Pontiac Cars

Within the GM family, Pontiac primarily serves to fill the performance niche. That might be hard to believe after seeing Pontiac cars like the G3 and G5, both slightly veiled copies of efficient little runners sold by Chevrolet. But dive deeper into the lineup and you'll get a better glimpse of the brand's sporting intentions. Even rides like the Pontiac Torrent and Pontiac Vibe are offered with performance-oriented trims.

Pontiac Aztek Overview

Pontiac Aztek SRVPontiac Aztek SRV

Ride around in the new Aztek by Pontiac and you'll draw attention. With its wide stance and tall profile, bulldog's face and wild styling, you can't help but notice it. Aiming at young sport-minded buyers, Pontiac's new car/SUV crossover went on sale in summer 2000 in base and better-equipped GT form, with front-wheel drive. Aztek was loosely based on Pontiac's Montana minivan, with the same 3.4 liter V6 and mandatory automatic transmission, but with four conventional side doors and hatchback styling with a drop-down tailgate.

Front side airbags and antilock brakes were standard. An all-wheel-drive version became available during the 2001 season, able to distribute power to the four wheels based upon available traction. Four-wheel disc brakes replaced the usual disc/drum setup on all-wheel-drive models, which were not intended for offroad use and did not include low-range gearing. Aztek's maximum towing capacity was 3500 pounds, the same as the Montana's. Ground clearance was 6.7 inches. Azteks were larger than the popular Lexus RX 300, another car-based crossover. Wheelbase was 5.5 inches longer and it measured 2 inches longer overall. An Aztek was slightly taller and wider, too, with 1.5 inches more rear leg room and 93.5 cubic feet of storage space when the rear seats were removed. Standard equipment included air conditioning, a tilt steering wheel, and power windows/locks/mirrors.

The GT added traction control, 16-inch tires in place of 15s, and a removable console bin that served as combination cooler and CD case. Options included a power sunroof and a slide-out cargo-floor section with storage bins and rollaway wheels. Exclusive pontiac aztek accessories included heated leather front seats, two rear captain's chairs to replace the standard three-person bench, a head-up instrument display, and GM's OnStar assistance system. Recreational accessories available through dealers included washable seat covers and a camping package with clip-on tent and fitted air mattress. Charges of bizarre styling soon began to surface, which had a negative impact on Aztek sales.

Pontiac Aztek Crash Test