Skip to main content

2003
Pontiac Aztek

Starts at:
$20,870
Shop options
New 2003 Pontiac Aztek
See ratings
Consumer rating
Owner reviewed vehicle score
Not rated
Safety rating
NHTSA tested vehicle score
Consumer rating
Owner reviewed vehicle score
Not rated
Safety rating
NHTSA tested vehicle score
Shop Cars.com
Browse cars & save your favorites
Dealers near you
Find & contact a dealership near you
no listings

We're not finding any listings in your area.
Change your location or search Cars.com to see more!

Change location

Available trims

See the differences side-by-side to compare trims.
  • 4dr All Purpose FWD
    Starts at
    $20,870
    19 City / 26 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas V6
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr All Purpose AWD
    Starts at
    $23,820
    18 City / 24 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas V6
    Engine
    All Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs

Photo & video gallery

2003 Pontiac Aztek 2003 Pontiac Aztek 2003 Pontiac Aztek 2003 Pontiac Aztek 2003 Pontiac Aztek 2003 Pontiac Aztek 2003 Pontiac Aztek 2003 Pontiac Aztek 2003 Pontiac Aztek 2003 Pontiac Aztek 2003 Pontiac Aztek 2003 Pontiac Aztek 2003 Pontiac Aztek

The good & the bad

This vehicle doesn't have any good or bad insights yet.

Use our comparison tool to look at this model side-by-side with other vehicles or view the full specifications list .

Start your comparison

Expert 2003 Pontiac Aztek review

our expert's take
Our expert's take
By
Full article
our expert's take

It’s funny how far the Pontiac Aztek has come in such a short period of time.

Three years ago when it first rolled into our driveway, the Aztek had replaced the Yugo as the vehicle everyone loved to hate.

What was it? Who would want to drive it? How could anyone buy it?

Three years later, it has fan clubs.

From Fort Wayne to Fort Worth, Pontiac Aztek fanatics gather to compare their hardware. The vehicle has a cult following. It has personality. Mostly, it has life where once everyone predicted death.

Pontiac, which couldn’t sell many Azteks that first year, now markets it as a “yawn buster” that only needs to be “unleashed.”

That’s a far cry from the “kitchen sink” label new GM design executive Bob Lutz gave it when he stepped aboard two years ago.

One of the industry’s first SRVs, or sport recreational vehicles, the Aztek is no longer the oddball on the block. Pontiac went back to the drawing board and made the Aztek softer around the edges, more balanced on the rubber and a little more attractive inside and out.

The result? Sales (and fan club) success.

Our verdict? It’s still odd. It’s just no longer offensive.

The Aztek still has an overly soft suspension, a heavy and cumbersome tailgate, poor visibility and controversial styling. But it’s also incredibly versatile, highly comfortable on highway drives and very economical.

If you didn’t consider it the first time, you might want to reconsider. Honestly.

Available in one body style and two basic configurations – front- or all-wheel-drive – the Aztek comes dressed in three major option packages. Each level increases the standard equipment and dresses things up an extra notch with everything from dual-zone air conditioning and power windows and locks in the base model to a tire inflation monitoring system and a six-way power driver’s seat in the top end.

And, for 2003, the Aztek arrives with high-tech options like a DVD-based entertainment system, a tire-pressure monitoring system, a “luxury appointment group” and XM Satellite Radio.

But during our one-week test, the question still lingered: So what is it, exactly?

Functional as a minivan or sport utility crossover, the Aztek once set the standard for the suddenly crazy crossover segment, combining the wide stance of the Grand Prix sedan, the versatility of the Montana minivan and the character of an SUV.

We’ll give it two out of three. At its best, the Aztek is still the Swiss Army knife of the industry. Hauling luggage, kids, toys, lawn chairs and a La-Z-Boy? See the Aztek. With the class-exclusive front fold-down seat and more than 93 cubic feet of cargo capacity, the Aztek can be flipped, folded, adjusted or taken apart to create extra room. Drop the tailgate and it can swallow four full sheets of 3/4-inch plywood. There are a dozen cargo anchors, a rear convenience net and storage bins built into the side trim and tailgate to keep track of odd objects.

