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2009 Pontiac Torrent Safety Review

March 15, 2009

SAFETY | 9 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

thick front roof pillars block vision
ConsumerGuide

Good," frontal offset; not tested, side impact
IIHS

Five stars, front and side impact; four stars, rollover resistance
NHTSA

An impressive list of standard safety features and high crash-test scores make the 2009 Pontiac Torrent a good choice in terms of safety.

In Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) tests, the Pontiac Torrent scored a highest possible "good" rating in frontal offset testing. Side-impact tests were not performed on the 2009 Torrent by the IIHS. In National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) frontal crash testing, the Pontiac Torrent earned a five-star rating (the best possible) for the protection of front occupants; it scored the same for front and rear occupant protection in its side impact tests.

Cars.com mentions "the new Electronic Trailer Sway Control, which automatically detects trailer sway caused by an improper trailer weight balance or excessive vehicle speed, then activates the stability system to maintain control." According to ConsumerGuide, the 2009 Pontiac Torrent has the following standard safety features: anti-lock disc brakes, traction control, an antiskid system, front side airbags, and side curtain airbags. Edmunds adds that the Pontiac Torrent 2009 is equipped with OnStar and that "full-length side curtain airbags with a rollover sensor are optional, but front-seat side airbags (that provide torso protection) are not available."

According to ConsumerGuide, visibility suffers because "thick front roof pillars block vision when cornering and rear sight lines are hindered by the sloping roof."

Conclusion

Standard head-curtain side-impact airbags make the 2009 Pontiac Torrent an even safer choice than before.

SAFETY | 9 out of 10Expert Quotes:thick front roof pillars block visionConsumerGuideGood," frontal offset; not tested, side impactIIHSFive stars, front and side impact; four stars, rollover resistanceNHTSA An impressive list of standard safety features and high crash-test scores make the 2009 Pontiac Torrent a good choice in terms of safety. In Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) tests, the Pontiac Torrent scored a highest possible "good" rating in frontal offset testing. Side-impact tests were not performed on the 2009 Torrent by the IIHS. In National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) frontal crash testing, the Pontiac Torrent earned a five-star rating (the best possible) for the protection of front occupants; it scored the same for front and rear occupant protection in its side impact tests. Cars.com mentions "the new Electronic Trailer Sway Control, which automatically detects trailer sway caused by an improper trailer weight balance or excessive vehicle speed, then activates the stability system to maintain control." According to ConsumerGuide, the 2009 Pontiac Torrent has the following standard safety features: anti-lock disc brakes, traction control, an antiskid system, front side airbags, and side curtain airbags. Edmunds adds that the Pontiac Torrent 2009 is equipped with OnStar and that "full-length side curtain airbags with a rollover sensor are optional, but front-seat side airbags (that provide torso protection) are not available." According to ConsumerGuide, visibility suffers because "thick front roof pillars block vision when cornering and rear sight lines are hindered by the sloping roof." ConclusionStandard head-curtain side-impact airbags make the 2009 Pontiac Torrent an even safer choice than before.  2009 PONTIAC TORRENT STYLING | [7 out of 10] Kelley Blue Book: advises "the Pontiac Torrent's attractive shape barely pokes its head past the average mark" MSN Autos: “quiet, inviting, sporty looking interior” Cars.com: "a well-designed interior" TheCarConnection.com notes that ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

The 2009 Pontiac Torrent delivers better handling than large truck-based SUVs, but it’s bested by most of the vehicles in this crowded class. With the GXP, you'll pilot a vehicle that's a lot more agile than the typical lumbering SUV—it's happy to tackle corners at speeds that would make most of its more SUV-looking crossover competition seriously unhappy. However, the GXP is pricey and can easily top $35,000. The Hyundai Santa Fe is more conservative, but it has a tight, sturdy feel that TheCarConnection.com prefers to the Torrent. The Mitsubishi Outlander has a sportier feel overall, but road noise is plentiful and it’s not very refined. Both the RAV4 and Outlander offer small third-row seats. The Honda CR-V is possibly the best overall package for buyers in this class; it has top-rated safety, great assembly quality, and surprisingly good performance from its four-cylinder engine. The 2009 Dodge Journey is yet another choice, and it’s the best choice for those who want a really well-equipped vehicle. Highlights of the Journey’s options include Sirius Backseat TV and a MyGig hard-drive entertainment system.

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See the Pontiac Torrent in Other Years:

2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006

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