VIDEO: 2001 Car & Driver Pontiac Aztek Road Test

[91 s-10baja]

+ YouTube Video

[Mr. Burns]

fail!

[AndrewGS]

I loved it when I first saw it at the dealer and I still like it today. It was meant to be a replacement for the SUV for those that didn't need the heavy towing or severe off-road capability. The cladding was for protection and the tailgate for utility. It was a pioneering crossover that won the hearts of it's owners.

[red_rider]

That grey cladding is so cheap looking, I'm not sure why its come to be such a big trend among all new cars (Think Mustang, Camaro, Traverse to name a few).

[TuffG929]

Originally Posted by red_rider

That grey cladding is so cheap looking, I'm not sure why its come to be such a big trend among all new cars (Think Mustang, Camaro, Traverse to name a few).

on the cars you mentioned, it helps them appear less chunky

[cdp326]

Originally Posted by red_rider

That grey cladding is so cheap looking, I'm not sure why its come to be such a big trend among all new cars (Think Mustang, Camaro, Traverse to name a few).

I don't think it's necessarily a new thing. The Traverse it makes some sense on since it's an SUV and plastic cladding has a "tough" image. Plus it helps to provide some contrast/break up the large visual appearance. Mustang it makes a little less sense on especially since the old model didn't have it.

Cars have been using it a while now. For example, Audi/VWs from 10-15 years ago were using it pretty extensively (we didn't get the side moldings/rub strips like this Euro Passat but we did have the lower cladding):

[nota]

Originally Posted by cdp326

I don't think it's necessarily a new thing. The Traverse it makes some sense on since it's an SUV and plastic cladding has a "tough" image. Plus it helps to provide some contrast/break up the large visual appearance. Mustang it makes a little less sense on especially since the old model didn't have it.

Cars have been using it a while now. For example, Audi/VWs from 10-15 years ago were using it pretty extensively (we didn't get the side moldings/rub strips like this Euro Passat but we did have the lower cladding):

Not to mention 1979-intro Mercedes S-Class (W126)



Or even Matra Rancho from 1977

[Hitman1970]

Brutal. I did like the cooler feature. Chrysler did something like that in the Journey and minivans later with the storage bins.

Crappy driving dynamics and the body cladding did this in.

[GMfan1111]

When I first saw this car when i was younger I thought it was ugly then and my opinion hasn't changed a bit now. However while the Aztek looked like a hodgepodge of mismatched design cues it was very versatile especially the center console cooler and the optional camper package as the poster above me mentioned the Azteks medicore performance and the massive sea of gray plastic cladding did not help it sales wise

[casket_demon]

Originally Posted by AndrewGS

I loved it when I first saw it at the dealer and I still like it today. It was meant to be a replacement for the SUV for those that didn't need the heavy towing or severe off-road capability. The cladding was for protection and the tailgate for utility. It was a pioneering crossover that won the hearts of it's owners.

And like with any post with reason,this is another one that is ignored.

[GMfan1111]

Originally Posted by casket_demon

And like with any post with reason,this is another one that is ignored.

true the cladding (despite the sheer amount of it) did have a purpose. But for many consumers here in the U.S it's usually style over form and unfortunately for the Aztek that mindset (along with it's other problems) did not bode well for sales. The one thing that we can all agree upon is that the exterior styling was quite literally a hodgepodge of mismatched design elements. the hatchback rear and the ungainly front (out of place scoops included) made the whole exterior polarizing to the eyes. Which is too bad since the interior actually looked pretty decent (though pontiac could've used a much more conservative seat fabric pattern than the one shown in the vid)

[91 s-10baja]

Here is the buick counterpart....

+ YouTube Video