Pontiac Aztek Features That Prove It Was A Cool Car
Every once in a while, a vehicle comes along that looks so different from the rest of the pack that the first reaction might be, "is this really necessary?" The shape immediately draws criticism, like the primitive lines of the Cybertruck. A little over 20 years ago, the vehicle with funky design that similarly drew so much commentary and criticism was the Pontiac Aztek. Even Edmunds rated "awkward styling" as one of its cons back in 2005.
However, this early SUV crossover from 2001-2005 deserves respect for the outside-the-box thinking that went into designing it. Many critics ridiculed its enthusiastic use of contrasting cladding to protect its nose and lower sides, as they found the look out of place on a minivan-like family car. But these touches were designed with active, outdoorsy types in mind, and made the Pontiac Aztek surprisingly ahead of its time. Note how many vehicles on market today have apparently agreed cladding is a good idea for more outdoorsy vehicles. However, there were several other features, both standard and optional, that proved the Aztek was arguably underrated for its time.
Plenty of room for gear and tailgate parties
As rabid as some critics were about the Aztek's exterior, it was hard not to admit the interior was very versatile. The vehicle was clearly created for people who like to get outdoors, and bring lots of stuff with them — like bikes — since it had a max cargo capacity of 93.5 cubic-feet once the rear seats were folded. In particular, one cool feature was its sliding cargo tray that extended out of the rear hatch, and held up to 400 pounds of cargo. This tray was used to store the accessories and equipment for the Aztek's camping package, as well as room for other supplies.
The tray would slide up and above the tailgate for easy access from the hatch, and could also be pulled out and wheeled away on its own casters to make more room in the Aztek's rear. How easy is loading, unloading, and cleanup when you've got something like that?
The Aztek also made a pretty sweet tailgate party machine. Once the hatch was popped and the tailgate lowered, owners had the option of draping the official Aztek-branded tent accessory over the rear end as another cool feature. As well, the rear hatch had two built-in seats with cup holders in the tailgate.
Other features added to the rear cargo area made it that much easier to keep the party going included radio controls and a 12V power outlet for various tailgating appliances. The whole layout of the Aztek's rear hatch made it perfect for getaways and drive-in movie theaters.
Pontiac
Best of all, a party on the tailgate meant not necessarily having to look at the oddly designed outside of the vehicle all the time. The unusual aesthetic was easier to ignore once the party started with the roomy rear cabin once it was fully set up under the tent, with plenty of room for any additional blankets and covers.
[Featured image by Alexander Migl via Wikimedia Commons | Cropped and scaled | CC BY-SA 4.0]
A minivan for camping in the outdoors
This midsize crossover was an early champion of car-camping, but it also featured some forward-thinking tech that's typically commonplace in the luxury cars of today. To help keep drivers' eyes on the inevitably twisty or steep roads to the campground, the Aztek had an optional head-up display with speedometer and radio station, projecting the information where people need to be looking.
[Image by Digitaloutsider via Wikimedia Commons | Cropped and scaled | CC BY 2.5]
Once at the campsite, fold-flat rear seating made room for owners to spread out the optional Aztek-branded air mattress, a feature that came alongside the tent with the vehicle's camping package. Inflating air mattresses, bike tires, or floaties for the lake was easy with the thoughtful, optional rear-cargo air compressor — a great feature for anyone hitting the trails with a mountain bike. You could even perhaps refill the tires with the included air compressor, but the Aztek isn't like a dedicated overlander in stock form, so don't expect to do any major off-roading.
One other nifty feature that was ahead of its time was the removable center console. Instead of being the usual catchall for napkins and sunglasses, the front center console was actually a built-in ice chest that you could remove and carry by its handle. Not a feature typically seen in cars at the time — a cooler or ice chest, especially a removable one, isn't a common feature often found in higher tier SUVs today.
[Featured image by Jeremy via Wikimedia Commons | Cropped and scaled | CC BY 2.0]