Used 2003 Pontiac Aztek SUV Consumer Reviews
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This car is a Champ!
I was a Junior in high school when I got this car last year. My parents bought this car off a friend they knew well. At first, I hated it outright. Since I live in a rural community, I was expecting a truck of some sort, or, what I have always wanted, a sports car (Camaro, Mustang, ect.). But I have to say, since I brought it home, It grew on me. Don't get me wrong, this car is no sports car by ANY means, but this has over 265,000 miles with the original engine!! After 14 years of families, work, and now high school students, this car has survived every test that has been thrown at it! It maybe considered the worst car ever made and you may turn a few heads (not in a good way), but the folks up at GM and Pontiac meant what they said when they said it is "Quite possibly the most versatile vehicle on the planet". When car shopping, don't let its looks turn you away. Look underneath the plastic cladding and see how well it will fulfill your every need. They are also very cheap, so basically it's a steal! Get behind the wheel of an Aztek and I hope you will see what I mean.
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I will be passing this vehicle to my daughter
I have 380,000KM's on 'er and the Aztek runs like a top,it has been very reliable and comfortable to drive,and gets great gas mileage..I have nothing bad to say about this vehicle,it has been a very,very excellent family, as well as sporting, outdoor activity type vehicle.This vehicle has been top notch in any way you care to mention...and I like the fact it has unique styling and doesn't lo0ok like everything else out there..I hope my next vehicle will be this awesome!!! I wish they still made them,I'd get another but all wheel drive...even though the 2WD was great in the snowy icy,and wet conditions.
- Base 4dr SUVMSRP: $4,6951,684 mi away
- Base 4dr SUVMSRP: $6,7772,054 mi away
One great deal......
Bought my used '03 Aztec a month ago. Previous owner spent $24,500 new. I spent $9,700 with all the "bells and whistles"(power sunroof/moonroof, yeah!!) and only 49,000 miles on it! I can't believe how great it drives. I've owned over eight vehicles in the past twenty four years, and this is the nicest ride I've had. Test drove other mid SUV's, no comparison. Most drive like trucks, are to small in the cabin, seats stink and all look similar, boring. Aztec's have got to be the best deal in "autoworld" right now. People complain about the spoiler blocking their view,I love it, no more headlights in the eyes.I have no problem backing up. If you're thinking about an Aztec, go for it, it's a blast
I Love It
i love my aztek my baby bought it for me 2 years ago and the only thing we have had to do is change the oil, put a set of tires on it and new brakes all i can say is that its not ever left me standing out in the cold/heat and that i love it lol
Unhappy customer
I purchased this Aztec not even 3mos. Ago and I'm having problems with the brakes, wheel bearings, headlight shift gear ac unit. I was told that the SUV went through to inspection and that everything was working fine that's not true these cars can be a good car if you can repair it yourself because it's a costly vehicle to have so I don't recommend this one at all know. Wonder they stopped making them in 2005 because the only thing they offer is space don't buy if you use this vehicle as an every day car please.
Amazing car!!!
I bought my 2003 Aztek in 2010. At the time it had around 60000 miles on it. Now (2016) I still have the car and the mileage is at 170000. This car has been absolutely amazing. I bought it in high school and it was my very first car and I haven't gotten rid of it because I absolutely love how reliable it is. VERY good in the snow (I live in Nebraska). Great value for the price. Also, for an suv it has great gas milage. Only bad thing is that the seats have a weird leaf pattern that I am not fond of but not all models have it and if they do you can buy seat covers.
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Wonderful Experience
Probably the best car I have ever owned! You sit up high, killer sound system and best of all the Heads Up Display on the windshield (no tickets ever). 140,000 miles and have only had to replace some front and rear bulbs. I can take out the back seats and fit in full 4X8 sheets of plywood and close the hatch. I have a hitch and I pull my 2 carrier motorcycle trailer loaded with ease. I've had people out in public tell me my car is ugly, but I always liked the futuristic styling, reminds me of a vehicle from the movie Bladerunners. Wish I could get a new one! Sorry the Pontiac brand is now gone!
