According to market researchers, American car buyers are more likely to ask “will I look cool in this thing?” than “is this the most efficient way to get from point A to point B?” Despite Honda’s rep for building the automotive equivalent of sensible shoes, CEO Kochi Kondo understands that America’s love affair with the automobile gets kinky from time to time. Well if he didn’t before, he does now, after Honda’s bizzaro Element somehow found favor with American grey panther platform refugees. You can almost hear him at the karaoke bar singing “You gotta fight, for your right, to paaaaaarrty!”
The party-in-a-box that Honda named “Element” is seven inches shorter than the CR-V SUV upon which it’s based. As for its sheetmetal, while looking like a cross between a Hummer and an ostraciidae is not in and of itself horrendous, the Elements’ exterior is covered with acres of faux Rubbermaid. The plastic treatment makes the car look like it’s fresh out of a pick-and-pull. No wonder Honda’s started building more elemental (i.e. monochromatic) Elements (for $500 extra).
Unsuspecting Element passengers will attempt to push rubber squares rearward of the rear doors to gain entry. Not so fast, Mr. Bond. Those are not door opening devices. They’re hinges! Yes 007, Honda’s Urban only Activity Vehicle flummoxes aspiring occupants with rear “access panels” (a.k.a. suicide doors). This eccentricity makes egress in tight parking spots more monumental than Elemental. As Sheriff J.W. Pepper might say: back that Rubbermaid ass up boy, or they ain’t getting’ in.
Once you’ve been properly briefed and belted, your senses will tell you why Honda can sell just about anything, from lawn mowers to jet airplanes to a shoebox-on-wheels: build quality. The Element’s supportive seats are worthy of a far more expensive vehicle. In fact, every point of human interaction– air vents, switches and HVAC controls– have a solid feel that exudes quality. It’s a trick invented by Volkswagen, perfected by Honda.
There is a notable exception to the Element’s cavalcade of ergonomic excellence: yet another cheesy single/double-din radio. An optional subwoofer is probably the least satisfying answer to the challenge of listening to acoustic referencing only slightly better than Ye Olde Close N Play. In fact, Honda’s budget ICE machines must be keeping after-market radio shops in business.
Features designed for generations at the end of the alphabet include a textured urethane floor (which the manual warns you not to hose), rear seats that fold into a “bed” (for people 4’3” tall) and a flip down mini-tailgate (for mini-tailgate parties). Blingmeisters will appreciate the Element’s “copper” accents (in SC trim), “root beer” metallic paint and 18 inch wheels. You can also order an Element with Honda’s Real Time™ (as opposed to?) four wheel-drive system.
Honda fits the Element with their ubiquitous 2.4-litre i-VTEC four-cylinder engine, good for 166hp (up 10hp for ‘07) and 161 ft-lbs of twist. Pitted against 3500 lbs., rest to 60 mph takes around nine thoroughly unspectacular seconds. Unfortunately, full throttle stompage yields typical four-banger thrash.
The Element’s dash-mount stick shift may put out pistonhead noses, but it proves more entertaining than looks, location or rubbery feel would indicate. The five-speed slushbox is more fuel efficient than the manual (22/27 vs. 21/25 mpg) and only marginally less entertaining. The steering and ride are smooth, heavy and vague, and that’s OK. Anyone who wants to throw a 70.4” tall box into turns needs their head/license examined.
Honda claims that “just one glance tells you the Element was built for those who live their own unique way.” Apparently all these unique buyers need to haul large quantities of Styrofoam. With rear seats removed, the Element combines the cargo space of a Ford Transit with the weight handling capacity of a French poodle (675 lbs. max load). The Element will tow 1500 lbs., provided you’re willing to make the already slow vehicle into a four-wheeled glacier.
Young ‘uns descending upon Honda dealers with $20k-ish in hand (or Daddy’s AMEX) will pass right by the Element’s cousin the CR-V. The savvy shoppers amongst them will note that the new CR-V is only slightly more expensive. The extra money buys greater refinement and a fifth seat; better fuel economy, handling, resale value, visibility; and the ability to surmount more than a pebble on the road.
Still, you can’t blame Honda for capitalizing on the fact that common sense is not so common. And it must be said that the Element is an extremely safe vehicle, complete with five-star crash ratings, vehicle stability assist, all the latest braking nannies and airbags plenty. So when the younger set asks older Element drivers what they think about their whip, there is only one possible answer: safe!
The year ELement that a firend owns has this U-shaped door-latch catch on the rear passenger door opening that hangs down. I always hit my head on that damnable piece of crap and so do most others when getting in. Grrrr.
But otherwise I thought it was pretty roomy inside for all passengers (I’m 6’3), and being able to fold the seats to the side of the inerior has been useful.
