The Pontiac Aztek is undoubtedly one of the most notorious vehicles to come out of General Motors in quite some time. Produced between 2000 and 2005, the Aztek was a competent, practical crossover, but most folks know it solely for its unique styling and design. Which begs the question – what would a modern Pontiac Aztek look like?
Original Pontiac Aztek pictured here.
To find out, wb.artist20 created a new digital rendering, taking styling cues from the 2021 Chevy Trailblazer and adding a dash of Pontiac Aztek inspiration to the mix.
“Killed two birds with one stone with this one,” writes wb.artist20 on his official Instagram feed (@wb.artist20). “I modernized the Pontiac Aztec but also depicts [sic] what I’ve thought all along; that the Trailblazer is reminiscent of the Aztec IMO!”
While the similarities between these two crossovers are debatable, wb.artist20 definitely does a great job incorporating the old-school Pontiac Aztek styling cues on the modern Chevy body. The biggest differences are in front, where the multi-tiered Trailblazer fascia was revamped to include a more Aztek-ish grille treatment, lighting features, and badging.
However, the artist did more than just tweak the front end to make it resemble the Aztek. There are several updates for the rest of the body as well, as seen around the rear of the rendering, where an extra corner window was added and the hatch was extended.
Truth be told, this modernized Pontiac Aztek rendering doesn’t look too shabby. While the original Aztek was utterly skewered for its unconventional styling, this contemporary take might have what is needed to change a few minds. Perhaps the Aztek didn’t get a fair shake the first time around, or maybe the public’s tastes have changed. Or maybe the artist’s skills are what really deserve the praise here.
Either way, we wanna know what you think of this modern Pontiac Aztek rendering. Let us know by posting in the comments, and make sure to subscribe to GM Authority for more Chevrolet Trailblazer news, Pontiac Aztek news, Pontiac news, Chevrolet news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
Comments
NOPE- Somethings are best left in the past
I like the original one better.
Like dinosaurs and Azteks
There are days when I wish Photoshop had never been invented.
So where are the built-in tent, the cooler console, and the Breaking Bad edition?
Not a good idea then nor now!
You do know Hagerty Insurance sell an ugly Christmas sweater it’s Aztek’s and Pacer’s on it? Look it up in their store!
Please no more badge engineering for GM.
I actually owned a 2003. awd. This was a great vehicle ahead of its time .
Mine was AWD with indep rear suspension and versa track . This was one of the best awd systems on the market at the time
If you compare to some of the modern crossovers out there from Mitsubishi , Nissan etc , the |Aztek fits right in.
Then look at the utility inside , center console etc !! Too bad GM let the media kill it and chose not to update it.
How can you look at the Nissan Juke , their larger crossovers , Mitsubishi cross , etc etc and the media be silent.
You never see these designs criticized
Its simple , the media is biased against GM and it shows in most reviews of their products .
I have proudly driven New GM cars since 1974 . and currently own 3 Chevys,
That’s true.
People in America better stop consuming ANY major media products on ANY topic and start working themselves on their own opinions and worldview.
I owned three (3) Pontiac vehicles. A Gran Prix, and two Bonneville’s. I would have never left Pontiac had GM not dropped the Pontiac line. They were really great driving vehicles. GM needs to quit licking the boots of the foreign on-and-off again buyers and concentrate on the American driver/buyer. Make a Pontiac Bonneville SUV/Crossover in a full-size (not monster size) nice interior with class with all of the safety, bells and whistles options. I truly believe it would be a best seller. Quit making all of those different styles of Chevrolet, GMC, and Buick which no one buys and produce a quality, nice looking, Pontiac Driving and performance vehicle. Hopefully some one at GM has some sense to at least throw out the option on that corporate board room table; maybe not.
Key being PERFORMANCE! I own a “last of the breed” 2009 Pontiac G8 GXP and I absolutely LOVE the car! My kids also say it’s their favorite of the 5 vehicles we currently own, even though it’s 11 years old. Pontiac was the “performance” version of it’s other GM cousins, and the Az was definitely ahead of it’s time, and could probably be given a few “thanks for that idea” credits from some of the current offerings by multiple brands. The only performance by GM now is Camaro, which is losing sales rapidly because it’s ugly and overpriced; Corvette, which is too expensive for most to truly enjoy other than a base model; and a couple Caddies, which are truly overpriced for what they offer. Pontiac was the more affordable performance brand.
