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Should the Pontiac Aztek make a comeback?

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I think so. The Pontiac Aztek has been called by many the worst-looking car that ever existed. Which is pretty harsh.

Sure, it wasn’t the prettiest thing. There was a concept in 1999, before the production car came out in 2000. The concept wasn’t the best-looking thing, but was a bit more acceptable than the production version. For cost-cutting, the production model had to use the same platform as GM’s minivans. Which didn’t help its proportions.

I actually like the old Pontiac Aztek for being different. It also offered cool features like an air compressor and even a tent option. AWD was also available starting in 2001. Of course, this wasn’t a car for everyone, and sales were low even at the beginning. However, numbers stayed over 27,000 units a year for 3 years.

The Aztek has actually attracted more attention recently, maybe because it was featured in the Breaking Bad TV show. Or maybe the younger generation rediscovered it and didn’t mind its look.

I think a new Pontiac Aztek would make a perfect cousin to the new 2027 Chevrolet Bolt, using the same platform but offering AWD as an option. It could retain that “not for everyone“ look and still add sales to the Bolt. An original design that would be less offensive than the original Aztek could probably work.

On top of all that, GM renewed the Pontiac name a few months ago. Which is mostly to make sure no one else gets it. But who knows?

They did revive Hummer, didn’t they?

Pontiac Aztek Concept
Pontiac Aztek production car.

Conversation 9 comments

  1. That’s actually not a bad looking car in the illustration, but it is totally wrong for the Pontiac brand. I think it would work better for a revival of the Saturn brand instead. The design is giving me a bit of a Hyundai Nexo vibe, though (which reminded me more of a modern day Aztek than the vehicle in your illustration; even down to the character lines in the lower door panels).

  2. I like the illustration and miss the pontiac designs. I would consider this car if i was in the market.

  3. The Aztec was always kind of the soft camper, Subaru niche like vehicle. Extrapolate that to today, and a hybrid pseudo camping AWD-like Chevy makes more sense.

  4. “The Pontiac Aztek has been called by many the worst-looking car that ever existed.” I know that styling is highly subjective – but for me, the ugliest vehicle ever made is the Tesla CyberTruck. Hands down, it is a grotesque monstrosity with absolutely no endearing qualities (aesthetically, anyway). The CyberTruck has really raised the bar much higher – as far as design fails go.

  8. No, no point in producing an egg-shaped Pontiac Aztec. Please GM support the brands you have now and don’t go making trouble with additional ones.

  9. we laughed at the Aztek but if you look at the modern SUV Coupe craze.. the Aztek was way ahead of its time and predicted the X6, X4, GLE Coupe, Cayenne Coupe, etc.

    and honestly Subaru was also deeply influenced as shown by all the plastic trim they have on their “rugged” versions of their cars

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