Oh and one ore thing, Elements have a street rep. for being a lofty vehicle for some back seat luv’n.
The reality for Honda is that the Element and CRV could not be more different, and I couldn’t imagine too much cross shopping. I bought my Element to use as a miniture van (not wanting or needing the real thing) and it works perfectly. Everything I try to stuff in it just seems to fit – full size refrig, and entire set of kitchen cabinets from Ikea. Yes, it is slow and ugly, and despite the brochure showing active 20 something guys hiking and surfing, it’s mostly moms and retirees driving them, but it fits a need. The suicide doors are inconvenient in tight parking spaces, but you get used to them.
My only complaints have been the crappy stereo and that the plastics are easily scratched, oh and if you’re not paying attention, when you pull the strap to raise the rear seatbacks, the spring will pop them right into your face! You only get caught by that once.
Other than that, it’s a typical Honda – reliable and holds its value (KBB shows it is still worth more than I paid).
Seems I should have my head examined, as the handling was far too slow and soggy for my taste. The extra height and weight compared to the CR-V don’t help.
I actually find the Element less attractive with painted fenders–unless it’s the SC. Which, with much larger alloys, is easily the most attractive of the bunch.
Element owners will claims that the vehicle can easily carry more than its rated cargo capacity. Gotta wonder why Honda says it’s just 675 pounds, though, which is two-seater territory.
For pricing and such:
http://www.truedelta.com/models/Element.php
You can fool some of the people……..
you have to applaud Honda for building such a funky cool vehicle.
Since Honda has made the new CR-V more minivan-like (or perhaps more crossover or feminine) in it’s styling, I suspect the next Element will give up the suicide doors and take on the functionality of the previous gneration CR-V (but with Element-like styling).
Did you drive the SC? The tighter suspension actually makes the tall box fun to fling around corners, though it leaves the ride on the econobox side of unacceptable. There’s video floating around of an SC running through the cones at the same speed as a Civic Si.
A Honda dealer told me that the Element is popular among those of, er, larger-than-average build. It’s easy to see why. There are very few cars in which a 6’4″ guy like myself can wear a 10-gallon hat and not touch the roof. Shoulder and hip room are likewise excellent. The one flaw is that the already dubious outward visibility is completely obliterated if the rear seats are up.
I’m not sure what the reason for low load ratings on modern cars is. The load rating on the Accord, TSX and TL is just 750 pounds, which you can easily hit with three people and luggage. The Element’s load rating is even worse. What’s up with that?
The Element is the quintessential Japanese box, which is a category that doesn’t make it to the states very often.
My wife and I are expecting twins (sigh). That came out of knowhere, and as such, her little New Beetle isn’t gonna do duty as a mom machine.
We’re too cool for minivans and too smart for SUVs.
That doesn’t leave us with much, but I’ve been pushing the Elerment as one of the primary vehicles. I’m in love with this thing, but unfortuantly, my long legs feel awkward in the passenger seat, and it needs a telescopign steering wheel and better arm rests.
Still, the versatility of this thing blows me away, and it doesn’t feel underpowered with the automatic 5spd like a Mazda 5 or Jeep Patriot did.
Don’t like suicide doors – you know how long it will take a 5 year old child to close the doors in the wrong order and damage the front door?
Or for that matter, a teenager or wife yacking on their cell phone while closing doors?
Sliding doors for me on vehicle like this, thank you.
One question: Is the aftermarket for these as prolific as it is for the Civics and Accords with the same engine? Or is there some fundamental difference?
I could imagine a little suspension tweaking and a couple of engine mods would do a lot for this thing. Especially if you could get heavier-duty rear springs.
It has very spacious engine bay that could fit a V6 engine (Google Honda Element drift car) and yes with right tires and suspension this could be a very fun car.
675lb maximum load is… strange. The Fit is rated 870lb.
A friend of mine has one and loves it. He’s a musician and is VERY happy to have something for he and his band to put all their stuff in and drive to a gig.
He also got a great deal on it new. He’s in his early 30s.
Seems like the high COG would be the primary reason for the low load limit. Honda’s legal dept. in a CYOA mode…
The suicide doors in the rear are the real black eye for the Element. The Elemental result of this eccentricity is: an opening sans B pillar and the preclusion of even the indignifying doh-see-doh dance move to get into the rear seats.
While I don’t imagine many shoppers will intend to cross shop the Element and the CRV (I certainly didn’t expect to) when you get to the dealer and they are side-by-side a glance across is inevitable. And sure enough, the sales person at a Honda dealer I visited in the course of this review admitted that a great deal of customers coming in expecting to buy an Element run off in a CRV. The problem? Although the CR-V is equally as ugly, [but in an entirely different way] the extra grand gets the potential owner: a much better car (and newer design as well) for basically the same price and that all-important 5th seat for only a minor front headroom penalty. Visiting a Honda dealer with the Element in mind is like going to pick up your girl at her house and meeting her slightly prettier but much more entertaining cousin.