At its worst, the Aztek is a load to drive. While its exterior conveys a sense of performance, the hardware doesn’t quite fit the bill. The suspension feels like you are riding on the high sea. It absorbs the bruises but floats on the smooth stuff. Body roll is excessive, and the steering provides little feedback.

And then there’s the issue of power. Pontiac might claim that the 3.4-liter V-6 outruns the Chrysler PT Cruiser, but we’ll take the PT for sheer enjoyment and that elusive fun factor. The Aztek’s V-6 is solid from a standing start but dies out quickly.

On safety, all Azteks come with four-wheel anti-lock brakes and front and side air bags, but in its latest tests the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the Aztek a “marginal” rating in offset frontal impact tests, the second-lowest out of the four ratings it uses.

At the very least, it gets four stars for being unique. Loaded up with 17-inch wheels, the Aztek carries that wide-and-high stance, giving you a commanding position on the road. And it does offer an interior that is downright different. Dials and gauges are set in a futuristic tone that would make “Terminator 3” types happy. The driver instrumentation is set deep into large wells and passengers have the option of a handlebar on the dash in case things get really adventurous.

There is still the removable cooler in the center console, radio controls that can be accessed from the tailgate area, a sliding rear tray to hold little things and cutouts in the tailgate that would make for – what else? – a perfect Saturday tailgate party.

In the Rally Edition it even looks – gasp! – pretty good.

Throw in a $20,870 base price and gasoline mileage that’s about 26 mpg on the highway, and it even starts to look appealing for the entire family.

We might not be ready to sign up for the fan club just yet, but the draw toward the Aztek is getting better.

It still suffers where other vehicles excel. But it also excels where other vehicles are afraid to wander.

And it still has life.

2003 Pontiac Aztek

Rating: 2.5

High gear: Versatile, roomy, fuel efficient and downright different, the Aztek has softened the edges and rounded out the bumps. Beefier tires give it balance, and Swiss Army-like features separate it from the crowd of crossovers.

Low gear: The suspension is still overly soft, and handling still suffers. The tailgate is difficult to lift, and blind spots are abundant.

Vehicle type: Front- or all-wheel-drive, front-engine, four-door, five-passenger midsize sport-utility vehicle.

Key competition: Hyundai Santa Fe, Jeep Liberty, Mazda Tribute

Base engine: 185 horsepower, 3.4-liter V-6

Torque: 210 lbs-ft. @ 5,200 rpm

Safety equipment: Four-wheel anti-lock brakes; front- and side-impact air bags; daytime running lights with automatic lamp control; battery rundown protection.

Wheelbase: 108.3 inches

Length: 182.1 inches

MPG rating: 19 city/26 highway

Manufactured: Ramos Arizpe, Mexico

Warranty: Basic warranty is three years/36,000 miles; drivetrain is three years/36,000 miles; roadside assistance is three years/36,000 miles; and rust is six years/100,000 miles.

Base price: $20,870

Price as tested (including options, destination and delivery): $28,095

2003 Pontiac Aztek review: Our expert's take
By

It’s funny how far the Pontiac Aztek has come in such a short period of time.

Three years ago when it first rolled into our driveway, the Aztek had replaced the Yugo as the vehicle everyone loved to hate.

What was it? Who would want to drive it? How could anyone buy it?

Three years later, it has fan clubs.

From Fort Wayne to Fort Worth, Pontiac Aztek fanatics gather to compare their hardware. The vehicle has a cult following. It has personality. Mostly, it has life where once everyone predicted death.

Pontiac, which couldn’t sell many Azteks that first year, now markets it as a “yawn buster” that only needs to be “unleashed.”

That’s a far cry from the “kitchen sink” label new GM design executive Bob Lutz gave it when he stepped aboard two years ago.

One of the industry’s first SRVs, or sport recreational vehicles, the Aztek is no longer the oddball on the block. Pontiac went back to the drawing board and made the Aztek softer around the edges, more balanced on the rubber and a little more attractive inside and out.

The result? Sales (and fan club) success.

Our verdict? It’s still odd. It’s just no longer offensive.

The Aztek still has an overly soft suspension, a heavy and cumbersome tailgate, poor visibility and controversial styling. But it’s also incredibly versatile, highly comfortable on highway drives and very economical.

