Montana plays the price card
Despite what critics say, minivans are still in high demand. The proof is the 150,000 sold in Canada last year. With just 15,000 fewer sales than all compact SUVs put together, minivans rank fourth among the most popular vehicle types in the country.
And yet, Ford decided to abandon this market this year. And next year, GM will do the same. This means that the Pontiac Montana SV6 and its twin, the Chevrolet Uplander, are facing a death sentence, with termination scheduled for 2008. Dealers will mourn this loss because last year they sold more Uplander, Montana, Relay and Terraza minivans than Equinox, Torrent, VUE, Trailblazer, Envoy and Bravada SUVs. It's that simple!
As for the Montana SV6, it doesn't exactly make me swoon, I'll admit that much. Not only did GM try to make us believe in 2005 that the "new" Montana was some kind of cross between a minivan and an SUV (a claim I find vulgar to say the least), but then they served us up some uninspired leftovers. After all, the Montana is a direct derivative of its predecessor, who was three letters and numbers away from having the same name!
But what really gets me is that the Montana SV6 is anything but elegant. I'll go right out and say it: it's an eyesore. Its looks are ruined by its huge shnoz and horrifying nostrils. It's almost as though Dodge took the beak of the Durango and stuck it on the Caravan. The result is questionable; I'm sure you'll agree.
Now that I'm done slamming its appearance, I'll admit that the Montana SV6 offers a choice in wheelbase, which is unique to GM this year. Depending on your needs, you can opt for a vehicle that is easy to handle or one that is a little roomier.
Inside, this Pontiac covers all the minivan bases. Plenty of storage space, no shortage of cup holders, excellent driving position and lots of room in a variety of configurations. Having said that, the design of this vehicle is outdated, so you won't find foldable seats that tuck away under the floor. To make full use of the cargo space, you've got to manually pull out the seats, which are extremely heavy.
Behind the wheel is a well presented dashboard, notable for its colour contrast. The typical Pontiac reddish instrumentation creates a rather interesting effect on board. On the downside, the quality of assembly and fit and trim has not come far in this model. The plastic is still of questionable quality, and even the untrained eye will notice that the panels aren't quite even.
Drivers, on the other hand, will enjoy a decent driving position, even in the base model. And although the driver's seat is a little soft, it is comfortable enough. Some versions come with captain's seats with armrests in the middle row and a split seat in the third row. Posher versions also get central consoles complete with storage units that are foldable or removable.
More power, more fuel
While the Montana was once applauded for its low fuel consumption, it now comes with a 3.9-litre V6 that makes it better able to handle any situation. This engine, however, is as noisy and unrefined as its predecessor, though it does allow for better acceleration. Coupled with a four-speed transmission, the engine isn't outstanding in any way. That said, it is much better than the 3.3-litre V6 found in the Dodge Caravan. Unfortunately, its fuel consumption isn't as good, and you can expect it to guzzle 12.5-13 litres for every 100 km.
The Montana SV6 performs reasonably well on the road. It's stable and has a well balanced suspension. The steering is precise, though a little slow. This minivan also scores well in terms of handling, which is unquestionably better than that of its Dodge rival. However, its antiquated design and pitiful assembly result in a lot of body noises and creaks, which could lead you to believe you're driving a rental car, even in new vehicles.
So, why a Montana SV6?
Reality check: this Pontiac's competitors are more modern and more interesting on every level. But GM is playing the price card with this vehicle, knowing that the bottom line speaks to a lot of buyers. This is the same strategy that Dodge has with its current Caravan, which has a start price of less than $20,000. However, they won't be able to pull off this tactic with the new generation of Caravans expected to come out soon.
Sold at the suggested retail price, the Montana SV6 is not very attractive. A longer version with the right equipment costs about the same as a Hyundai Entourage, which beats it on every front. It's the manufacturer's discounts that pique buyers' interest; for example, consider a basic version with a suggested retail price of $24,550 for sale in August at a dealership for a mere $19,000. The monthly instalments for leasing or purchase are very tempting. In fact, a simple subcompact sedan such as the Toyota Yaris, with the same equipment as the Montana SV6 (air conditioning, power group and automatic transmission), rents for just $9 less a month. Not only that, but a basic Toyota Sienna CE without any options added costs 40% more to lease than the good old Montana SV6.
At the end of the day, we can criticize the Montana all we want for its numerous shortcomings, recurring problems and downright scary design, but this vehicle meets the needs of families at a low cost — a combination that is hard to beat. While Dodge dealers currently offer the Caravan at an even lower price, these are not as well equipped. And soon this offer will disappear, leaving the economy-priced minivan playing field wide open for GM.
MSRP range: $25,060 - $32,465
Engines available: 3.9L V6
Transmissions available: 4-speed auto
Competitors: Dodge Caravan/Grand Caravan, Hyundai Entourage, Kia Sedona
Strengths: Price, above all else, decent comfort, multi-purpose interior, choice of wheelbase, reliability steadily improving
Weaknesses: Disappointing assembly, body noises and creaks, seats do not fold into floor, deplorable esthetics, significant depreciation
Montana vs. Caravan vs. Sedona
Find a dealer that sells the Pontiac Montana
Other vehicle reviews for Pontiac
Latest News
-
1.
-
2.
-
3.
-
4.
-
5.
-
6.
-
7.
-
8.
-
9.
-
10.