It’s actually a great ride for the price, and likely to be my next vehicle (replacing a Ford Ranger XLT supercab), assuming Honda is still making it when the Ranger is ready to go.
I'm one of the Element owners that can claim to have greatly exceeded the payload rating. When I moved last year, I jettisoned the rear seats (another nice feature) and loaded the crap out that beeotch, including a bunch of weights from my weight bench. It's an ugly-ass car, no doubt about it, but I'm not replacing it until someone makes something equally small yet functional. I bought a 6' buffet table at Costco a few weeks ago and never even thought about fitting it in my car. I just wheeled it out, flipped up one of the seats, slid the table in, and peeled out (figuratively speaking – its a slow boat).
I actually went to the Honda store pretty well set on a CRV (previous-gen) and found the Element to be the better car. The new CRV is much much better than the old one, but since the rear seats only flip forward rather than fold flat, that would probably queer the deal for me.
If 4×4 isn’t a necessity..For enough head room… try looking at a xB.
altho I do not care for the newest [’08] evolution]
those look like they were shot at and missed/ crapped at and hit…
I agree with CreepyScoutmaster (that phrase sounds like a bad way to start a day).
The CR-V may now look like a much better deal, but the old one didn’t. If the Element gets redone over the new CR-V Honda could achieve something interesting.
Reference cross shopping –
In late 2002, I went shopping for a 2nd gen (2003) CRV LX 5 speed (good luck finding one on a lot). The only manual shift CUVs any Honda dealer in South Florida had were in these Elements, or in 4WD CRV EX’s (which I didn’t want).
They pushed hard, and even gave me an Element to drive for a day, and although I LOVED the roominess, the turn offs were too significant:
1) Suicide doors
2) Too much exterior plastic – in Florida, the sun kills that stuff
3) No carpet
Honda has since fixed #2 and #3 with model variants. I thought it was a fine machine, with typical Honda build quality, just a little more appropriate for carrying stuff rather than people. I finally found my CRV (which I miss just a little bit) and it, too, performed flawlessly for the time I owned it.
Now that the 3rd gen CRV has NO manual transmission option, though, this is the only box on wheels from Honda some people might consider (excluding the Fit).
I’m not sure I agree that the suicide doors are a black eye for the Element, but they can be a minor annoyance at times. Other times they can be real handy for cargo loading. One of my biggest gripes is the sunroof. It’s at the back of the car, which is strange, but my daughter loves being able to look out it from the back seat. The problem is you can’t pop it open from the driver’s seat. It’s strictly manually operated and a little hard to reach even for a gangly-armed fella like me. It could also use a telescoping steering wheel. But really, I have surprisingly few complaints after 2 years with the toaster.
blautens makes a good point about it being better at hauling stuff than hauling people, that’s absolutely true. But also, I live in Phoenix and park outside all day and the plastic body panels are fine.
Love the look, hate the gas mileage and price. If it came down to getting a plastic-mobile, I’d get an Escape unless gas miraculously dips to pre-2000 levels. And I thought that one of the Element’s selling points was the ability to hose it out (assuming people were stowing muddy equipment in the back). Seems silly that they can’t do that anymore.
That poodle line made me LOL. Great review.
Of course you can hose it out, I’ve done it. But you really think Honda wants to encourage people to do it, knowing what a bunch of dolts most people are? Gas mileage leaves something to be desired. I average right about 23.5 mpg in my AWD EX. I have one of the older models with the 4-speed auto, maybe the newer 5-speed ones can do a little better. The laws of aerodynamics catch up with you pretty fast on the freeway.
The Element is a great car for me, although I have yet to recommend it to anyone. Unless cargo hauling space and flexibility in a small package are at the top of your list, there are probably better choices.
According to JD Powers (reference: http://tinyurl.com/ywawls) the average age of an Element buyer is 43. That’s interesting since the Element was designed for the under-30 crowd. Remember the ad copy with the young surfer chick changing clothes while standing up in the sunroof?
Having spent seat time in both the Element and the Scion, I cannot understand why someone would pick the Element, but, hey, people like Sanka, too. And Kenny G.
So, what do I know?
It doesn’t matter how crappy the sound system is because you can’t hear it anyway. The Element has the most road noise of any vehicle I’ve ever driven. Rubber mats, skinny tires, and 2-box design = a gawdawful roar, particularly on cobble-stone surfaces. But the utilitarian crowd doesn’t care because of the other pluses.
