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Opinion Summary
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First Impressions Count
by mkaresh | Jan 29 '04
Pros: Distinctive styling, interior room, handling, innovative features, low price
Cons: Distinctive styling, public image, interior materials, seats, road noise, rear visibility, high depreciation
Return to opinion
OVERALL RATING
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Date Written |
Great Vehicle, Poor Marketing (Reply to this comment)
by nebtek2002
When the Aztek first came out, it was pitched to the so-called youth market. Wrong move for selling something with a "mid-20s"MSRP.
The vehicle is very nearly perfect for empty nesters who don't need full-size Grand Caravans.
Pontiac should have targeted us 50-somethings whose current auto registrations included at least one Grand Caravan, long-wheelbase GM minivan, Windstar, etc., with direct mail invitations to drive this vehicle.
"Cute Utes" like Equinox,Kia Sportage, PT Cruiser, etc. are a bit too small. Aztek is just right for those of us who don't care about a 3rd seat. Rendezvous is just right for those who do need a 3rd seat.
You can order a nicely-equipped small van from from Chrysler/Dodge, but you won't find one on the lot. DCX dealers tend to stock loaded Grands, but their in-stock short vans are stripped loss-leaders. Ditto SWB Ventures, Montanas, etc. ( these have since been discontinued--should have happened simultaneouesly to the rollout of Aztek/Rendezvous to enhance sales of the new stuff. Iacocca did this in the 60s when he axed the Falcon coupe and convertible with the rollout of the original Mustang.)
If you, like me, buy your vehicles a couple years old rather than brand-new, you'll see that there's no comparison between generally-treated-like-dirt strippo Chryslers and generally-well-taken-care-of Azteks and Rondies.
I think the build quality of the Aztek is superior to any Chrysler van I've owned.My Aztek has no squeaks or rattles and is generally so quiet that I have to look at the tach to tell if the engine's still idling.
The transmission holds a gear a lot better on steep upgrades than does a Chrysler transmission.
The factory stereo beats any factory Chrysler system I've owned, as well.
Economy is surprisingly good. City mileage has averaged 20 (EPA said 19) and highway mileage averages right at the EPA's 26.
I got 29.3 mpg on a trip from Omaha to Mitchell, SD; mainly flat terrain,good tailwind,AC off: last vacation.
This is the economy leg of our annual trip to the Black Hills. We take it in the wee hours of the morning when its cool enough to keep the AC off.
My last Grand Caravan got 22 on this leg. A 4-cylinder, 5-speed '84 Voyager ( our first of 3 Chrysler-built minivans ) got 24.5 on this leg.
Imagine getting almost 30 in a roomy vehicle that doesn't run out of breath at higher elevations and can accelerate from 65 to 85 in much less time than the seeming eternity it takes a 4-cylinder Voyager! I'm impressed with the engine and its computer program.
Other than ruining a tire on road junk, all of my maintenance on the Aztek since I bought it in 2004 has been strictly routine.
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Mar 05 '06
8:02 am PST
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Re: Good review. (Reply to this comment)
by mkaresh,  in Cars & Motorsports
Thanks for such a detailed comment.
Regarding the interior materials, I was criticizing the cheap appearance of the hard plastic on the dash and elsewhere. I do not doubt its durability.
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Feb 14 '04
4:28 am PST
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Good review. (Reply to this comment)
by corey76
Although I'd only disagree about the interior materials comment. The design is questionable, but the materials in my Tek are faily high quality, especially at this price point. All the switchs function well, the stichings in the fabric are strong and secure. The lighter colored portion of the dash is a soft high quality vinyl with very plush padding. The guage cluster and center console are hard plastic. I'd have to say what impresses me most about the interior is it's overall strength. The plastic used on every handle seems to be the equivalent of some bulletproof super composite, it's going to take all kinds of punishment and come back for more. Also just so you know when I first sat in the rear seat of my tek I wasn't so comfortable either, but with just a lift of a lever on the side and quick adjustment of the head rest I was reclined and relaxed.
Also having driven an Aztek equipped with the 17" wheels vs mine equipped with the standard 16" wheels I can wholeheartedly agree that the tires make the car a much rougher ride. I've aleviated some of the odd proportioning of the wheel size by putting on larger tires. My 02 came equipped with 215/70 16's, it now has 225/70 16's for a light truck. It looks alot better in my opinion. FYI the pump that you taked about is actually integrated into the vehicle if you equip it with the Towing package. The pump can be used to air up anything you like, it comes with a very nice 25' hose and analog pressure gauge. The same pump is used to fill the air suspension on the vehicle. Which is what I use it for anyway and it's probably one of it's distinct advantages over the competition you mentioned. Because of the suspension and the hitch of course, the Aztek is rated with a 3/4 ton payload capacity, and a 3500lbs towing limit.
While at 1st you might be thinking big deal, the Aztek is also 1 of a very few SUV's that can hold 4x8 sheets of material, something again that none of your listed competitors can do. So when my grandmother was remodeling and her contracter needed her to pick up 8 sheets of drywall and 2 sheets of 1/2" plywood along with a host of 8' 2x4's and rent a powerwash for a weekend the Aztek had no issue with all that in one quick load.
You'd never seen such a surprising look on the Home Depot guys's faces as they were loading her up!! I'd love to see an Element try that one!
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Feb 13 '04
2:26 pm PST
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LOL... Stasi Element special (Reply to this comment)
by asafono
Especially in steel-wheeled DX form it [the Element] looks like something an Eastern European country might create for military or police use, with a boxy shape and upright windshield and rear end.
Is there a special trim for the Element with a secure partition and rear windows painted white (and doors that cannot be opened from the inside?)
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Jan 30 '04
9:22 am PST
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A matter of diction... (Reply to this comment)
by mrkstvns,  in Cars & Motorsports
Ahhhh...."distinctive styling". So *THAT'S* the term marketing guys would use for "butt ugly".
Thanks for the vocabulary lesson!
;-)
Mark
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Jan 29 '04
8:59 pm PST
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Re: VehiCross (Reply to this comment)
by mkaresh, in Cars & Motorsports
The Vehicross had only two doors, and thus falls into a category all its own in my mind. I meant to discuss the Mitsubishi Endeavor, and might add it to the comparison, but it's not quite the same thing, either.
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Jan 29 '04
10:52 am PST
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VehiCross (Reply to this comment)
by pvreditor, in Cars & Motorsports
Nice review, but I'm surprised you didn't mention a more recent -- and much closer in nature to the Aztek -- vehicle that disappeared quickly due to its weird looks: the Isuzu VehiCross. I laughed out loud when I saw my first VehiCross at a car show and can probably count all that I've seen on the highway one one hand... which is also true of Azteks.
I read a recent review of the VehiCross where the writer gushed about its good looks, so these things are a matter of taste. Just the same, I now know who not to hire for an interior decorator.
Anyway, nice concise review.
--Bob
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Jan 29 '04
9:53 am PST
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