In an ideal world, SUVs would comfortably carry an abundance of passengers and gear, doing so with plenty of power, car-like handling and miserly fuel consumption. Unfortunately, there’s quite a void between what’s ideal and what’s real, and compromises like the 2006 Pontiac Torrent are the result.

With only 185 horsepower, one might assume that the Torrent’s biggest offense is a lack of giddyup. Not so. Surprisingly, the 3.4-liter V6 belies its meager output, allowing for easy city driving and comfortable highway passing, though it does run out of steam when pushed hard. The automatic transmission provides crisp shifts, and collectively powertrain noise is mostly subdued, even at high revs. Unfortunately, the relatively low power rating requires dipping deep into the throttle for the best response, a fact reflected in our disappointing result of 15.6 mpg.

Clearly, the 2006 Pontiac Torrent’s real-world fuel economy…well, think of what a vacuum cleaner does and you get the idea. On a more positive note, Pontiac’s SUV is a decent handler, exhibiting a well controlled amount of body roll and a speed-sensitive steering system that adds heft when necessary, making the Torrent somewhat enjoyable during spirited driving. However, this is an SUV, and a tall one at that, so fun can only be had at slower speeds and on wide corners – anything else can get scary. Push the Torrent in the turns and the optional 17-inch tires squeal, but hold on well and contribute to a comfortable ride in routine driving. Our tester’s AWD platform added a bit of stiffness, but it was far from harsh. Braking was easily modulated and effective, with no noticeable fade after several aggressive stops, and besides the muted engine, road and wind noise levels are pronounced. Visibility is helped by large mirrors and small rear headrests, but wide A-, C-, and D-pillars eat up valuable real estate.