The Aztek-- before its time, or truly ugly?

[Ferzerp]

Sure, I'd by no means call it attractive, but looking at it compared to its modern counterparts, I just don't find it repulsive either. Am I alone in this view? Has Breaking Bad colored my opinion?

Is this

truly worse than this?

And even if it is, is it really universal derision worthy levels of uglier?

I'm not so sure.

 

[dbk]

Yes, Yes, No, and Yes. I can't look at that picture anymore..

 

[Atty]

I think the issue with that car was that they had a radical new design that had to conform to their low cost and limited manufacturing processes.

These days "crazy" designs like that are possible for much less and without as many corners being cut. Things like those lower sections wouldn't be all plastic, that back section could have probably looked much nicer and cleaner as I assume it was originally designed but it just wasn't affordable to do that back then.

I guess what I am trying to say is yes, it was designed before a time that an interesting design like that was truly possible at an affordable level. And yes, it was truly ugly.

 

[iamwiz82]

The concept Aztek was no prettier

 

[Dr. Detroit]

Huge fan of the face lifted Aztek in monotone paint.

Vehicle was definitely before it's time and was quite useful as a SAV. Vehicle was marketed to couples with no kids who had an active lifestyle, lots of cool features.

This also spawned the Buick Rendezvous which was a sales success.

Compared to the Bangle BMW's, the Acura beaked nose abominations like the TL & ZDX, Honda Cross Tour, the Aztek is a Renoir.

 

[jagec]

Truly ugly. I'm glad that they seem to be getting more and more rare. Of course, now we have to contend with abortions like the Honda Element, Scion xB, Nissan Cube, Kia Soul...

 

[phucheneh]

Ugly. Horribly so. Comparison in first post it just not valid.

Even though Sarah Jessica Parker and a horse share similar side profiles, I'd obviously still find sex with the horse 1000% less objectionable.

 

[Insomniator]

The normal Aztec is horribly ugly. BUT the top gear 'off road' aztek where they put big ass tires and maybe a roll cage? on it looked pretty cool.

 

[Bartman39]

Gotta say though old Walt made it look pretty cool when he ran over those two doods that almost killed Jesse...

Shame he sold it for $50...

 

[ponyo]

Definitely ahead of its time and genius vehicle looking back. I used to think it was the ugliest vehicle ever but now don't mind it. So many vehicles have copied the design it's grown on me. We wouldn't have the Prius and countless other vehicles without the Aztek.

 

[phucheneh]

Uh, the truncated wedge of the Prius is an aero thing, whereas the Aztek was a brick with 'look a tent in the back!.' It really didn't influence much IMO.

And I think Bart just spoiled the episode of Breaking Bad I was about to watch. Just starting season 3. Bastard. ;P

 

[tweakmonkey]

It's hideous. Burn it and use gasoline.

 

[JulesMaximus]

The Aztek is truly an ugly, hideous mess. Pontiac has a long history of making hideous messes with black plastic cladding. I'm not sure who thought that black plastic cladding ever made anything better but whoever it was should be fired out of a cannon into a field of cactus and land mines. Black plastic cladding was only a small part of the problem with the Aztek though and getting rid of that was not a good solution to a very very unattractive problem.

 

[Via]

Watching BB, I've had to see this monstrosity too often as well. That thing hurt my eyes every time it was on screen; I never got used to how incredibly awkward it looked.

But they cast the perfect car. That's exactly the vehicle that family would have chosen to buy.

 

[halik]

The concept Aztek was no prettier

not by much

 

[AdamK47]

The Aztek is truly an ugly, hideous mess. Pontiac has a long history of making hideous messes with black plastic cladding. I'm not sure who thought that black plastic cladding ever made anything better but whoever it was should be fired out of a cannon into a field of cactus and land mines. Black plastic cladding was only a small part of the problem with the Aztek though and getting rid of that was not a good solution to a very very unattractive problem.

The guy who designed the Aztek is the same guy that went on to design the C6 and the C7.

 

[jessieqwert]

Someone used to have a sig about it -

No need to worry about resale value, it's yours for life.

 

[JulesMaximus]

The guy who designed the Aztek is the same guy that went on to design the C6 and the C7.

I still say he should be shot out of a cannon into a field of cactus and land mines. Two rights don't negate a wrong... and this was a very big wrong.

 

[Zargon]

it was much better for year 2 with a facelift


too bad it got the POS 3.4 'gonna need a lower intake gasket' motor

 

[mmntech]

I don't think the Aztec is that ugly. It's not an attractive vehicle by any means. However, it is the daddy of modern crossovers. They just hadn't quite figured the styling out. I think they wanted a more car-like SUV but kept with the angular theme of the Jimmy and Tracker.

The Aztek had a softened design but was still a bit on the aggressive styling. Not soft enough for women, and not aggressive enough for men. It had limited appeal. It did eventually evolved into the Equinox/Torrent.

 

[marvdmartian]

Horribly ugly. Like an old Honda CR-V, on steroids.

 

[AdamK47]

I'd drive this one:

http://www.autoweek.com/article/20030929/free/309290708

 

[Pocatello]

There are a few Azteks still going in my area. Pontiacs are quite popular here, plastic cladding and all.

 

[tracerbullet]

IMO it's truly ugly. So is the comparison, unfortunately, so it's not much of a choice.

 

[SandEagle]

ugh, the Asstick