The Pontiac Aztek was a compact crossover sport utility vehicle produced by the Pontiac division of General Motors between 2001 and 2005. This SUV was designed as a versatile, family-friendly vehicle that could be used for both everyday commuting and outdoor adventuring. Yet, despite its innovative features and versatility, the Aztek failed to gain widespread popularity and was ultimately discontinued after just five years of production.
Pontiac Aztek Versatility and Design
The Aztek was first introduced in 2001 as a 2001 model and was developed under the leadership of Wayne Cherry, the vice president of design at General Motors, but the design itself is credited to Tom Peters. At the time, the market trend of SUVs was soaring, and Pontiac wanted to take advantage of on it. Therefore, they set out to create a multipurpose vehicle that would appeal to a wide range of consumers.
One of the Aztek’s unique features was its design. The Aztek features a unique, futuristic layout with a split front grille, and bulging wheel arches that gave it a rugged, off-road look. It also had bulky profile cladding, a feature eliminated during its second year.
In recent years, the Aztek has seen somewhat of a resurgence in popularity, thanks in part to the show Breaking Bad. The main character, Walter White, drove a Pontiac Aztek throughout the show, and it played a prominent role in several episodes. The Aztek’s appearance on Breaking Bad has led to a renewed interest in the vehicle and even a fresh appreciation for its unique design.
Weak Engine
The Pontiac Aztek comes with standard front-wheel drive and available all-wheel drive and all models are powered by a 3.4-liter V6 engine that produces just 185 horsepower. A four-speed automatic transmission sends power to the wheels.
The vehicle features several innovative features, such as a built-in air compressor, a removable center console that can be used as a cooler, and an available camping package that includes a tent attached to the rear of the vehicle.
Despite its pioneering features, the Aztek struggled to gain popularity. One of the reasons for this was its rivals. The Aztek faced stiff competition from other vehicles in its class, such as the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. These vehicles were already well-established with a loyal customer base. The Aztek, on the other hand, was a newcomer, and the headwinds for success were strong.
Costly and Not Efficient
Another reason for the Aztek’s lack of success was its price. The Aztek was priced higher than many of its competitors, which made it less attractive to consumers. Moreover, the Aztek trailed in efficiency, earning just 16 mpg city, 22 mpg highway, and 18 mpg initially. Even later models earned no better than 20 mpg combined.
Besides these issues, the Aztek’s reputation was damaged by several quality control problems. Some customers reported issues with the vehicle’s air conditioning, transmission, and electrical systems. These problems further damaged the Aztek’s reputation and made it even less attractive to consumers.
Despite these problems, Pontiac continued to produce the Aztek for five years. However, by 2005, it became clear that the Aztek was not going to be successful, and production was finally halted. Ultimately, the Pontiac was a commercial failure for Pontiac, and discontinued just four years ahead of the brand’s demise.
2018 Chevrolet Volt Specifications
| Chevrolet | 2018 Volt |
|---|---|
| Segment | Compact plug-in hybrid |
| Seating Capacity | Five |
| Drivetrain | Front-wheel drive (FWD) |
| Engine | 1.5L inline-4 (101 hp, generator for electric motor) |
| Electric Motor | 149 hp, 294 lb-ft torque |
| Battery | 18.4 kWh lithium-ion |
| Electric Range | 53 miles (electric only) |
| Total Range | 420 miles (with gas engine) |
| Fuel Economy (MPG) | 106 MPGe (electric only), 42 MPG (gas only) |
| Curb Weight (pounds) | 3,519 to 3,779 |
| Wheelbase (inches) | 106.1 |
| Length (inches) | 180.4 |
| Width (inches) | 71.2 |
| Height (inches) | 56.4 |
| Front Headroom (inches) | 37.8 |
| Rear Headroom (inches) | 35.8 |
| Front Legroom (inches) | 42.1 |
| Rear Legroom (inches) | 34.7 |
| Front Shoulder Room (inches) | 56.5 |
| Rear Shoulder Room (inches) | 53.2 |
| Cargo Capacity (cu. ft.) | 45.4/93.5 |
| Fuel Tank (gallons) | 8.9 |
| Towing (pounds) | 3,500 |
| Payload (pounds) | Not Rated |
| Manufacturing Plant | Detroit, Michigan |
References
Lin, K. (2020, April 15). Was the Pontiac Aztek really that bad? A retrospective. Motor Trend. Retrieved January 1, 2023
Williams, K. (2021, March 1). The Pontiac Aztek didn’t fail because it was ugly. it failed because it was lazy. The Drive. Retrieved January 12, 2023
Pund, D. (2021, November 29). Best forgotten: The story of the Pontiac Aztek. Car and Driver. Retrieved January 12, 2023
Maloney, A. (2022, May 2). How ‘breaking bad’ reignited interest in the Pontiac Aztek. GetJerry.com. Retrieved January 12, 2023
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Photo Attribution
Featured image by IFCAR – Own work, Public Domain, Wikipedia
Front photo by IFCAR – Own work, Public Domain, Wikipedia
Profile photo courtesy of HaywoodU, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