Excellent value
Have had car for 7 years now and have been more than satisfied. Recently had a few significant repairs. Over all am quite happy with the purchase. Runs well. Good gas mileage 18-24 mpg for a 6 cyl AWD model. Excellent in deep snow! This car lives in New England outside and has served well. Only minor cosmetic drawback is that it does not come with gas cover. Many people over the years have asked what happened to it. I keep needing to explained that this is the way it was designed. If they still made them I would buy a new one.
380,000 KM and Passing it down.
I purchased my 2003 Aztek new in the spring of 2003..I guess I,m one of the weirdos that like the styling..that is what attracted me to this vehicle,when I test drove it and saw all the cool little features,and how much room it had..well it spoke to me,so I bought it and,and have "0" regrets in fact it is without a doubt the best vehicle I have owned At 320,000KM I did have to have the intake manifold gasket replaced....but at 380.000KM she runs like a top.I oil sprayed(undercoated her from new,and every year after,and used 5W-30 Full synthetic Motor oil from Day 1 now my daughter is going to have it I only hope the new vehicle I purchased gives me the worry free long service the Aztek has.
Best choice yet!
We HAD to replace a car. It had over 300,000 miles on it, so we get an Aztec. It has the a cd player and the basic 6 speaker sound system, and air conditioner, and ABS. Everything else is standard. I also just recently received my permit, I have had if for 5 months. It has been an awesome driver, I love it. It is pretty darn powerful for a V-6. I hit 95 passing a truck just plain flooring it. And the standard sound system is so amazing. I put it on full blast playing the song "My Michelle" by the Guns n' Roses and I could hear it during road construction 2 blocks away. We also just had to replace the oxygen sensor, and now it is a beast. It is way louder and way faster Recomend it
Beautiful, but flawed
Beautiful SUV, classy and elegant in black. Bought @ under 7,000 mi. Had to replace passenger wheel baring @ 40k mi. Replace driver wheel baring @ 50k mi. Now must replace again 4 months later. Need to replace brakes too often. Leaks coolant. Doors don't always unlock. Locking doesn't always "beep". Rear hatch doesn't release without helping hand. Settings 1 & 2 on AC/heat don't work. At a stop it will "jump" forward for no reason nearly bumping car in front of me. Rolls forward after putting in park. Hard to find parts outside of dealership. All common problems according to other sites. I'm so sad b/c I love this car so much. I want to keep it forever, but may have to trade someday soon.
Great car!!!
Bought this vehicle late in 2003 and have never had any problems. I love the space and the way that it handles. I bought it in white and I really like the way that it looks. I wish they would keep making them, but I will buy another Pontiac for my next vehicle.
Disappointed they don't make 'em no more
I love my car! it is roomy and comfortable. gas mileage is considerable. i love that it is different. i would rather stick out with my "ugly" "garbage truck lookin thing" than not be noticed! i love that it has several cigarette lighters. the windows that go all the way down in the backseat are great. i love having all the extra cargo room in the back. i drove it from california to michigan and not a complaint about the comfort. i think the acceleration is pretty good. i used to have a jeep wrangler that was slow as molasses. i love that i dont have to get an oil change every 3K miles. my car tells me when it wants one. i wish they would make these still.
The ugly duckling
My husband and I read many reviews of the Aztec. When we went to test drive one ourselves, we were blown away. Great car, fun to drive, plenty of room for a 8 year old, 90 lb. dog and all our stuff. People hate the way it looks, but we love it. Atleast it's not a cookie cutter car that looks like every other one out there on the road. We bought the car loaded with every feature you could imagine and are always getting compliments from people who we show it to.. Go take a test drive. you'll fall in love with this car too................
