Pontiac Torrent vs. Kia Sportage Review

Handling
With its tighter turning radius, the Sportage 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 Kia Sportage's engine is markedly smaller than the Pontiac Torrent's. Remember that smaller engines can be stressed more; on the other hand, smaller engines typically get better gas mileage. The Kia Sportage could learn a lesson or two from the Pontiac Torrent with respect to torque. Torque equals pickup, and the Pontiac will have picked up and gone by the time the Sportage finally gets moving.

Utility
There's no clear winner between the Pontiac Torrent and the Kia Sportage as far as transporting cargo. The Kia and the Pontiac Torrent can accommodate the same number of passengers. The Pontiac Torrent outpulls the Kia Sportage by a massive margin.

Convenience
The Pontiac Torrent's fuel tank will need to be replenished more often than the unit in the Kia Sportage.

Comfort
While the front cabin in the Pontiac Torrent offers a bit more head room than the Kia Sportage, there really isn't much of a difference. The Torrent offers more head- and leg-room to your passengers than the Kia Sportage does.

Dimensions
The Pontiac Torrent is markedly heavier than the Kia Sportage. The Pontiac Torrent's tank is about the same size as the Kia Sportage's, though the Kia Sportage's is a tad bigger. The Sportage and the Pontiac Torrent compete for the same parking spaces. The Kia Sportage's shorter wheelbase will give a more maneuverable feel in daily traffic. However, the Pontiac Torrent is likely to have a smoother, more stable ride.

Cost
The destination charge is a standard charge for transporting the vehicle from its point of origin to the dealer. It costs approximately the same to get the Pontiac Torrent to the dealership as the Kia Sportage. Regarding fuel economy, the Kia Sportage and the Pontiac don't differ much. The Pontiac Torrent doesn't pale in comparison to the Kia Sportage as far as fuel economy. Regarding MSRP, the Pontiac costs quite a bit more than the Kia Sportage.

Overview
The basic after-sale protection that comes with the Pontiac Torrent isn't quite as generous as the Sportage's. With respect to after-sale protection against rust, the Pontiac Torrent has significantly better coverage than the Kia Sportage.