What's interesting is that the more successful later cars you mention are much boxier and utilitarian-looking. I recall the reaction to the Element being outrig

What's interesting is that the more successful later cars you mention are much boxier and utilitarian-looking. I recall the reaction to the Element being outright revulsion, but plenty of people bought it and other cars like it. These days, I'd honestly rather look at (or be in) one of those boxy models than the ubiquitous "melted soap bar" of the late '90s/early '00s. At the very least, those cars are clear about the owner's interest in prioritizing function over perceived form. It's possible that the Aztek's "neither hot nor cold" aesthetic is part of what doomed it.