The Odyssey is actually a cool looking car, minivan and all. With the blue lights and chopped/lowered look it looks very slick. have a look at that …
Having spent seat time in both the Element and the Scion, I cannot understand why someone would pick the Element, but, hey, people like Sanka, too. And Kenny G. So, what do I know?
Not sensible analogies.
I seriously considered an Element when it was time to replace my aging Outback wagon last year. The utilitarian design harkens back to one of my absolute favorite type of no-longer-existing vehicle, the panel truck.
GF and I took a test drive (she hated the styling but was humoring me) and I was very impressed. In many ways it was the opposite of an SUV because it seemed tiny on the outside and huge on the inside. Loved the removable/flip up seats, too. And of course, it’s a Honda, so resale and quality are established.
What killed it for me was a combination of factors: MPG frankly sucked, I assume due to the bricklike aerodynamics. Ground clearance was terrible (and not only was ground clearance bad, but one of the things hanging lowest was the gas tank, which hangs so low it needs a rub rail to protect it! Who’s idea was that?) I also wasn’t sanguine about the “on-demand” AWD, coming from a true AWD Subaru, I thought it would be a step back. Any of these factors, by themselves, probably wouldn’t have been a deal breaker, but all of them together were. I ultimately ended up getting a small pickup, but I still have a soft spot in my heart (or maybe my head) for the Element. What would be nice would be if Honda took the concept of the Element and put it into a slightly larger, Pilot-based platform with decent ground clearance.
The perfect vehicle for my needs….frequent loads of supplies, decent mileage, plenty of room for my 6’3″ frame. The deal killer for me is the rear sunroof. WTF?
The Sanka analogy works for me. The Element aimed for the same audience, and delivers the same essential experience, as the xB, except on a bigger, blander, boring-er scale.
gfen,
Audi A3, Civic Si sedan, Mazda 3/6s wagon, Subaru Outback XT, and VW GTI 5dr > Element.
The XB was actually a copy of the Element.
I looked at the Element before buying my 1st gen Xb. The Element has an amazing amount of interior space, I was looking for something that had more room than my accord and that would allow me to cary lawnmowers airconditioners etc with ease. The Element was huge and fit the bill but I also wanted maximum mpg. So Ichose the Xb, as an added bonus the Xb was a blast to drive. The Element was also considerably more expensive.
P.J.;
Good equivilents but the VW and Audi just do not have the reliabiity history that the Honda does…unfortunatly. That’s usually on any potential Honda buyer”s mind.
I don’t see why anyone would want to buy a CR-V over an Element, but that’s just me. The CR-V is just a huge turn-off in the looks department. Afterall, “According to market researchers, American car buyers are more likely to ask ‘will I look cool in this thing?’ than ‘is this the most efficient way to get from point A to point B?\'”
The Scion Xb would be a better fit for most folks who don’t need to move ‘really large’ items. All the reasons decsribed (fuel economy, better performance, nicer design, better quality of materials) along with the ability to customize them relatively easily make the Xb a far better deal… for thousands less.
I also believe that most minivans in the market today would be better overall vehicles for most buyers as well. The Odyssey, Sienna and Grand Caravan in particular are far better at virtually everything then the Element. The only thing they lack is the fickle ‘fashion’ factor.
And that’s what it really comes down to. Some folks like to have a big plasticky box that is made by a top notch automaker. I think this generation Honda has more in common with the late VW Microbus than any other model out there today. It’s loud, spacious, noisy, underpowered, and certain parts of it may indeed outlast the cockroaches.
Out of all the vehicles in the Honda lineup, the Element is the only one that I wouldn’t consider to be at or near the head of the pack for all the reasons already described. Honda will undoubtedly do better the next time around with the Element. Who knows? Maybe they’ll pick up where the Xb left off.
I hope so…
I wasn’t considering the E before the SC trim became available. But I’ve recently test driven both the stick and the auto SC, and I think I’ll be buying one soon. The stick is more fun (the position is surprisingly right) but the auto makes more sense with a stop-and-go commute.
“We’re too cool for a minivan”.
Ugh, that one chaps me. How did the land of the Oregon Trail, Abraham Lincoln and the Statue of Liberty become the land of the Slaves to Fashion and Coolness?
“invented by Volkswagen, perfected by Honda”
What a great tagline! Shows the folks who came up with Saab’s “born from jets” campaign how it should be done. I love it!
“According to JD Powers the average age of an Element buyer is 43.”
I’ve notice that a lot of Element and Scion box owners are well into the gray hair years. I think they are buying these vehicles for practical reasons of giving lots of utility for a low purchase cost and low running costs while not careing for a minute what other people think of them. This must be driving the marketing people with their “target customer” mindset absolutely crazy :).
PJ:
“Audi A3, Civic Si sedan, Mazda 3/6s wagon, Subaru Outback XT, and VW GTI 5dr > Element.”