No no no don’t even think of it! Lower your prices would be a better idea! Make the Silverado and Tahoe affordable for the average middle class retiree!
The Aztec and 1st gen Avalanche are hands down the worst looking vehicles to ever come out of GM. The 2nd gen Avalanche was great! Looked like a Tahoe instead of a plastic cladded angry china man road warrior out of a mad max movie. Another ‘me too’ badge engineered Aztec to compete with Buick ,GMC and Chevrolet is the last thing the world needs. GM is scatterbrained enough as it is.. The Real Pontiac died in the late 70’s when the Pontiac Motor Division was closed forever and GM took over.
Now we need to see the Pontiac’s cousin, a Buick Rendezvous rendering. The body for the Aztec and Rendezvous was upgraded to the first generation Chevy Equinox. which is GM best selling CUV and the second best seller after the Silverado.
The Aztec and Rendezvous were effectively replaced by the Equinox/Torrent/eventually Terrain, yes, but their platforms were unrelated. The Aztec and Rendezvous were modified from the U-body minivans, while the newer CUVs rode the Theta platform.
The design studio managed to preserve the old “yea, I built it myself” look. Their next project will be a Cadillac Escalade modified by styling concepts from a Citroen 2CV.
Why bother? The TrailBlazer front clip stands on its own for being ugly. It looks like an early Nissan Juke’s brother.
Here come the downticks; I don’t care.
no downticks here. the trailblazer is trash. and i’m a chevy salesperson.
Walter White, in character as a meek, poor chem teacher in Breaking Bad drove a vomit colored tan Aztek. The success of the show was not enough to create a desire for old Azteks..counter to it being often a case with cars on long TV runs (think of Starskys Torino with that outrageous white lightning bolt). This was no accident lol. The #1 contender for worst and biggest loser car of the 00’s and a rolling joke fit Whites meet and beat down personality in the shows first season. The Fiero and Vega of the 21st Century. Boring. Like a Saturday night date with the head of the local convent when you’re 17. Why, oh why, would anyone ever want to even think a minute about such a horrible car?
The Pontiac Aztec would sell well today. Well of course they could not use the Aztec name because someone would be offended haha. Other than that this would have a lot of appeal. The Aztec was ahead of its time. People like all of the weird looking CUVs from the entire Hyundai Corporation so this would have no problem selling today.
I just threw up in my mouth a little bit.
GM should have never placed this vehicle along with the Vibe into the Pontiac Portfolio, taking a lesson on how Dodge survived just off of the Charger and Challenger alone to an extent, if Pontiac was truly serious about being a Performance Brand, we wouldn’t even be talking about the Aztek, Vibe, Montana or even the G5. Chopping off the Firebird too early and throwing unnecessary junk into the line-up with a “Fingers Crossed” approach to survival when they could have easily became a true Premium Brand is what caused their demise.
I am so tired of these nonsense articles about some graphics students rendering. Seriously who cares.
Still looks as ugly.
somebody get a stick and chase it away, if there was ever a car that looked like a rubber ducky its that yellow aztek .
I still love and drive my GMC Envoy SLT it’s stays on the road .No lemon here!!! Bring it back/ without the terrain
Nuthin’ like a Pontiac thread to get the clicks!
No, no you’re gonna say no……
Its ugly and don’t even try to build this, who thought of this. No imagination or thought process.
Good job!
Still driving my 2002 Pontiac Aztek.
To many people still thinks it looks ugly but, it’s style was light years ahead of time.
Aztec was branded as the worlds ugliest car years ago.
Artist20 has a “unique” thought process when it comes to front ends… and by “unique” I mean ugly.
Would rather see a updated Pontiac Rageous concept as a Crossover render than this thing.
That front end is why Pontiac is dead.
PTSD
Oh Hell No.
The Aztec was a great car. If it wasn’t ugly, it would be considered a great car by many today.
I know this if off topic but I’m looking into starting my own blog and was curious what all is needed to get set up? I’m assuming having a blog like yours would cost a pretty penny? I’m not very web savvy so I’m not 100 certain. Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
Reading all these comments takes me back to the good ole days. My chevy’s better than your ole ford. Yeah well my dodge is better than both. I just bought my first 02 aztek. Haven’t got to drive it much yet, but what i have i like. But then again i have never liked camro or corvets hate the tras am. But that’s just me just like you all. I will make up my own mind.
I have always Loved the original Pontiac Aztec.
But I do like the look of the new Aztec. I agree with a comment I did read that the original one did not get a fair trial.