Screw the Critics
The Aztek is the best SUV on the market, I drive from SC to NY 2000 miles round trip, at least 3 times a year with my family and the comfort in this SUV is un-comparable to any other. The cargo space allows for 3 suite cases and a cooler without impeding the visibility. Gas mileage is about 30 highway and 22 city. The Sound system is perfect and this thing is built to last for years. To every critic who has slammed our beloved Aztek, shame on you for being just another cow in the heard.... One last thought, if the Aztek is so unappealing to the eye, why are there so many copy- cats out there.
good early - poor midlife-okay now
bought aztek new 2003 was great till warranty ran out. common problems occured then. Wheel bearings, intake gasket, 2 ignition key switches. I kept the vehicle after all the repairs and it's been good. I like the features especially the awd.
glad i bought it
we purchased this vechicle for traveling reasons.. i love interior..its roomier(3 adult children fit in the back seat) then it looks....the sun roof comes in handy on those spring sunny days .........i'll hate to get rid of it when we have too
Ugly But Functional
Surprisingly impressed! First American car in 30 years, and it's really nice! No complaints, except for having great difficulty putting gas into it. Have had diagnosis by 3 certified mechanics, replaced fuel vapor canister, fuel evap solenoid and STILL have to put gas in at about 5 cents a spurt because the nozzle keeps kicking out. It's smooth, quiet, powerful and has a number of features I was going to invent one of these days. I recommend a buy, if you're more concerned about function than appearance.
Blower Failures
Our heater blowers keep failing. we are about to get our 6th. We don't use it much in summer and don't run it on hi very often. anyone else heard about this?
ok.....
This car is good; drivewise. I purchased this 2003 AZTEK for 5000 in 2010. The handling is good, after 5 years of owning it and well maintaining it, the gear shifter broke and i had to stick a screwdriver into it to shift into reverse. The apperance was never, well... good.
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Ooooooogly!!!!
This car is immensely hideous! I don't know how my wife got conned into buying this piece. The fuel pump is loud, the AC is annoyingly LOUDER and the reliability is in a league of it's own: awful. This is an expensive mistake!!! Don't waste your money! Typical GM quality, er, junk. Buy a FourRunner. Foreign cars are so much better made and ten times better looking than this!
aztek rules
I am fascinated with my aztek. It really is the best on the road. Really, people are simply evil to say it's ugly. We must take into consideration human nature: what you can't have/don't own/are to poor to own/ are to stupid to be original, then it's ugly. ha, ha, ha! The truth remains: AZTEK IS BEAUTIFUL, tha't why I bought it. Good thing it's also fully loaded, leather, sunroof etc.
Pontiac Aztek
Almost everybody I encounter ask me why did you by such an ugly car? I now realize how ugly it really is. The design for the money doesn't balance. I could under stand the styling if the car was like $19,000 or so. But it isn't very good value.
Good Vehicle to Own
Very confortable to ride in. For the price I paid, the product is very decent. I actually enjoy the attentions I get on this vehicle (either negative or positive). This is the first American branded car I own, and so far I am very satisfied.
Love My Aztek
This SRV comes loaded with features which are standard on the AWD model not commonly found on competing vehicles for less money. Take advantage of the incentives now before the new year.
love my aztek
Overall, this has been an exceptional SUV. I bought it when it had 35,000 miles and now it has 146,900 + miles! I have had a few problems, but who doesn't on an older car? Of course, I didn't buy it for its looks! People laugh at me, but now they think I'm pretty smart.
Fun to Drive
I just bought my Aztek two wek ago and I love it. It is fun to drive and great on gas. This car drives like a dream.
My Wife LOVES her Aztek
The Aztek, although considered ugly, has all the values my wife loves. It has the minimal equipment, PW, PL, CD, PS, PB, Auto, RWD, with none of the "un- needed" extras. She likes the versatility, fuel economy and handling, and the fact she sits higher up. We got it on sale for $16,900 at a promo on memorial day and got the luggage rack, and cruise control for free. I find it rides confortable, is one of the quietest vehicles I have rode in, and it handles great! Rear visibility is a little problem, but the price to quality ratio is excellent!