I laugh at your suggestion of an Audi (and this is from a VW fan), the wife demands at the least a wagon and preferably a truck, and have you ever seen how massive a double stroller is? So much for the GTI (oh, and I tried!).
No one has Mz3 wagons, she doesn’t care for the 6, and I wouldn’t mind an Outback, but in my mind its hip to be square, so I’m still pro-Element. You did fail to mention the Passat wagon, BTW, which could’ve been a contender, but like the GTI, A3 (or an A4 Avant), and Outback XT requires premium fuel: My futuresight tells me this is the wrong time in life to buy a car that requires premium fuel. Really, its the wrong point to buy a car period with ’09 or ’10 when diesel makes its second coming and hybrids getting better and better. I don’t want to be stuck with a $30K albatross around my neck.
This also doesn’t address that when all is said and done, with trade and a 25% down, I expect to be paying less than $200 a month and someone else takes the new car price hit.
Jthorner:
““We’re too cool for a minivan”.
Ugh, that one chaps me. How did the land of the Oregon Trail, Abraham Lincoln and the Statue of Liberty become the land of the Slaves to Fashion and Coolness?”
‘Coz its more fun than being a slave to logic and convienence.
“invented by Volkswagen, perfected by Honda”
I wasn’t around for they heyday of the VW Type 2, but I’m absolutely sure that someday Elements, or whatever is derived from them, will be remembered as the millenium version of them. If you can get around its looks, I think the convienece of this car absolutely sells itself. If Honda gave us a diesel or a hybrid version, the dirty hippies would be racing into them instead of Prii, if for no other reason than they can easilly wash the resin off the seats before Mom spots it.
I’ve got a 2004 Element and love it. Intetestingly, I was turned on to it by my sixty year old father-in-law. I was looking to replace my ’97 CR-V and just liked the way it looked. After 3 years of ownership, I like it even more. Tons of room for the kids and hauling junk, and build quality and complete lack of problems make me believe it will last forever.
Good review.
I like the element, but don’t own on. We have a minivan and a subcompact already, and this is a good mix.
The cool thing about the element is that is does not try to be cool. People who buy these don’t want silly spoilers, don’t want to spend 1000’s for giant wheels, and don’t see much value in 6,000 SUV. They simply want practical vehicle.
I’ll admit Honda missed their target – all the adds used to have young people doing “cool” stuff, but looks like does best with my crowd (middle aged).
I’m afraid will eventually ruin the element they way they did the civic – style at expense of function (the giant solar-energy collecting, impractial windshield)
All this talk about missing the mark on marketing because an older crowd is buying the product may be missing the point.
Marketing doesn’t sell to who you are, it sells to who you want to be. By associating the Element with young and active, they allow those of us who do not quite fit that demographic to imagine that we do.
Besides, how may sub-25-year-olds really buy new cars? On their own they get used Civics. If daddy is buying it may be beemers and lexi.
I considered the Element a couple of years ago when I was trading in a Suzuki Sidekick. I liked the packaging and utility, but I felt that the handling and performance were too sluggish. I also did not like the rear only sunroof. Ultimately, it came down to being tired of the whole SUV thing. I ended up going a different direction (Maza6) and have not regreted it.
I still like the idea of the Element, but worry that when Honda replaces it they will make it larger and more conventional and more boring. Bigger is not necessarily better.
I owned a red 2005 EX AWD with 5spd (had the gray bumpers). I needed a vehicle that could haul a lot of stuff (home improvement store runs as we were fixing up a house, could haul 2 sets of tires, tools, and track equipment for racecar, got 20+ mpg on average (I got 22mpg combined including a lot of city), was safe for family trips, was easy to camp out of, and was reliable for a daily driver.
I didn’t mind the looks as you got a lot of attention in the parking lots (yeah the suicide doors are a pain but I’m only a 34″ waist and not super sized). It handled well on the interstate and had a “peppy” engine. I did not buy it for performance but utility. When I had to sell it as we moved cross country and I was able to have the room to get a truck and trailer to tow the racecar I sold it to a good friend. She uses it for her volleyball support vehicle bring it out on the beach, to parties, etc.
Used my ’99 CR-V to pull 1,000 lbs back from Chattanooga to Cookeville tonight over 2 TN mountains. Did just fine with our family of four plus the dog. The Element would be a great replacement vehicle if we needed one. We’ve gotten 141K of flawless utility out of our CR-V so would I expect anything else from an Element. FWIW the sun did bleach out our plastic (starting to ponder ways to make it black again ’cause Armor-All isn’t going to last more than a day or two. That is the reason I would not buy an Element with the Rubbermaid body package… We’ve gotten a reliable 25-26 mpg all the time with our weekly driving. A bit less racing through manic big city traffic of course.
