2001 Pontiac Aztek Review

`What is that thing?" a young driver with two bicycles strapped to his car roof asked after pulling alongside the 2001 Pontiac Aztek at a stoplight.


Bingo! Pontiac is aiming its new Aztek hybrid vehicle at young motorists with active lifestyles. It calls the Aztek a Sport Recreation Vehicle.


Hybrids--or "crossover vehicles"--that offer more versatility than cars or trucks are getting hotter. The Aztek is a leading-edge hybrid, with almost carlike ride and handling and minivan roominess--along with unique features.


The Aztek has over-the-top styling that people seem to love or hate. It looks like a minivan trying hard to resemble a racy sport-utililty vehicle.


In fact, the front-drive Aztek is based on Pontiac's Montana minivan platform. That's why it offers a commanding view of the road, low entry height, flat floor and spacious interior. As with a minivan, the dashboard top is long and the windshield seems far away.


The Aztek has carlike unitized construction, not a trucklike body on frame design. Its 3.4-liter, 185-horsepower pushrod V-6 provides average acceleration and works with a responsive four-speed automatic transmission.


Estimated fuel economy of the 3,778-pound Aztek is 19 mpg in the city and 26 on the highway, where the engine loafs at 2,100 rpm at 70 mph.


Four 6-footers easily fit in the 182.1-inch long Aztek, and the big cargo area can be enlarged by flipping the rear seat forward.




The base $21,445 Aztek is well-equipped, with items such as air conditioning, power windows and door locks. The $24,445 GT model has larger tires and more equipment such as dual-zone air conditioning and a removable console and 12-can cooler combination between the front seats.


An all-wheel-drive version arrives in late November, but isn't suited for serious off-road driving. It weighs 4,052 pounds, so fuel economy drops to 18 mpg city, 24 highway.


The Aztek's wide-track stance is pure Pontiac. So is the racy front end, with cat's-eye headlights, twin-port grille with hood slots and thick body cladding. The controversial high slant-back rear end draws the most reaction.


Even the dashboard looks wild, with such things as futuristic looking vents and custom gauge needles. Door pulls are patterned after a diving knife handle.


The Aztek can carry various combinations of people and cargo. It features light and flip-fold-remove modular seating. And the combination liftgate and tailgate provides easy access to the cargo hold. But the bulky glass liftgate has no wiper-washer or assist strap to help close it.


Aztek items include removable utility packs in its front door trim for portable storage of cell phones, cameras and other gear. Cupholders are molded into rear doors and are designed to hold water bottles.


Want more? An available sliding, pull-out rear cargo tray supports up to 40 pounds of sport gear or other items. An optional reconfigurable rear net system restrains up to 200 pounds of cargo you don't want ricocheting back there.


There's even an optional camping package with a custom tent that fits over the rear half of the Aztek, while its hatch and tailgate remain open. And you can get audio controls in the rear cargo area to eliminate the need during tailgate parties to walk to the front radio controls.


Versatility is the Aztek's middle name. Pontiac has taken a chance with its bold styling, but at least it doesn't look like anything else on the road.