General Motors of Canada has announced sticker prices for the Pontiac Aztek that are below what many people had expected.
So the base version of Aztek, which Pontiac likes to call a Sports Recreation Vehicle (SRV), will be $28,995 in Canada, while the more upscale Aztek GT will carry an MSRP of $32,895.
Both models will go on sale this summer and both are supposed to "fuse the driving enjoyment of a sport sedan, the rugged tractability of a sport utility vehicle, and the practicality of a van in one fresh package."
According to Aztek brand manager Don Butler, Pontiac Aztek "combines outstanding handling, surprising power and innovative interior options which provide the best of several worlds -- on a level no other vehicle is currently offering."
Butler says Aztek "ventures far beyond first-generation SUV products by mustering its strength from three diverse areas of the vehicle-engineering map:"
- the sporty ride and handling and the low entry height of a Grand Prix sedan
- a traditional SUV's command seating, a combination liftgate/tailgate, optional all-wheel-drive, the ability to tow, and its "rugged" exterior shape, and
- the Montana minivan's ability to carry various combinations of people and cargo, a flat load floor, and light-weight flip/fold/remove modular seating.
After its striking exterior shape, the most remarkable thing about the Aztek is its interior, which Butler says was designed to be one of the most unique and flexible of any vehicle on the road.
So two seating configurations are offered -- buckets in front with a choice of a three passenger flip/fold 50/50-split seat or dual captain chairs in back. The rear 50/50-split bench seats are light-weight modular designs that can be folded, flipped forward or removed to create extra space on demand. The rear seat captain chairs have fold down seat backs that also recline and are easily removable.
There's a portable, 12-can, fully-insulated cooler that's standard on Aztek GT models that latches into the console's open bin by means of its dual-action handle. The Aztek GT also features removable utility packs nested in its front door trim for handy portable storage of sunglasses, cell phones, and other gear.
Aztek's center console also includes dual cupholders and power outlets are provided along with a mat that features a molded-in coin holder.
Aztek has a wide, low, and flat load floor and removing the back seats opens up 2.65 cubic metres of cargo space. There are a dozen securely attached cargo anchors, a rear convenience net, and storage areas built into the side trim and tailgate sill to help keep track of loose ends. The fold-down tailgate has two molded-in seating surfaces and a couple of cup-holders that are perfect for pre-game parties.
Butler says there's even more versatility with one of two optional items: a rear pull-out cargo tray system that supports up to 181 kg of sports gear or home improvement materials using various configurations of shelves; and a rear net system which has two side-panel nets that can carry up to 16 kg each and two larger cross-vehicle nets that will restrain up to 45 kg of cargo per net and can be reconfigured in 22 different ways.
All Azteks are powered by a 3.4-liter OHV V6 that develops 185 horsepower at 5200 rpm and 210 pound-feet of torque at 4000 rpm and is attached to a 4-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission.