both vehicles I did not feel exactly as comfortable in them as I did the Pontiac Torrent. I sat in this car and it was like a dream! So roomy, and the rear seat fits 3 comfortably! I had 3 guys over 6 feet tall fit in there with ease. Really, a cool looking vehicle, my kids are in love with it and so am I! Only have 33 miles but easy to drive. Much better on gas than my Dodge Grand Caravan.

My Mothers-Day Gift From Hubby & Kids

I have been looking at this car since November. I told my husband I like this car. it's perfect for me and the kids. I have owned almost every chevy car. This is my first Pontiac and I love it. Thanks to my Husband & kids.

Great S U V, for the money

This is a fun suv to drive, very comfortable and great handling on curves, with the awd. Like the pioneer premium 7-speaker sound system. Also like the sun roof, never have had that before on a car. Fuel economy could be better, but you can't have everything. I paid extra for the sporty running boards and they really look great and sporty with them on. Also like the radio controls on the steering wheel.

It's been nice

I have had my Torrent for 3+ years now and for the most part have loved it. I have been told that they are discontinuing this model which is upsetting. I have had some problems with parts/repairs. Wished it had a 5 year/100,000 warranty. I don't think the 3 year/36,000 covers long enough.

My new Torrent!

After a great ownership experience with a Saturn Vue (which my son now has), the torrent has much more torque, great five speed tranny, leather, luxury features like heated seats, XM radio, six disc cd, and it's bigger for more cargo too. The ride is more controlled, quieter and less stressful on the highway - well worth the extra cost. The fit and finish are exemplary, just can't imagine what the buyers of German and Japanese fail too see in this fine GM product (I'm a former foreign car only owner). GM's got it now, just hope it's not too late for the General.

First time SUV Crossover owner

This is my first SUV crossover that I have owned and I am very pleased with the performase of this vehicle. It has plenty cargo pace (for my family's needs), and the rear passenger area is big and confortable too (according to my wife). I like the way it handles and the fast acceleration it provides (I am no F1 driver, mind you). My previous car was a 1999 Grand Am, and I loved it until the day I sold it. I am looking forward to own this one for at least 10 years!

Great SUV for the Price

Excellent value. Great style. Just drove 3900 miles with the family to Yellowstone / Tetons. Very comfortable ride with plenty of room, quiet ride. Leather/Heated seats are great in cold weather. This is the first new Pontiac I've ever purchased. Very satisfied.

Plugged Heater Core

I've loved my Torrent. It drives great and looks great. But, I've had it almost exactly 2 years and the heater stopped working. Per the dealership, I've got a plugged heater core wich is $400-500 to fix. They also have another Torrent in the shop right now with the same problem. This seems a bit odd to me that 2006 Torrents would start having this problem. Wished it had a 5 year/100,000 warranty. I don't think the 3 year/36,000 covers long enough.

Excellent SUV - Fun to drive

Excellent SUV! Drives well and looks great. Gas mileage is decent, with the engine offering plenty of power and pep. I'm 6'2", and I find the seats very comfortable with plenty of legroom. My Torrent has the "Crystal Lake" paint color, which sometimes looks blue, sometimes green, sometimes purple! GM has definitely improved on their interiors with this car

Great Mid Size SUV

I have owned my Pontiac Torrent for 6 weeks and love to drive it! The interior is amazing with the sun and sand package, 6 disc cd changer, numerous speakers, and of course sun roof, and the gas mileage is not too bad either. I drive in downtown Indianapolis everyday and still get 22 miles to the gallon.

Birthday Present

I bought this for my daughter for her birthday. She recently got her license and has adapted very well to the car. I've driven a lot of different cars and trucks and have a luxury sports convertible. While it doesn't handle like that car, it does handle very well and has exceptional power so it moves quickly onto highways. The car is comfortable to drive with good visiblility. The car has all wheel drive but rides very well.

torrent is awesome

Best vehicle I've ever bought for the money! Have had absolutely no problems and gas mileage is better than stated!

Love the features of this car

I fell in love with this car when I first saw it. It had so many great features on the interior (heated seats, dark fabric, easy wheel mounted controls, temp. display etc...). I drove the car off the lot, and 7 days later the check if engine light was on. After numerous "smaller repairs" I noticed a rattling sound and brought it in...the engine needed to be taken out to replace a loose cap inside of it ($3,500) luckily it was covered by warranty. I absolutely love this car, but it is so unreliable I am trading it in after 6 months. Now I am also out the $700 I paid for snow tires because of the extended rim size uncommon to other vehicles.

Fantastic

Gm has built a suv that has the best quility, smooth transmission, very quiet. I let my wife drive toyotas,hondas and she picked the pontiac. We have had the torrent for two weeks. Thank you gm!

PoorFuel Economy

Father of 2 and happily married, We love out Torrent. But It seems to suck down the gas and we travel on the highway often because we live in a small town so to go shopping or to get to work we are taking frequent 15-20 minute trips. We have only been getting around 240-260 miles per tank? We are wondering if anyone else is noticing this? The specs say we should get over 300? Besides the punch in the face at the gas station we love it and it fits our sporty lifestyle.

Love my Torrent!

I've only owned foreign-made cars for the past 20 years, because I felt the domestic vehicles weren't up to overseas standards. This new Torrent has changed my mind: it's a great car, and I just enjoy so very much driving it! In fact, my wife and I argue constantly about who's going to drive. The luggage room is fine, and I just like the feel of being high off the road, with good visibility all around.

So far so good

I've had my Torrent for a week. I love it! Sure, it's not a Lexus or Infiniti, but it is good value for the money. I happen to like the seats. They're firm, and they don't catch me under the knees like most car seats do. There is very little noise filtering in while on the highway. The back seat legroom is fantastic, as is entry/exit. And if you lower the back seat, you have tons of room. I think GM worked out some of the bugs from the Equinox and has a winner with the Torrent. There are a few things I don't care for, but just about every car has those things we don't like. I'd recommend it to anyone!

Love it--had problems

I love my car. Looks good-sporty-but I have named her Christine. A lot of little problems from sensors that would not allow me to put gas in my car (really!) to a freaked out blower motor that would not turn off. (twice) This summer vacationing at the beach, I was caught in a torrential rainstorm. Noticed a horrible wet smell the next couple of days. Yesterday took Christine to get her washed and water came through the dome lights. From the gearshift. And into the floorboard. Warranty gone! What do I do other than be thankful for the drought in my state.

Love it!!

I’ve had my Torrent for about a month and I absolutely love it. It’s extremely comfortable to drive with more than enough room for my family of 4 (2 teenagers) and a dog. The ride is extremely smooth for an SUV. I test drove many SUVs and none were compared to that of the Torrent (I test drove the Equinox as the Torrent was not yet available). The Equinox and Torrent are identical except for the aesthetics. The interior chrome accents give it a touch of class. It truly looks and drives and IS a vehicle with class!

Great Vehicle

I have driven my Torrent up to 9950' in Rocky Mountain National Park partially on ice and snow. The AWD worked great with no slips or skids! The transmission worked fine ascending and descending the steep mountain roads. It was fun motoring up and down the tight roads with a positive feel of the road in such a nicely equipped SUV.(It operates fine here on the level in town, too.) I now have 2500 miles on my Torrent with no problems.

06 Torrent AWD

Overall impression: Rides excellent, feels closer to a sedan than to a truck . Handles suprisingly well for an SUV but is still a 3700 pound vehicle so it's no sports car. One of the best looking SUVs on the road in my opinion, similar to a Lexus RX330 (but not as smooth as the Nissan Murano). It would be nice to see a sporty version with a bigger engine and dual exhaust but overall this is a great value SUV.

Fun vehicle

This is a really fun suv to drive. I traded in a new hhr because i liked the torrent so much better. Smooth ride. Easy on gas. Love it !!

A very nice surprise!