If you didn’t consider it the first time, you might want to reconsider. Honestly.

Available in one body style and two basic configurations – front- or all-wheel-drive – the Aztek comes dressed in three major option packages. Each level increases the standard equipment and dresses things up an extra notch with everything from dual-zone air conditioning and power windows and locks in the base model to a tire inflation monitoring system and a six-way power driver’s seat in the top end.

And, for 2003, the Aztek arrives with high-tech options like a DVD-based entertainment system, a tire-pressure monitoring system, a “luxury appointment group” and XM Satellite Radio.

But during our one-week test, the question still lingered: So what is it, exactly?

Functional as a minivan or sport utility crossover, the Aztek once set the standard for the suddenly crazy crossover segment, combining the wide stance of the Grand Prix sedan, the versatility of the Montana minivan and the character of an SUV.

We’ll give it two out of three. At its best, the Aztek is still the Swiss Army knife of the industry. Hauling luggage, kids, toys, lawn chairs and a La-Z-Boy? See the Aztek. With the class-exclusive front fold-down seat and more than 93 cubic feet of cargo capacity, the Aztek can be flipped, folded, adjusted or taken apart to create extra room. Drop the tailgate and it can swallow four full sheets of 3/4-inch plywood. There are a dozen cargo anchors, a rear convenience net and storage bins built into the side trim and tailgate to keep track of odd objects.

At its worst, the Aztek is a load to drive. While its exterior conveys a sense of performance, the hardware doesn’t quite fit the bill. The suspension feels like you are riding on the high sea. It absorbs the bruises but floats on the smooth stuff. Body roll is excessive, and the steering provides little feedback.

And then there’s the issue of power. Pontiac might claim that the 3.4-liter V-6 outruns the Chrysler PT Cruiser, but we’ll take the PT for sheer enjoyment and that elusive fun factor. The Aztek’s V-6 is solid from a standing start but dies out quickly.

On safety, all Azteks come with four-wheel anti-lock brakes and front and side air bags, but in its latest tests the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the Aztek a “marginal” rating in offset frontal impact tests, the second-lowest out of the four ratings it uses.

At the very least, it gets four stars for being unique. Loaded up with 17-inch wheels, the Aztek carries that wide-and-high stance, giving you a commanding position on the road. And it does offer an interior that is downright different. Dials and gauges are set in a futuristic tone that would make “Terminator 3” types happy. The driver instrumentation is set deep into large wells and passengers have the option of a handlebar on the dash in case things get really adventurous.

There is still the removable cooler in the center console, radio controls that can be accessed from the tailgate area, a sliding rear tray to hold little things and cutouts in the tailgate that would make for – what else? – a perfect Saturday tailgate party.

In the Rally Edition it even looks – gasp! – pretty good.

Throw in a $20,870 base price and gasoline mileage that’s about 26 mpg on the highway, and it even starts to look appealing for the entire family.

We might not be ready to sign up for the fan club just yet, but the draw toward the Aztek is getting better.

It still suffers where other vehicles excel. But it also excels where other vehicles are afraid to wander.

And it still has life.

2003 Pontiac Aztek

Rating: 2.5

High gear: Versatile, roomy, fuel efficient and downright different, the Aztek has softened the edges and rounded out the bumps. Beefier tires give it balance, and Swiss Army-like features separate it from the crowd of crossovers.

Low gear: The suspension is still overly soft, and handling still suffers. The tailgate is difficult to lift, and blind spots are abundant.

Vehicle type: Front- or all-wheel-drive, front-engine, four-door, five-passenger midsize sport-utility vehicle.

Key competition: Hyundai Santa Fe, Jeep Liberty, Mazda Tribute

Base engine: 185 horsepower, 3.4-liter V-6

Torque: 210 lbs-ft. @ 5,200 rpm

Safety equipment: Four-wheel anti-lock brakes; front- and side-impact air bags; daytime running lights with automatic lamp control; battery rundown protection.

Wheelbase: 108.3 inches

Length: 182.1 inches

MPG rating: 19 city/26 highway

Manufactured: Ramos Arizpe, Mexico

Warranty: Basic warranty is three years/36,000 miles; drivetrain is three years/36,000 miles; roadside assistance is three years/36,000 miles; and rust is six years/100,000 miles.

