Pontiac Torrent vs. Honda Element Review

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 Honda to the dealership as the Pontiac Torrent. The Pontiac will tax your gasoline budget significantly more than the Honda Element will. As far as fuel economy, the Honda Element and the Pontiac don't differ much. The Torrent is significantly costlier than the Element as far as MSRP.

Utility
There's no clear winner between the Honda and the Torrent when it comes to transporting cargo. The Pontiac Torrent will definitely prove more practical than the Element for those of you with frequent child-cargo. Towing is markedly more the Pontiac Torrent's forte than it is the Honda Element's.

Convenience
You will definitely have to visit your friendly gas station more often with the Pontiac Torrent than with the Honda Element.

Comfort
Taller drivers will significantly enjoy the extra head room in the Honda's front cabin compared to the Pontiac Torrent. The Pontiac provides more head- and leg-room to your passengers than the Honda does.

Dimensions
The Pontiac Torrent is a little heavier than the Honda Element. The Honda Element's tank is roughly the same size as the Pontiac Torrent's, though the Pontiac Torrent's is slightly larger. The Pontiac Torrent rides lower than the Honda Element, which is a good thing for its center of gravity and ease of access. The Honda Element and the Pontiac Torrent compete for the same parking spaces. The Element's shorter wheelbase may produce a less-settled highway ride but a sprier feel in daily traffic than the Pontiac Torrent.

Performance
Both the Pontiac Torrent and the Honda Element are likely to feel somewhat sluggish because of their high horsepower-to-weight ratio.

Handling
The Pontiac Torrent and the Honda Element have roughly comparable tires. With its tighter turning radius, the Honda Element is doubtless more agile than the Pontiac, something to consider if you do a lot of city driving; however, keep in mind that a vehicle with a tight turning circle may feel a bit twitchy on the highway.

Drivetrain
The Pontiac has a more sizeable engine than the Element. Note that smaller engines typically get better gas mileage, but smaller engines can be stressed more. Torque is roughly equivalent to acceleration, and in this respect, the Pontiac is substantially more powerful than the Honda. The Honda Element could learn a lesson or two from the Torrent as far as torque.

Overview
The Honda Element and the Pontiac Torrent have the same basic warranty.