It goes without saying that consumers of products are likely to be drawn to items that are pleasing to the eye, which explains why sleek and sexy sports cars like the Chevrolet Corvette are so appealing, though the more down-to-earth styling Kia Seltos is nice too. Of course, styling is subjective; however, it often comes as a surprise when automakers seemingly go out of their way to make something that is downright ugly. Whether you look at the Pontiac Aztek through a kaleidoscope or the back end of some binoculars, it's hodgepodge of triangles and wedgy design elements come together like oil and water (i.e. not at all).And yet many a polarizing car has gone on to become a cult classic. Think of the E60 5 Series - controversial in its day, but widely regarded some twenty-years on as a true masterclass in timeless design. And of course, one cannot discuss polarizing design without acknowledging the Fiat Multipla's bizarre allure, or the facelifted model's complete lack thereof.2008 - 2010 BMW 5 Series Sedan E60 Facelift Front Angle View Pontiac Aztek: Style What was originally intended to be a really sleek and progressively styled vehicle when unveiled at the 1999 Detroit Auto Show (NAIAS), ultimately fell victim to the bean-counters having had their way. The production car shared its underpinnings with the Pontiac Montana and, unfortunately, the Aztek Concept's low-slung, aggressive aesthetic translated rather poorly onto the minivan-derived GMT200 platform.A quick glance at the Aztek Concept car shows just this. To this day, we still see compromises between the design, accounts and engineering teams at automakers. However, General Motors' internal politics in this case lead to compromise in the wrong direction, with the Aztek SUV that landed on showroom floors being more of a corporate failure than an outright design flop.Pontiac Aztek Concept Front ViewThe Aztek's plastic body cladding was, in fact, an attempt to give the pioneering SUV a more rugged and modular aesthetic, something that ultimately became one of the most criticized elements of the car that Americans love to hate. However, thanks to the Breaking Bad association and perhaps a little bit of nostalgia, too, the Aztek has seen somewhat of an aesthetic rehabilitation of late, with a younger crowd being seemingly charmed as opposed to repulsed by the Aztek's awkwardness.Pontiac Aztek Concept Side View Aztek: A Car Pioneering A Segment Long before the crossover segment had both a name and an audience, the Aztek arguably pioneered the segment by doing, back in 2001, exactly what modern day crossovers do today. The majority of new vehicles sold today in the US are crossovers or SUVs, but 25 years ago, something that blended car-like ride comfort with a smidge of off-road ability and a hatchback-esque cargo area was somewhat of an anomaly.Contemporaries of the time - RAV4, CR-V, Escape - were all early entries into a class that was in the process of being established, and the Aztek came to the table from a different angle, offering clever equipment and the promise of a certain lifestyle, much in the same way that Ford does with the Bronco today, for example. But while GM certainly had a vision for what it wanted to achieve with the Aztek, it would seem as though the market wasn't quite ready for a pioneering product that looked like that.2001 Ford Escape - red Aztek Capability For something that was so heavily car/minivan-based, the Aztek was well-equipped to deal with adverse weather conditions and even some light off-roading with the Versatrak AWD system optioned, something which was really quite uncommon at the time. Back when brands like Subaru were still trying to establish themselves in the adventuring/outdoor space, GM positioned the Aztek in that very space, offering a factory tent that zipped onto the tailgate opening and thus turning the car into a rudimentary camper of sorts.In addition to this, the fold-flat rear floor, optional inflatable mattress and removable cargo cooler made the Aztek the ultimate weekend adventure vehicle in the kind of way that almost none of its contemporaries were. Remember, the Aztek was never intended to be a serious off-roader, but it still offered pretty decent ground clearance for its segment.2001 Pontiac Aztek rear 3/4 Aztek Performance If seat-of-your-pants performance is what you were looking for, the old Pontiac SUV would not have been the place where you'd have found it with its 185 horsepower 3.4-liter V6 and four-speed automatic transmission providing adequate performance. It had enough torque to tow a light load, but as one might have expected from something which shares its underpinnings with a minivan, the focus here was comfort more than the ability to clip an apex. While reviews of the time said that the Aztek was nice enough to drive, it certainly wasn't what one might call engaging. Space: An Aztek Advantage In a time when truck-based Tahoes, Expeditions and Explorers were dominating the US market, the Pontiac Aztek offered many features and very similar cargo capacity but in an easier to maneuver, more compact and fuel-efficient package. WIth a usefully shaped cargo area and decent room for rear passengers, as well as the clever dual-level cargo floor, it was clear that practicality and thoughtful packaging was one of the Aztek's strong suits. Outward visibility was also great, again adding to the general ease of use and day-to-day practicality of GM's ugly duckling.1999-2002 Ford Expedition Green Front Angle Pontiac Aztek Reception Perhaps the overarching lesson here is that consumers can be a varied bunch, walking into dealerships with different levels of interest and knowledge on a product. However, first impressions matter and that first impression is almost always based on aesthetics. GM's initial hopes of 75,000 units a year for the Pontiac SUV were dashed with a measly 27,793 at the Aztek's sales peak just a year after its debut - perhaps the greatest sign of all that no matter how well-suited a car is to its intended purpose, you often just can't compensate for ugly... The Aztek's Legacy Pontiac While some might consider the Pontiac Aztek to be the worst car to have ever graced tarmac, the legacy that it leaves behind is something to consider. It was widely considered to have been a commercial flop. However, the segment that it pioneered now represents a large portion of GM's vehicle sales today and the majority of US vehicle sales as a whole. And perhaps had the Aztek not been so polarizing, it may have vanished into obscurity, as have so many of its forbears. Yet, 25 years on, people are still voraciously talking about the Aztek, which is more than can be said for any of its contemporaries. The values of well-maintained survivors have seen an increase and, should you be interested in finding a collector-condition Aztek, you'd certainly have your work cut out for you.Sources: Pontiac