The Element is proof positive that Americans have drunk the Corporate Cool Aid and lost their soul.
When I was 20, I suppose I was at least theoretically the Element’s target demographic (though I have yet to engage in sports of any sort and can hardly claim to have an active lifestyle). I found my Element to be the perfect car to get out of snow-covered parking lots in Ithaca, NY with its AWD system, to be reasonably fun to drive, I loved hte ergonomics, my friends loved the huge back seat leg room, and my girlfriend at the time could testify to other uses of the prodigious back seat. The main reason I got it, however, is that my parents, while normally suite supportive and involved in helping their only child, were always mysteriously absent on moving day and seemed to have an almost religious opposition to using UPS to move certain things accross the country. I can testify that if you’re willing ot pay for new brake rotors, the Element can easily exceed 650 pounds loading capacity for distances as large as 1200 miles. Back then, semi-nomadic as many college students are, it truly was the perfect car.
We have one of these as a shop truck and I think it’s inexcusable that it only seats 4 with hardly any room for luggage unless you put it on the toes of the rear passengers (there’s a rediculous amount of rear leg room at the expense of trunk space). Set up as a two seater it has lots of cargo room, but so what, so does a Honda Fit, which gets exponentially better fuel economy.
I live in Brooklyn and needed to buy an urban-savvy ride. I walked into my local Honda dealer and picked up a 2005 Element with 5500 miles on it for $20,000 out the door. It’s fun to drive, fits my wife and kid very comfortably and goes through the occasional blizzard without breaking a sweat. The plastic that some people find irksome is a benefit in the city, where people are less than considerate when opening their doors in tight spaces–overall, I’m extremely pleased with the Element
I have owned an Element for 3 years now and overall have really loved it. Its never given me one ounce of trouble and is cute and fits all my tall friends. I’m concerned because I’m having my first baby in the fall and it occurs to me that I can’t reach the back seat from the front seat. Any new parents out there with an element? How do you deal with this?
This is the most negative review I have seen. I am 25, female, and single. I bought my ’07 Element EX 2WD a little over a month ago. Since then, I have taken 2 roadtrips. This vehicle rocks. Gas mileage is better than my mom’s small SUV so I’m cool with that. Love the floors, I use a dust buster, windex and a paper towel and it looks new again. Easy for me to move things in and out. I get why people don’t like suicide doors, kind of a pain when you have people in the back. I DO NOT recommend this car for people with kids- they don’t get the whole- back doors first concept. If your like me and want a vehicle that lets you see in traffic that is versatile–the Element is awesome. I looked at the CRV and thought it was way generic. Also, the incentives on the Element were way better so it was a no brainer for me.
I love reading these reviews, it’s great when so many people don’t get it. It keeps the price down for those that do. I’ve had mine since 2005. I’ll respond to a few items (sorry if I repeat other people’s thoughts, I didn’t have time to read them all:
The rear seats that fold into a bed for 4’3” people? You should have browsed the owner’s manual smarty. You are supposed to remove the front seat headrest, put the back down, move the seat all the way back to the back seat, and put the back of the back seat down (got that?). I’m 5′ 11” and have slept comfortably in it.
Can only haul large quantities of Styrofoam? Let me tell you about some of the things I haul in my Element (I bought a pair of truck ramps): a 10hp snow blower, a lawn tractor (sorry, had to take the mower deck off), 4×8 sheets of plywood/sheetrock, lumber, brush, furniture (couch, chairs you name it), a bicycle (without taking a wheel off), a canoe (the tailgate down gives you extra inches and you don’t have to put it on the roof), a small tree (good use for the rear sunroof – take it out, but watch the wind!). Of course, not all at the same time! It’s a better compromise between a station wagon and a pickup truck than most SUVs. It has lots of room, you can get it dirty, you don’t need a cap, you won’t go broke at the pump, and you won’t spoil the fine leather (wasn’t an option in 2005 anyway). Only occasionally do I see someone hauling something in the bed of a pickup truck where I say to myself, yeah, that would be pushing it!
Can’t surmount more than a pebble on the on the road? Let me tell you about some of the things I have surmounted (I have the real time 4wd). Unlike most SUV buyers, I take mine off road (beyond just my driveway). It has 10” of clearance. I go to a beach where they tow out all the guys that think they could do it in their 4×2 behemoths. It is fun watching it. I have been down trails that would make the mall going SUV crowd shudder and I have never gotten stuck. It has a great turning radius if you do get scared! I have been on unplowed, snow covered roads without any issue. I’m guessing the most was about 12 inches of rutted snow.