I love my Aztek
Height is perfect. Easy to get into and out of, yet tall enough to give good visibility. Turns on a dime. I like the heads up display.
Give it a chance
My father drives a Sante Fe, and I drive a VW GTI (Golf). We rented an Aztec this past weekend for some major moving. Wow, this was a great car. The inside is amazing. It could have held our entire load. It is a very practicle car, much like my Golf. Form follows function. The inside was made with nice materials, the ride was very smooth. Every aspect of the Aztec blew the Sante Fe away. If you are looking for an "SUV" and want to spend around 20k, I would suggest giving the Aztec a test drive. Driving is believing should be the Aztec's moto, not Hyundai. Because anyone who had driven a Hyundai then believes what they did before, their junk.
I Love My Aztek
The Pontiac Aztek has lived up to all my exspectations. This is an excellent vehicle. I would purchase it again. I realy hope Pontiac keeps it in the future.
Nothing but GOOD!
I bought this car brand new in 2003 . I have NEVER had any trouble with it. I change the oil & have tune ups (regular stuff) but thats it. This is a GREAT car. Plenty of room!! Great for trips. I have the leather seats, 6 cd changer, moon roof etc. FABULOUS car! I would buy one all over again! I can ONLY say good things about this vehicle. I really do like ALL the room withour it being a huge SUV. If you have an opportunity to buy one, go ahead - do it without hesitation. This car has been extremely reliable!! Mine is not a 4 wheel drive but it handles great in the snow. GREAT car!!
2001 Aztek AWD
Love the Aztek, looks grow on you after a while, great interior, fuel milage is adequate for a SUV of this size. My only problem is the constant down shifts when driving in moderately hilly terrain or into the wind. It seems to hate staying in overdrive. The dealership has been very cooperative in trying to fix the problem but it is a desine flaw. The engine does not have enough power for the AWD.
Amazing great car
One day I drove with my family and we met on the road Pontiac Aztek : "wow, look this what the car" said my wife, "wow" I said, "wow" said my son. We ware so fascinated so I follow Aztek for a while until we found it was Pontiac. Now we have it and we love it. I don't understand critics and the people who can say is awkward or ugly. No, it is very nice car, just different. Look at streets all cars are about same , Aztek is different.
I LOVE MY CAR
The car handles excellent. We have the car on the road several times and have enjoyed our ride. There was enough room for all of our Christmas gifts along with all of our luggage and people. We would not trade our decision to buy this car for the world.
Test Drive One and You'll Buy It
I was set to buy a sedan when I stopped by the Pontiac dealer on a whim, test drove an Aztec and I bought one that same day. It's the most exciting car I've driven in years! It handles great, has nice power, is extremely comfortable and is laden with terrific features. Don't be put off by the styling - I'm still getting used to that but the rest of the vehicle makes up for it.
Something New & Unique
The 2003 Aztek is a very smooth riding SUV with a unique exterior design. It offers many interior features and a sporty look both inside and out.
Best SUV
I checked this SUV out on Edmonds for about three months and comparison with all differant SUVs like Explorer, Envoy, Santa Fe, Escape, Xterra,etc. Incomparison with my 97 Explorer. It has a better ride, better gas milage, just as much room with the rear seats in and more room than the Explore with the rear seats out. And the price with the same options was thousands cheaper.
Best ever
I love this car! My husband laughed when I bought it and now he tries to talk me into trading with him. The only problem I see with it is the weight of the tail gate window. It might be difficult for a frail person to close.
Don't conform, think outside the box.
