Pontiac Aztek
Is it time to re-evaluate this ultra-useful yet often ridiculed ‘SRV’?
TELL PEOPLE YOU drive a Pontiac, and the strange yet prescient Aztek is probably the last thing anyone would think of. Mentions of the Aztek can be found in the many internet countdowns of ‘worst’ or ‘ugliest’ cars, but there is also a growing admiration for Pontiac’s folly. A great idea, is the consensus, but one that could have been executed better.
Perhaps the biggest tragedy is that the original Aztek concept of 1999, billed as a ‘Sports Recreational Vehicle’, was considerably better looking. It aimed to carve a new, less conservative direction for Pontiac, and was an idea that should have saved the company. Unfortunately, it probably pushed it closer to its downfall. Look at the market today, and it’s hard not to think that Pontiac was just a little too far ahead of the curve with a small SUV crossover.
When the production version was launched in 2000, it quickly became apparent that styling and market positioning had not been well judged. Its geometrically inspired looks – hence the Aztek name – were an acquired taste and it was too expensive, so sales started slowly. Both the base-spec car and the better-equipped GT came with a 3.4-litre V6 and four-speed automatic. You could order either with Versatrak four-wheel drive, too, which brought a more sophisticated independent rear suspension setup to match. It was biased towards the highway, but certainly able to handle light off-roading.
While it maybe wasn’t pretty, the Aztek was certainly trying to be clever. There were numerous features to attract those ‘adventurous’ buyers. First up was an insulated and removable centre armrest that doubled as a drinks cooler. Head to the rear of the car, and the standard split-folding tailgate provided useful seating and cupholders for ‘tailgating’. Want to take the Aztek’s SRV nature to the next level? There was an optional tent and airbed, which attached to the rear of the car with the tailgate open. An onboard air compressor was in place to inflate the mattress, too.
Pontiac launched an updated model in 2002. It lost its distinctive grey cladding in favour of smoother, body-coloured flanks (as pictured above). It also received a new rear spoiler and clear indicators. The base price was reduced and there were detail changes throughout the production run, but it remained fundamentally the same until the end. A rangetopping Rally Edition in 2003 did little to improve sales and, having sold just under 120,000 cars, GM pulled the plug in 2005. America hadn’t been ready.
The unconventional styling was mostly to blame: many buyers simply didn’t know what it was meant to be, because it lacked the ruggedness of a typical fullsized 4x4. Yet those that did cotton on actually rated the Aztek extremely highly.
Without the oddball looks, or its starring appearance in the cult TV series Breaking Bad , the Aztek would probably have faded into obscurity. It’s still as divisive today as it ever was but, like many cars of its era, the Aztek has a small yet loyal fanbase. Prices are low and, if you went so far as to import one into the UK, your chances of spotting another would be infinitesimally small.