It’s plain and simple. If you want decent mileage, lead an active life and/or want tons of utility buy it. If you need to haul 7500 pounds back and forth to the mall, don’t need the utility, or need to make a styling statement, look elsewhere. It won’t handle the hauling capability of a pickup, blaze trails like a jeep, get the gas mileage of a small car, or win any styling contest, but like I said earlier, it is a good compromise for many people.
They trying to increase CR-V sales number. That’s why they killed it. Sales maybe slow but if you kept improve it any product can make money by grabbing other customers from different brand. Yes I drove one on unplowed snow road in CT and upstate NY at night/morning where plow trucks still busy plowing city n town. Yes it carry so much stuff that ur friends always call you too help them move. It’s a car for practical ppl. Sad to say not many ppl in USA are practical.
The Honda Element does look a little different. And while the style may put off auto enthusiasts, the looks are considered “interesting” among the people I know. But I work with contemporary artists, who consider “interesting” as more appealing than “rugged” or “beautiful.” Needless to say, recent attempt to “tart up” the Element are not appreciated.
At 6’3″ I find my hair brushing the ceiling of many cars, unless I lean back the seat. Similarly, range of vision is a problem in many cars with my eyes near the ceiling so you need to duck to see when the light changes to green. No problem with the Element. On the other hand, with a slight tilt to the back seat, my 6’7″ son claims he can sit comfortably in the rear.
With the passenger seat and rear seat laid flat (easy to do), you can carry up to 8 ft. long 2 x 4s.
Since the vehicle is short it is easy to parallel park. With all wheel drive, anti-lock brakes, manual transmission, and adequate clearance, it happily cruises urban streets in blizzard conditions — while other traffic is sliding or stuck. Since I spill coffee (as well as paint, dirt, etc) in the car all the time, the rubber flooring is appreciated.
I haul lots of stuff in my work, with the vehicle loaded and unloaded daily. Since the passenger seat slides up to the dashboard, and with the wide-open mouth of the “suicide doors,” it is easy to get anything inside that will fit inside (I know, I know that this sounds stupid, but how often have you found that you can’t fit something through the doors of a sedan that you know would have plenty of space inside).
I think of the vehicle is more of an “urban utility vehicle” than a “sport utility vehicle.”
Sure, all the negative points made about the Element are true, but it is my favorite in 40 years of driving. My only worry is that many of the features that make it especially useful to me (suicide doors, vinyl flooring) will be gone by the time that I am ready to buy again. But, hey, it is a Honda, so that will not be for another 10 years.
I traded my Jetta in April for an 08. The Jetta was 37 months old wilth 76k miles and a loud rod knock. The element was $21k out the door. $25 oil changes vs $65 for the Jetta. 22K miles in 8 months. No problems other than a flat. The tires are the worst on any new car/ute I have ever owned. I will be switching them out soon. THe ELement drives much better than it should. Yes, it is slow off the line, but you can hustle it just fine. I commute from Central NJ to Brooklyn and Queens NY daily. Seats are excellent. I can either take the kids or my Great Dane and my 2 English Mastiffs. Rubber mats make for easy cleaning. I also added an intergraded ipod module. THe stereo has NO midrange. I hate that the dashboard lights are on, without the headlights being on. It’s just begging for you to forget to put on your headlights. I drive hard and average 20mpg in my mixed driving. The same as my Jetta.
Drive Fast!
David
Loved the article, loved the comments.
It’s a given; NO car is for everyone, not even my beloved Element.
I’m a guy and I needed something with room, utility and flexibility to do “guy stuff”. It’s great being able to grab something without having to wonder how I’m going to get it home. (I’ve carried lumber, furniture, chairs, tables, cabinets, sinks and even a 6 foot sofa.) This compact does an amazing job.
I’m in the city a lot and didn’t (still don’t) want to manage a large SUV or minivan through bumper to bumper traffic, narrow streets or tight parking. This compact does an amazing job.
I’m usually by myself (another reason for not wanting a large SUV) so the 4 seat limit is not a problem for me. That said my grand kids fight to sit in the back seat, they love sitting high and looking out the front window. (Ditto adults). It also goes a long way in reducing/eliminating car sickness!
Did Honda miss their original demographic? Yeah, probably but, mostly because of price. Were sales underwhelming? Yeah, but let’s throw that on marketing’s back. Many potential customers never came to realize what a couple extra thousand got them over a Soul, Cube or an xBox.
My 2003 Element hit its 11th birthday this year and I’d love to keep it but I live in the rust belt. Still runs GREAT, the body is PERFECT and if it was just brakes and tires I’d keep it but … I’m also looking at a rusted exhaust system, rusted catalytic converter.
My Element replacement is going to be the Ford Transit Connect Short Wheel Base. Feature, size, capacity wise they’ve gotta be 1st cousins! Here’s hoping!
