AZCentral.com's view

Pontiac Aztek is a model of versatility, comfortable and roomy, nice to drive, and with many interesting features.

But with Aztek, it’s hard to get past the obvious. That’s because — and there’s no gentle way to say this — Aztek is ugly. Ugly as in ungainly, disproportionate, lumpish and boxy, with a pointy, cartoon face and a massive, squared-off rear that looks awkward, at best.

One friend remarked to me that it looks like it’s already been rear-ended. And that was one of the kinder remarks.

Oh, Aztek was definitely a head-turner, but the looks on the faces of the turned heads generally ran toward shocked disbelief. People felt free to say, “Ugly, ugly, ugly,” right to my face. I was beginning to get a complex.

Aztek is the Quasimodo of motorized vehicles. It makes a boxcar look like a fashion statement. Well, I could go on. But that would be cruel. Suffice it to say that I can’t imagine what Pontiac stylists were dreaming about when they came up with this critter.

And it may seem shallow, but based on looks alone, I was ready to hate Aztek. I even started calling it “Mr. Ugly” to amuse my kids and co-workers.

Then a funny thing happened. After just a few days of driving this new critter, I began to like it. And not just like it, but genuinely appreciate it for what it is: an interesting, innovative and very useable family vehicle.

First off, it drives really nice. Despite looking as clumsy as a footstool, it corners well with responsive steering and a compliant suspension that soaks up bumps without being too harsh or too soft. It corners and handles as well as most automobiles.

While Aztek’s 3.4-liter, 185-horsepower engine may not sound gutsy enough for this two-tonner, Aztek actually feels pretty strong and quick, with just a bit of engine roar under acceleration.

Antilock disc brakes and traction control come standard Weird as it may be on the outside, Aztek looks pretty good on the inside.

The interior, though suffering from Pontiac’s usual abundance of curvy, padded, loopy things, is comfortable and accommodating. The seats are supportive, and the 10-speaker stereo sounds great.

The view out the back of that big, bulky rear liftgate is excellent, better than any other SUV or minivan I’ve driven.

Underneath the liftgate is a roomy deck with such optional features as a foldout picnic table, rear stereo controls, a plethora of cargo nets, even a nylon tent that turns Aztek into an ersatz camper.

The back seat folds to expand cargo space. Here’s a great feature: Flip up a handle on the center console, and it doubles as a portable, insulated cooler.

Each front door includes a removable shoulder pack.

Based on the current General Motors minivan platform, Aztek is what’s called a “lifestyle vehicle,” which means it has certain youthful, outdoorsy attributes that make it more versatile than an automobile , though not quite as rugged as a truck-based SUV.

With it’s front-wheel drive or optional all-wheel drive, it’s not meant for thrashing through the boondocks. But it should take you and yours to a nice campsite not terribly far off a graded dirt road.

There’s a related product from Buick called the Rendezvous due out in the spring. The Buick, longer and softer, with three rows of seats and a milder appearance, has a different mission. It’s more of a vanlike people mover than a quasi-SUV.

In the end, I came away feeling that Mr. Ugly is maybe not so ugly after all.