chicagotribune.com's view

It’s official.

Not only is the Pontiac Aztek sport-utility vehicle no longer on sale, it never existed.

Just like Roger Smith, Aztek is persona non grata within the halls of General Motors.

It was on the watch of Smith, the retired General Motors chairman, that the automaker’s market share slipped from nearly half of all vehicles sold in the U.S. to less than 30 percent.

Aztek apparently has been expunged from GM archives and history books because the damn ugly SUV was, well, damn ugly and didn’t sell well. Aztek inspired more jokes than buyers.

News of Aztek’s snub arrived in a most unusual way, a press release announcing that Pontiac will start selling the Torrent soon.

“As Pontiac’s first SUV, Torrent takes the brand’s performance parameters in a whole new direction,” John Larson, Buick-Pontiac-GMC general manager, was quoted as saying.

Pontiac’s first SUV?

“Aztek was based on a minivan platform. Torrent is based on a sport-utility vehicle platform shared with the Chevy Equinox and Saturn Vue,” said Larry Pryg, Torrent marketing manager, explaining why Pontiac insists the Aztek wasn’t a ute at all.

Whatever. May the Aztek rust in peace.

Torrent comes with the signature Pontiac twin-port grilles to set it apart from its cousins.

A few features set it apart from the midsize SUV crowd, the primary one being that, like the Equinox and Vue, a second-row seat can be moved forward or backward by 8 inches to increase legroom or cargo capacity, depending on what’s needed most.

Or, you can slide it forward to wipe the drool off the face of the kid in the safety seat. Wherever you situate the seat, the back reclines so occupants can relax.

To be able to stretch the legs as if in a limo is a most delightful experience. To gain even more cargo capacity is equally heartening.

Another feature borrowed from Equinox is a cargo hold parcel shelf that can be placed at three heights so you can carry items on top or underneath.

The shelf will be standard until October, when it becomes an option. Though the shelf is handy, the large towers on each side that hold it rob some storage room and some consumers may want more space rather than a shelf, Pryg said.

Torrent is available in front-wheel- or all-wheel-drive, with AWD an on-demand system that goes to work when wheel slippage is detected. No button to push or lever to turn.

Both the FWD/AWD Torrent arrive in showrooms by the end of this month.

Pontiac expects to sell about 10,000 units this year and 45,000 units annually after that. Pryg says Pontiac can boost output but it looks like the automaker is playing it safe after higher than expected Aztek estimates.

We tested the FWD Torrent, which comes with four-wheel anti-lock brakes and traction control standard; the AWD version offers only ABS as standard because AWD means traction control isn’t as necessary.

The only engine is a 3.4-liter, 185-horsepower V-6 with a 5-speed automatic. The zero- to 60-m.p.h. time is 8.5 seconds, so it won’t leave a strip of radial residue at the light.

Torrent has some punch off the line, but it’s more a cute than a brute sport-ute.

It’s a bit disappointing that the mileage rating is 19 m.p.g. city/24 m.p.g. highway with FWD (18/23 with AWD) and not a couple m.p.g. higher. But, Pontiac says, with 210 foot-pounds of torque, you can tow up to 3,5000 pounds with the V-6. We’d rather have higher mileage.

Torrent sits fairly high without being wobbly and without being difficult to slip in or out of. The test vehicle came with the optional ($295) 17-inch radial tires (16-inchers standard) for a sportier look.

Unlike Equinox, Torrent has a standard sports suspension with special shock valving along with a speed-sensitive power steering for improved handling.

The 17-inch radials hold the pavement admirably, but while handling is decent, ride quality depends on road quality. The smoother the pavement, the smoother the ride; the rougher the pavement . . . you get the idea.

Noteworthy features include coin and tissue holders in the center console and five cupholders, one for each occupant. Though five is a squeeze if there are three adults in back. Like Equinox, Torrent is 71.4 inches wide and a tad snug in back. Aztek, by comparison, was almost 3 inches wider and offered a lot more wiggle room for those sentenced to coach.

Where Torrent falls short is in the excitement factor. Mark LaNeve, vice president of North America vehicle sales and marketing for GM, said Pontiac, Buick and GMC will be combined into a single channel in which the vehicles are sold out of the same dealership Pontiac’s role is to bring excitement to the table. A zero-to-60 time of 8.5 seconds isn’t all that exciting.

“Its role is to give us a small [midsize] SUV in the portfolio,” Pryg says of Torrent. “Dealers have been losing sales to the Korean SUVs and Torrent should stop that. Equinox has been well received and so we feel Torrent will do well, too.”

Pontiac has been losing out to the Hyundai Santa Fe priced at $18,000 to $25,500 and the Kia Sorento, priced at $19,000 to $25,000. That still doesn’t address the excitement issue and would make it seem Torrent doesn’t have a long shelf life unless there’s a GT or GXP high-performance version in the future.

“Torrent is meant to stop defections out of Pontiac into SUVs but we’re looking at some performance options so it could be spunkier,” Pryg said. “A GXP? We aren’t saying.”

Stay tuned for the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show in Las Vegas this fall. That’s where automakers spice up their vehicles.

For those who can’t wait, Pontiac dealers will offer 19 performance and dress-up accessories this fall “so customers can outfit Torrent to more closely fit their lifestyles and tastes,” Pryg said. “We’re building that accessories strategy into all of our models” with side steps, bike racks, body kits and the like for Torrent.

Torrent buyers are expected to be young families with income of $75,000 and one child and who aren’t ready for a big sport-ute.

The FWD Torrent starts at $22,400, the AWD version at $24,300. Standard equipment includes air conditioning; power windows and door locks with remote keyless entry; rear-window washer/wiper plus defogger; AM/FM stereo with CD player and six speakers; and tilt steering.

The test vehicle came with a heavy option load that included side-curtain air bags in a $1,090 security package, a power sunroof in a $1,285 sun and sound package and power driver’s seat in a $1,555 preferred package.

What it needs is an optional excitement package, a larger engine or perhaps a turbo on the V-6 to make it a Pontiac.

– – –

TEST DRIVE

2006 Pontiac Torrent FWD

Wheelbase: 112.5 inches

Length: 188.8 inches

Engine: 3.4-liter, 185-h.p. V-6

Transmission: 5-speed automatic

Fuel economy: 19 m.p.g. city/24 m.p.g. highway

Base price: $22,400

Price as tested: $26,950. Includes $295 for 17-inch aluminum wheels; $1,555 for preferred option package with cargo net, cruise control, carpeted floor mats, auto-dimming rearview mirror with compass, six-way power driver’s seat, leather-wrapped steering wheel with radio controls, tinted windows and luggage rack; $1,285 for sun and sound package with power tilt/slide sunroof, six-disc in-dash CD changer and seven speakers; $1,090 for security package with side-curtain air bags and one year free OnStar emergency satellite communication system; and $325 for XM satellite radio. Add $590 for freight.

Pluses: Not an Aztek in styling department. Available in front-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive. More than ample cabin room and second-row seat slides back for more legroom.

Minuses: Smoothness of ride depends on smoothness of road. An SUV in a lineup that needs more excitement? Beware of option load.

– – –

Read Jim Mateja Sunday in Transportation and Wednesday and Friday in Business. Hear him on WBBM Newsradio 780 at 6:22 p.m. Wednesdays and 11:22 a.m. Sundays.

jmateja@tribune.com