Wait, your body was perfect. You just needed a new cat and exhaust (every car needs that in due time) and that is why you would get rid of a good car? I just did that 5 years ago on my 92 VW GTI.. it is still doing great. Not even $800, too.
I owned one until a friend total it. I used to work for a bread distributor company. But as manager I don’t need to deliver everyday just when there is overflow route that need help. I choose Element because it’s spacious it fit 2 mountain bike and a folding bike inside plus 3 ppl. It fit a 2 family building water boiler inside and also I can stuff $2000+ of bread inside this car to do my job. I live in Manhattan and no garage. So street parking is not easy but if a civic coupe cannot fit that spot, I know for sure my element can fit nicely. I used it for car camping too back seats combine with front seat can turn into a nice bed for two adults. The only thing that I don’t like about the car was fuel efficiency. I know I can’t expect too much from a boxy car but underpowered and 4-5 speed auto? Come one why not diesel engine from Europe? Maybe with diesel engine and better transmission the towing rating can increase and it can be more attractive to more American buyers.
It’s clear that the author and many others here have never actually owned an Element.
The truth is, the Element is one of the most versatile cars on the market, is fun to drive (especially the 4WD version), is great for hauling anything, is great for outdoor activities, and is hands-down the best car for camping/roadtripping since the Volkswagon Vanagon Westfalia Camper.
It is the only non-van I know with a flat rear surface that also provides a ton of head room. This means you can easily load (and strap down) bikes or other large objects, including a 4 wheeler ATV. I’ve even carried a 9+ foot paddleboard and 4×8 panel of drywall inside. The suicide / clamshell doors also make loading and unloading large objects much easier. And I’ve never noticed a lack of pep, acceleration or power.
For me, it’s most ideal for camping and watersports, though. I lived in my Element for 4 weeks in Florida last winter, touring the state. With the rear seats removed, the rear area is large enough for a slightly tailored full-size mattress, which can easily fit two people. The rear skylight means that it feels much more open and roomy in the back area, and you can see the moon and stars at night. The rear electric outlet means you can plug in various appliances, including a rechargable inverter battery to power fans, lights, a fridge, etc. There are pockets in the rear to stow necessary items, and hooks to hang lights/lamps from. The tinted rear windows and low floor provide privacy, and allow you to stealth-camp in a parking lot or residential street in a way a larger camper can’t. You can easily attach a hatch tent or large mosquito net to the open hatch to expand the interior space further. (And the tailgate is a real tailgate which will comfortably seat two people.) It is, quite simply, the perfect camping vehicle, especially if you get the four-wheel drive for dirt roads. The large windows, skylight, flat low floor and high ceiling make the rear feel like a very livable clubhouse more than a car, and it’s simply ridiculously comfortable chilling back there, with or without a significant other.
If you’re surf-camping, like I was, it’s even better. The plastic/rubber interior means wet items don’t cause a problem, and you can hang items from the hand-grips near the ceiling. You can even change out of your wetsuit or swimsuit by standing through the large removable skylight, with your bottom half covered by the tinted windows. And you can easily fit a 9-foot longboard inside the vehicle, and even still sleep in the back with the surfboard propped over the front seat and set against the windshield/dashboard corner.
Basically, if you’ve always wanted a VW Westfalia Camper, this is the best modern alternative. It’s more compact, but that’s good for parking and turning. And it’s far more rugged, durable, and reliable. (The plastic panels are great for going through woods or rough terrain without worrying about scratches or dings — there’s a reason they’re there. And Elements are known to last for 300K miles with proper care.) You can even get a pop-top Ursa Minor conversion if you want to sleep on the roof, or have 4 people sleeping in the SUV.
I would definitely recommend this as a gift for any young driver who enjoys outdoor activities and/or car camping. They could inexpensively, safely and comfortably tour the country (or Mexico, etc.)
In terms of appearance, I didn’t really like the look when they first came out, but it definitely grows on you. I personally find it more attractive than a Land Rover, Hummer, or any Van or station wagon (except maybe a Subaru). (And while Vans can haul similarly, they’re not as nimble, compact or rugged, fun to drive, or easy to clean. You can’t hose out the rear, but you can easily mop it out.) It’s definitely unique, but so is anything else that’s special. No problem with the stereo, power, etc.
The *only* real problem I have with the Element is the fuel economy. I would love if it got closer to 30 mpg, vs. 20. But there’s tradeoffs to anything, and there’s nothing with a similar cargo/camping capacity that gets much better MPG.
Would be nice if car reviewers actually experienced the cars they reviewed a bit before writing them up, so they could do so intelligently. At this point in time, it’s hard for me to see myself ever not having an Element for camping, road-tripping and carrying large cargo, even if I eventually get a second car with better fuel economy for daily driving.