I have been a long-time auto enthusiast and I get a kick out of the Aztek. Sure, it looks odd to some but that's what I like...it doesn't look like everything else out there (easy to find in a crowded parking lot). If you don't agree go along in your bland Camry or Accord or cookie-cutter SUV. It is the most comfortable vehicle I have ever driven. At the time of purchase, it was the most powerful engine in its class. I went from FL to NH twice and I am still surprised by the comfortable...really luxurious ride that I am treated to. You simply cannot beat the price for what you get, conformists need not apply.
Just the facts, Ma'am
Been an Aztek admirer since inception, but waited for refinements. If you don't need third row seating, more than 3500 lbs tow, traditional SUV badge, ordinary horsepower (much more than sufficient for my needs), and normal ground clearance, this is for you. Throw in decent mpg, great build quality and radio, HVAC, and reclining rear removable seats, and the Aztek's perfect. Pet peeves: Rides a little floaty, though I do push it when rounding a corner with good feedback; wish the exterior door handles were like the Vibe's. Is owning living up to the wanting? YES!! Overall, a pleasure to own and drive, with decent insurance premiums.
Got to have one!
When I sat in one and then test drove it I knew I had to have one.
Great Choice
I've been more than pleased with my Aztej SRV or SUV choice. I'ts visually different, and when I spot another I want to stop the driver and form a club -- but then the Aztek's relative rarity is other people's loss. It's a great car with excellent handling, wonderful acoustics, exceptional sound systems, well furnished interior, and outstanding features overall.
Bob's Azzy
Fun Car to drive. Great storage. Supper Handling!!! Drives more like a sports car than an SUV
buy this vehichle
Anyone who thinks this car is ugly is right,but dont knock it until you try it. I was not sold on one until I drove it. IT drives like a sports car.It is soooo smooth! There is room for bunches O' stuff!! There is tons of head room for big persons. The possibilites of destinations are endless! It looks and feels like somesort of a futuristic speceship. People do not like it because they cant catoegorize it. Phooey on them!!!!!
I LOVE MY TEK
I was planning on purchasing a Honda CRV my mom has one and she really likes it but then on a lark while shopping multiple dealers I happened upon the aztek.Call me crazy but I actually like the way mine looks so do most people that see it.I get asked all the time if it's that new mitsubishi that's out.I hated the way they looked when it came out but making the black trim body color and giving it nicer rims makes a huge huge difference.The aztek rides much much quieter and softer down the road I could not believe the difference it also corners better and feels more stable on the highway.The tek also has features on it the crv can only dream of.
love my aztec
the ride is very smooth and easy to handle, rides better than my wifes town and country. the versitility is what I need in my job as a service rep. I am always hauling something or other.
On the Road with Aztec
Last month, I drove the Aztec from New Orleans to St. Louis with no long stops, and I got out of the vehicle without any stiffness. No comfort concerns. At 24-28 mpg on the highway, no problems there either. Performance? Responsive and smooth, but I wish it sat just a little higher for speed bumps and uneven driveways. Climate control and stereo sound are excellent, and it's fun to see people staring at the vehicle at stop lights. The unusual styling is an attention-getter, and my high school students love it. My only complaint about the interior is that for some reason, some of the seating areas seem to be wearing rather quickly.
Interesting vehicle
This is so unusual that some think it is cute and others ugly. I know it works for me. I am short, so I love the slightly higher viewpoint. We had some nasty weather and the Aztec was smooth and controllable even in the worst weather. It is easy to load and we have gotten a full sized matress in the back--and were able to close the hatch.
Stop critizing this great car!
I bought this great SUV just this month, but I am sure I will be in love with it for awhile. I love the design, although many critics are out there, even my fiance. He kept going on and on about how ugly it was, but when he got in for the test drive he totally changed his tune. Now we both love driving it and it is more like a fight to see who gets to drive. It's roomy, comfy, and the ride is very smooth, something you won't find in other SUV since they are built on truck frames, and the Aztek is built on a mini-van frame.