Great daily drive. Didn't even know Pontiac had a small suv, went to get an Envoy. Very nice ride most people think it is an import suv. Real nice ride, very agile.

Pontiac Excitement

Rides and handles very well with the stiffer, sport-tuned suspension. Spacious enough to be very comfortable for 5 adults and more than adequate storage. Plenty of pep under any condition to which I've exposed it. AWD performs admirably. Style-wise, it's been mistaken for a BMW. Great buy for the buck.

Great vehicle

This really puts the ball in the opponents court. This vehicle has been very reliable and has been nothing short of what I need in a family vehicle.

Great In The Snow

Purchased this vehicle about 5 wks ago and have about 1000 mi. on it now. It replaced a 2004 Cadillac cts which is rear wheel drive. Even with traction control, it was useless when there was snow on the roads. Living in central New England, we need something that allows us to get to work in a storm. The Pontiac Torrent fills the bill in this area very nicely. It also is a nice looking vehicle that is fun to drive. Couldn't ask for much more.

Too New To Know

Its a little too new to know everything aout my new Torrent, but am looking forwrd to learning more. Only have 450 miles, but have already driven in snow and ice and Torrent appears to handle well. Had a 98 AWD Astro minivan and loved the AWD feature. I also like sitting up a little higher than in a car. There does seem to be a bit of road noise, but that could be the 17" tires. Also, noticing little less visibility to the side and rear than I am used to and the gas mileage so far hasn't been as good as expected, but maybe that's just the break in period. Like I said, its too new to know everything.

this thang is awesome

i have no complaints to this point. the torrent drives rides and is super comfortable

A nice ute

A pretty Ute (black). Ride is nice and I think it handles fine. Powertrain is too small, and considering the mileage is realistically 16-18 a bigger motor is in order. Overall I like it.

Problems with ignition and key assembly

Positive things: roomy inside, and gas mileage is great. Negative things: key ignition locks up. Have had it replaced (cylinder) and still in locks up again. Also had a defect in the wheel bearing and GM first did not want to include in my GM protection plan extended warranty which I purchased at a high price. After reaching GMPP themselves, it was paid. But I had to pay $100 deductible 3 times to get things straightened out.

It's OK

So I had a Honda Civic and was forced to get rid of it for an SUV, not happy to begin with. Now I have 45K and my windshield has a 3+ crack that started from the right lower seal! Nothing hit my car. Now it's in my face. My rotors thump and my car won't crank over sometimes. I live in a snowy area and have driven it in the snow but never ever saw the AWD light kick on. It used to shift rough but now it's OK. I guess it was just because it was new. It's OK though, not happy with it but love the sunroof and definitely the stereo and sound system

Former auto Europhile

Have had the AWD with all the goodies for 850 miles now and am pleased. The AWD has performed well in the little snow and slush we've had. Nice power, ride and handling for such a vehicle. Good looking inside and out. Hauls long pieces of lumber well. I've owned 5 BMWs and largely avoided US vehicles until I got a GMC Canyon to go 4x4ing. Had a good experience with that, so when I discovered that crew cabs don't fit into the 80 year old garage in the house I just got decided to give GM another chance and on paper the Torrent fit my needs better than anything else. Have been turned off by the recent quality problems with Euro cars. So far so good, and, my teenage daugter likes it too!

Terrific Torrent

The torrent is great for Canadian winters. It has no difficulty with snowy or icy streets while at the same time providing a comfortable car- like ride.

Good move by Pontiac

Wife saw it on shopping lot parking lot and said this is the car she wanted. Not too big and not too small. It is easy to get in and out of. Very nice design inside and out. She loves the controls and especially the space under the front arm rest to place her purse and etc. Great features for the money. We love the heated leather seats. This is her shopping car and so far it has been very convenient for her to use.

Totally Excellent !!!

I love the styling , the ride and the handling of this vehicle. All of the controls are visible and easy to reach . The seating is firm and comfortable . This vehicle feels solid on the road , easy to drive .