Base price: $20,870

Price as tested (including options, destination and delivery): $28,095

Safety review

Based on the 2003 Pontiac Aztek base trim
NHTSA crash test and rollover ratings, scored out of 5.
Nhtsa rollover rating
3/5
Side driver
5/5
Side rear passenger
3/5

Factory warranties

Basic
3 years / 36,000 miles
Corrosion
6 years / 100,000 miles
Powertrain
3 years / 36,000 miles
Roadside Assistance
3 years / 36,000 miles

Consumer reviews

3.8 / 5
Based on 23 reviews
Write a review
Comfort 4.4
Interior 4.4
Performance 3.7
Value 4.0
Exterior 3.8
Reliability 3.8

Most recent

  • Best Car I Ever Had For 18 Years+

    I LOVE my Aztek. I bought it new with only 8 miles on it. In 2023 it now has around 88,00 miles on it. I've had some issues with it, such as the dashboard separating after 14 years (poorly designed), the radio seemingly draining the battery repeatedly after 15 years (so the techs said), the hood being tricky to open (again, poor design) and the pistons of the window portion of the tailgate drying out making it difficult to open and stay up. But, I still love my car. No engine issues, powerful (I floor it off the green light, a Mini Cooper is the only vehicle that flies faster than me), spacious, controls are easy to see and reach, foldable armrests attached to the seat (great for shorter people), the removeable cooler is convenient, the low back window makes it easy to see and back up to within a few inches of my garage door. The back seats fold down, then over against the back of the front seats, and can be completely removed for extra room. I've loaded 4' x 8' sheets of plywood and paneling in the back, laying them flat with no problem. The tailgate has two cup holder in it. I don't care what people say about its appearance -- I LOVE the futuristic look of the Aztek. I wish they were still made (with the flaws corrected). I will be heartbroken when I have to part with my Aztek.
    • Purchased a New car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    2 people out of 3 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • Thinking about getting one

    I test drove it liked most everything about it but when I went to test out the AWD it didn't act rite just kept spinning the front tires then would finely take aholt and than off any one know the secret to making it go in AWD
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 3.0
    Value 4.0
    Exterior 4.0
    2 people out of 3 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • I just love my Aztec... It's so comfortable

    It meets all my needs.. Plenty of room..i can put the back seats down and my dog has lots of space to run around and have fun
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    1 person out of 1 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • First Car

    It's ok. Looks weird but does ok on the road. Comfy and can hold a lot. Needs some repairs but is good on gas milage.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 4.0
    Performance 3.0
    Value 4.0
    Exterior 3.0
    Reliability 3.0
    0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • Miss my Car.

    I loved this car, it was a very fun car. I wished that they would have made more of them. Unfortunately I wasn't able to see how the tent worked because when I bought the car it wasn't with it.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 4.0
    Performance 4.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 4.0
    Reliability 5.0
    0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • Nothing as Usefull Over a decade later

    The Media panned this vehicle, I have owned two. Both were very reliable cars. Starters, I need an SUV that is not an Expedition that I can go to the dump, home depot or bring home a freezer Aztec does it... Carry 4-5 people comfortably, great interior features that 2017 cars don't have such as a HUD, passenger seat that adjusts the same as the drivers, so your other front seat is just as comfortable (again most cars in 2017 don't even offer it as an option). How about bringing home 6 sheets of drywall (inside) the car, try that on your Pilot. Now to the fickle, is it really that ugly? compare it to the Honda Element, or the Cube really? If GM was making them today I would buy another, this car was a swiss army knife. Camping for the weekend, kayaking and use for normal DIY pick-ups the car exceeded expectation. Funny too how when people rode in it they were impressed with the road feel and comfort. GM should Keep the most of the old interior and update the outside shell, it would blow the doors off of the majority of current SUVs
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Transporting family
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 4.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 3.0
    Reliability 4.0
    0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • Great car for camping.

