Honda Element Review

The Honda Element sport-utility remains one of the most distinctive and useful shapes on the road. It's relatively short -- 7 inches shorter than Honda's smallest sedan -- and surprisingly tall. But behind that cubist philosophy is a level of versatility that sets it apart from many other small wagons and compact SUVs.

As opposed to a conventional four-door setup, the Honda Element has "clamshell" rear doors that pivot backward a full 90 degrees. Without a B-pillar to intrude, opening both side doors creates an extra-large portal through which you can easily load passengers or bulky cargo. In back, the tailgate lowers like a pickup's and is split from the upper glass. Although the theater-style rear seats aren't a breeze to get out of (the front doors have to be opened first), they provide plenty of visibility and legroom and can be configured in multiple ways. And with the rear seats removed, you've got an impressive 75 cubic feet of cargo space to play with.

The Honda Element easily accommodates the lifestyles of all kinds of people on road and off with smooth four-cylinder power, crisp and balanced handling, and optional all-wheel-drive traction. We like it just fine for the light-duty utility it delivers for its size, but if you regularly fill the rear seats or need serious off-road/towing chops, you'd do well to check out other domestic and overseas competitors. If you do have your heart set on a new Element, though, time is running out, as 2011 marks the end of the line for the model.

Current Honda Element
The Honda Element is a compact, car-based SUV that comes in two trim levels: regular LX and upgraded EX. For power, the vehicle has a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine rated at 166 horsepower and 161 pound-feet of torque. A five-speed automatic transmission is standard. The Element LX and EX are available in both front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive configurations.

In reviews, we've found that the Honda Element offers reasonably peppy around-town response with enough smoothness to make everyday commuting a pleasant enough experience. From behind the wheel, the Element feels just as tall and boxy as it is, but the steering offers positive feedback and the wide stance keeps it stable even in aggressive/evasive maneuvers.

The wide opening provided by the unique clamshell side doors is useful, but opening the rear doors for passengers is not always as convenient as one might think -- to open them, the front doors must be opened first, leading to some annoyance for the front occupants as they must always open their doors in order to allow people in or out. If you don't carry rear passengers often, you likely won't notice.

Used Honda Element Models
Honda's Element is still in its first generation, introduced for 2003. It received only minor feature upgrades until 2007, when there were significant changes made. That year saw an increase of 10 hp and the introduction of the sporty SC trim level, which had a lower ride height and few unique exterior and interior styling cues. The Element also received a more efficient five-speed automatic transmission that year (prior Elements featured a four-speed auto), standard stability control and optional side curtain airbags. The SC trim level was discontinued after 2010, as was the previously optional five-speed manual transmission and navigation system (2009-'10 only).