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2001 Pontiac Aztek

2001 Pontiac Aztek

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Sport Utility
4-5 Seats
21-22 MPG
(Combined)
 Key specs of the base trim
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Overview

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 (4.2) 18 reviews

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2001 Pontiac Aztek Review

from the Cars.com expert editorial team

Vehicle Overview
Pontiac calls the Aztek a “sport recreation vehicle,” and it blends attributes of a sport utility vehicle with a minivan to create versatile, all-purpose transportation aimed at younger buyers. Pontiac designed Aztek to be the Swiss Army knife of vehicles.

Though you can’t tell by looking, the Aztek is based on the platform for the Pontiac Montana and General Motors’ other front-drive minivans. Aztek went on sale in late summer as GM’s first SUV/minivan crossover vehicle. Buick will take a similar approach with the 2002 Rendezvous, which is built on the same platform but is styled to look like a conventional SUV.

Exterior
Aztek wears polarizing styling that may pass for a paramilitary vehicle disguised as a running shoe, and most people seem to either love it or hate it. At the front is Pontiac’s trademark twin-port grille, and the bumpers and lower body sides are clad in gray plastic. A large glass rear window that flips up gives the back end a steep slope. A tailgate below the rear glass folds down and has built-in seats and cupholders.

A wheelbase of 108 inches and an overall length of 182 inches make the Aztek about the same size as the four-door GMC Jimmy SUV and 4 inches shorter than the standard-size Montana minivan.

Interior
A conventional SUV seating configuration of two front buckets and a three-place rear bench is only the starting point with the Aztek interior. Two captain’s chairs are optional in place of the rear bench, and both fold for additional...

Vehicle Overview
Pontiac calls the Aztek a “sport recreation vehicle,” and it blends attributes of a sport utility vehicle with a minivan to create versatile, all-purpose transportation aimed at younger buyers. Pontiac designed Aztek to be the Swiss Army knife of vehicles.

Though you can’t tell by looking, the Aztek is based on the platform for the Pontiac Montana and General Motors’ other front-drive minivans. Aztek went on sale in late summer as GM’s first SUV/minivan crossover vehicle. Buick will take a similar approach with the 2002 Rendezvous, which is built on the same platform but is styled to look like a conventional SUV.

Exterior
Aztek wears polarizing styling that may pass for a paramilitary vehicle disguised as a running shoe, and most people seem to either love it or hate it. At the front is Pontiac’s trademark twin-port grille, and the bumpers and lower body sides are clad in gray plastic. A large glass rear window that flips up gives the back end a steep slope. A tailgate below the rear glass folds down and has built-in seats and cupholders.

A wheelbase of 108 inches and an overall length of 182 inches make the Aztek about the same size as the four-door GMC Jimmy SUV and 4 inches shorter than the standard-size Montana minivan.

Interior
A conventional SUV seating configuration of two front buckets and a three-place rear bench is only the starting point with the Aztek interior. Two captain’s chairs are optional in place of the rear bench, and both fold for additional cargo space or can be removed. With the rear seats out, cargo volume is 93 cubic feet, and Pontiac says Aztek can carry 4-by-8-foot sheets of building material.

Two cargo storage systems are available: a pull-out cargo tray that holds up to 400 pounds or a system of cargo nets that hold up to 200 pounds and can be configured 22 ways using floor-mounted anchors. The cargo tray rolls on built-in wheels and has a grab handle for removal.

A removable, insulated cooler/console that latches between the front seats and holds a dozen 12-ounce cans is optional. Also optional is a head-up display that projects vehicle speed, turn signals, a low-fuel warning, radio station frequency and other information in the driver’s line of vision.

Under the Hood
Aztek’s 185-horsepower 3.4-liter V-6 engine and four-speed automatic transmission are borrowed from the Montana. Aztek is available with a choice of front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive that engages automatically in low-traction conditions. All-speed traction control is standard on the GT model and optional on the others.

 

Reported by Rick Popely  for cars.com
From the cars.com 2001 Buying Guide

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Consumer Reviews

What drivers are saying

4.2
18 reviews — Read All reviews
Exterior Styling
(4.2)
Performance
(4.2)
Interior Design
(4.8)
Comfort
(4.6)
Reliability
(3.9)
Value For The Money
(4.4)

Read reviews that mention:

(5.0)

I loved it, but it's time to let go......

by Magnolia from Northern Mississippi on November 16, 2020

I bought this car when it was 2 years old. I had searched for one and drove 5 hours to test drive it, because this was all I was interested at the time (my previous vehicle was a Jeep Grand Cherokee ... Read full review

(5.0)

Sad that the journey is over...

by Chrisyw,countrygirl from Kirksville Mo on September 17, 2019

I got this car used. It wasn't gently used either. I loved it immediately. It was over on the miles, but still looked awesome and drove great. I remember a boyfriend told me that it was on it's last ... Read full review

Safety

Recalls and crash tests

Recalls

The 2001 Pontiac Aztek currently has 6 recalls

Crash and Rollover Test Ratings

The 2001 Pontiac Aztek has not been tested.

Latest 2001 Aztek Stories

See all 2001 Pontiac Aztek articles

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Cars.com Car Seat Check

Certified child passenger safety technicians conduct hands-on tests of a car’s Latch system and check the vehicle’s ability to accommodate different types of car seats. The Aztek received the following grades on a scale of A-F.*
* This score may not apply to all trims, especially for vehicles with multiple body styles that affect the space and design of the seating.

Warranty FAQs

What is a Bumper-to-Bumper warranty?

Often called a basic warranty or new-vehicle warranty, a bumper-to-bumper policy covers components like air conditioning, audio systems, vehicle sensors, fuel systems and major electrical components. Most policies exclude regular maintenance like fluid top offs and oil changes, but a few brands have separate free-maintenance provisions, and those that do offer them is slowly rising. Bumper-to-bumper warranties typically expire faster than powertrain warranties.

What is a Powertrain warranty?

Don't be misled a 10-year or 100,000-mile powertrain warranty doesn't promise a decade of free repairs for your car. It typically covers just the engine and transmission, along with any other moving parts that lead to the wheels, like the driveshaft and constant velocity joints. Some automakers also bundle seat belts and airbags into their powertrain warranties. With a few exceptions, powertrain warranties don't cover regular maintenance like engine tuneups and tire rotations.

What is included in Roadside Assistance?

Some automakers include roadside assistance with their bumper-to-bumper or powertrain warranties, while others have separate policies. These programs cover anything from flat-tire changes and locksmith services to jump-starts and towing. Few reimburse incidental costs like motel rooms (if you have to wait for repairs).

What other services could be included in a warranty?

Some automakers include free scheduled maintenance for items such as oil changes, air filters and tire rotations. Some include consumables including brake pads and windshield wipers; others do not. They are typically for the first couple of years of ownership of a new car.

What does CPO mean?

A certified pre-owned or CPO car has been inspected to meet minimum quality standards and typically includes some type of warranty. While dealers and third parties certify cars, the gold standard is an automaker-certified vehicle that provides a factory-backed warranty, often extending the original coverage. Vehicles must be in excellent condition and have low miles and wear to be certified, which is why off-lease vehicles feed many CPO programs.

See also the latest CPO incentives by automaker

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