Pontiac Torrent vs. Ford Escape Review

Utility
There's no obvious winner between the Torrent and the Escape with respect to hauling capacity. Neither the Pontiac Torrent nor the Ford Escape has a marked advantage with respect to seating capacity.

Performance
The Torrent is likely to feel somewhat sluggish because of its high horsepower-to-weight ratio compared to the Ford Escape.

Dimensions
The Pontiac Torrent is significantly heavier than the Ford Escape. The Torrent's tank is about the same size as the Ford's, though the Ford Escape's is somewhat larger. The Ford Escape and the Pontiac Torrent compete for the same parking spaces. The Ford Escape's shorter wheelbase will give a more maneuverable feel in daily traffic. On the other hand, the Pontiac Torrent is likely to have a smoother, more stable ride.

Convenience
You likely won't have to visit your friendly gas station more often with the Pontiac than with the Ford Escape, because both offer comparable mileage ranges.

Cost
The destination charge is a standard charge for transporting the vehicle from its point of origin to the dealer. It costs roughly the same to get the Torrent to the dealership as the Ford. Producing an exact gas mileage evaluation is so hard that some think not even the federal government can do it, but it looks as though both the Ford Escape and the Ford Escape perform about comparably as far as fuel economy. Regarding fuel economy, the Ford and the Pontiac Torrent don't differ much. The Pontiac isn't much less expensive than the Escape regarding MSRP.

Handling
With its tighter turning radius, the Ford Escape is doubtless more maneuverable than the Pontiac Torrent, something to consider if you do a lot of city driving; however, note that a vehicle with a tight turning circle may feel a bit twitchy on the highway.

Drivetrain
The Escape's engine is a bit smaller than the Torrent's, but not terribly so.

Comfort
While the front cabin in the Torrent offers a bit more head room than the Ford Escape, there frankly isn't much of a difference. The ampler interior dimensions of the Pontiac Torrent make it more spacious for your passengers than the Ford.

Overview
The Ford Escape and the Pontiac Torrent have the same basic after-sale protection.