    This car would be wonderful for someone who camps a little more than I do. Great for festivals and tailgating.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 4.0
    Performance 4.0
    Value 4.0
    Exterior 4.0
    Reliability 4.0
    0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • Loved the Aztec

    I bought my 2003 Aztec Rally new in 2003. It had everything that I needed at the time. It was comfortable to drive, plenty of space.When my son moved out we actually fit a love seat in the back of it after removing the back seats. I did have issues with the wheel bearings but my husband fixed them with no problem, and the tires did not last as long as I would have liked. All in all it was a great SUV. It lasted until 345000km when the head gasket went.
    • Purchased a New car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 3.0
    Performance 4.0
    Value 4.0
    Exterior 4.0
    Reliability 5.0
    0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • Great car for a chemistry teacher

    I purchased this car for a steal with the incentives GM offered in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. On a teachers salary it really made a difference in the payment. I found it to be reliable transportation, with lots of room inside to hold my sons crutches.(he was born with cerebral palsy). When needed it makes a perfect vehicle for someone who doesn't want to attract too much attention. Didnt have many issues with it, other than frequent windshield breakage. Oh, and it seemed is though people had difficulty seeing it on the road as I nearly killed two pedestrians on the road one night. In the end though, I decided I wanted to go for something abit nicer, so I moved up to a Chrysler 300 SRT. I will always have fond memories of this car though... WW
    • Purchased a New car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 3.0
    Performance 3.0
    Value 3.0
    Exterior 3.0
    Reliability 3.0
    1 person out of 2 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • mixed emotions

    i have always wanted an aztek so was so happy when I finally got a 2003 in 2011.it had 150,000 miles on it now has 195,000. it has electrical gremlins and none of my dash lights will shut off,keeps blowing out my headlights and now my gauges stop working when I drive it for longer than an hour.if someone knew about electrical then it would be the best vehicle I had ever owned but its time to get rid of it before more goes wrong..loved this vehicle
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Transporting family
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 4.0
    Value 4.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 4.0
    0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • Loved it!

    I bought it used at 200k and while I didn't think it was the prettiest car, it was comfortable and had the perfect amount of space for myself, 2 kids, and a big dog. I had it for 3 1/2 years, first 2 years I didn't have to fix a thing. Third year I had to fix the break line and replace the breaks. The gas gauge stopped working but I knew I could get at least 500km per tank so I didn't really care. Got in an accident with it and it's a write off. If I can find another one I'd love to have it! I miss it so very much! The trunk was huge, being able to fold down and take out the back seats was awesome too. Super comfortable drive, great in the snow, and when we got in the accident none of us was hurt in the least.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 4.0
    Reliability 5.0
    1 person out of 1 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • best looking suv around.

    Luv the way it looks, handles and performs. Still looks brand new after detailing. Would recommend this vehicle to everyone
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Having fun
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 4.0
    Value 4.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 4.0
    0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No

Latest news from cars.com

See all news

FAQ

What trim levels are available for the 2003 Pontiac Aztek?

The 2003 Pontiac Aztek is available in 1 trim level:

  • (2 styles)

What is the MPG of the 2003 Pontiac Aztek?

The 2003 Pontiac Aztek offers up to 19 MPG in city driving and 26 MPG on the highway. These figures are based on EPA mileage ratings and are for comparison purposes only. The actual mileage will vary depending on vehicle options, trim level, driving conditions, driving habits, vehicle maintenance, and other factors.

Is the 2003 Pontiac Aztek reliable?

The 2003 Pontiac Aztek has an average reliability rating of 3.8 out of 5 according to cars.com consumers. Find real-world reliability insights within consumer reviews from 2003 Pontiac Aztek owners.

Is the 2003 Pontiac Aztek a good SUV?

Below are the cars.com consumers ratings for the 2003 Pontiac Aztek. 82.6% of drivers recommend this vehicle.

3.8 / 5
Based on 23 reviews
  • Comfort: 4.4
  • Interior: 4.4
  • Performance: 3.7
  • Value: 4.0
  • Exterior: 3.8
  • Reliability: 3.8
Your list was successfully saved.
 
 
 
 
Save list Compare
[{"cat":"suv_fullsize","stock_type":"used","bodystyle":"SUV","page_type":"research/make-model-year","oem_page":false,"search_fuel_types":["Gasoline Fuel"]}]