Now that more, and often better, images are available on the Internet, I thought we should revisit those designs. What is interesting is that the Rendezvous' styling suffered less criticism, even though its design also had some quirky features. Plus, its sales were much better than Aztek's: 198,000+ (data seem to be incomplete) versus 119,000. This was despite that its base price (around $25,500) was greater than Aztek's (around $22,000).
Those designs were developed while Wayne Cherry was Design Vice President at General Motors.
Aztek's grille was a split-level version of Pontiac's signature vertically split grille theme.
Rendezvous's grille was similar to those on other recent Buick models -- ovaloid with vertical bars.
It is not found on this later Aztek. Sales probably weren't helped much, because the memory of the earlier theme might have lingered in the minds of potential buyers. The rear quarter window's shape is logical, but it seems too large. Chrome trim linking window tops and bottoms across the C-pillar might have reduced the effect by creating a unified window profile.
The C-pillar zone differs here, though the swath from the roof through the tail light assemblies with the dark window overlay is as quirky as some of the Aztek's details. Side sculpting is fussy, but less so than the original Aztek's.
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