Posts tagged Honda

Ironically, the decidedly square Honda Element looks the way it does because a group of young engineers was encouraged to “think outside the box.”  The vehicle you see here is the result of their zeal to design a do-all for any active lifestyle, a melding of car and sport-utility that can haul gear, serve as a camping home-base, and still function as a commuter when necessary.  If that’s too complex, then think of the Element as a very small, very cool van.  That’s really what it is, at heart.

Slotting into Honda’s lineup above the CR-V and below the Pilot, the Element isn’t really a sport-ute in the traditional sense.  It’s got the height of an SUV, but its weight is carried down low, and with only 6.9 inches of ground clearance, trail-running probably isn’t a good idea.  More than anything else, the Element radiates a feeling of, “Hey!  Let’s go do stuff!”  It doesn’t want to race; it wants to run errands and have all sorts of urban adventures.

The boxy design takes some getting used to.  Many onlookers will never get used to it.  It grew on us; after a while we began to think of it as a small armored truck, or perhaps some Lilliputian military vehicle.  The Element isn’t much bigger than a CR-V (it’s wider and taller, but the CR-V is longer) but its cubist form takes up as much space as possible.  Plastic-covered fenders front and rear fend off parking lot dings and minor scratches, and contribute to the Element’s toylike look.  The headlights and grille are surrounded by gray plastic as well.  There’s no option to have that plastic painted, unfortunately.  The rear doors are hinged at the rear, and their shape is exaggerated, giving the Element a unique profile.  There’s a slight bustle at the rear, because the liftgate opens clamshell-style, providing a place to sit for tailgate parties and a canopy overhead.  The Element doesn’t look like anything else, and it’s definitely a polarizing design.

Our passengers were unanimously impressed with the Element’s cavernous interior.  The upright windshield is out of arm’s reach, creating what one person called a “big rig” feeling.  Whether this is a good thing or not is up for debate.  It does eliminate a traditional A-pillar blind spot.  Opinions were split on the wide, flat seats; some people liked them, some thought them uncomfortable.  The dash is modern and includes colored panels, but the layout is actually very simple and uncluttered.  Three satiny-trimmed bezels comprise the instrument panel, and the center stack is done in Honda’s usual flush style.  There’s a distinct lack of detail for detail’s sake; everything has a purpose.  The dash contains helpful storage shelves.  The carpet is removable and the seats waterproof, for easy cleaning or loading of extremely dirty items.  There’s a large overhead cubby with a plastic mesh bottom, so it’s easy to see what’s been tossed into it.  Bungee-cord style seatbacks can hold a variety of odd-sized items.  The shifter juts out of the dash at an angle that seems awkward until you realize that it won’t stab you in the butt if you decide to climb between the front seats.  There’s a sunroof for the rear passengers, and the rear seats fold flat into a bed, flip up out of the way, or can be removed entirely, opening up a seventy-plus cubic foot cargo area.  This list could go on for another two hundred words; it’s much easier to go and play with one, to see what it can do.

The Element’s 2.4 liter four-cylinder is a bit overworked, thanks to the vehicle’s 3500-pound girth.  Around town we didn’t notice much, but the Element isn’t a big fan of freeway speeds.  The engine features Honda’s i-VTEC variable valve and timing control, which boosts the 160 horsepower engine’s torque at low revs while keeping fuel economy moderately good.  A choice of four-speed automatic and five-speed manual transmissions is offered.  The drivetrain operates with typical Honda silence, but we found the Element to be somewhat boomy on the freeway, even with the carpet installed.  It’s noisier than your average Honda, but in spite of its chunky width it’s an affable companion around town.  The Element is a fantastic errand-runner.

The Element is technically a light truck, but it handles better than the average SUV.  The vehicle’s height makes it tossier than a real economy car, but other than that we were happy with it.  The MacPherson strut front, double-wishbone rear suspension leans toward the stiff rather than the soft end of the spectrum.  Four-wheel drive is available in the guise of Honda’s Real Time 4WD, but despite Honda’s pitch that an Element thus equipped would make a good camping rig, we can’t imagine trundling through the woods in one.  The body is definitely stiff, in spite of the “suicide” doors and lack of a central pillar.  Still concerned about a T-bone crash?  Side airbags are available.

The Element is available in DX, LX and EX flavors, in order of ascending price.  The basic DX starts at $16,100, and is a typical entry-level Honda, with steel wheels and very few power accessories.  Our test vehicle was a four-wheel drive EX, which went out the door with a standard sunroof, folding seats and a 270-watt sound system for $21,310.  If the unconventional looks of the Element don’t turn you off, it’s one of the better do-alls out there.

Specifications:

All specs are for the 2003 Honda Element EX, which we tested.
Length:         166.5 in.
Width:            71.5 in.
Height:            70.4 in.
Wheelbase:        101.4 in.
Curb weight:        3578 lb.
Cargo space:        26.0 cu.ft. (seats up); 72.7 cu.ft. (seats folded)
Towing capacity:    1500 lb.
Base price:        $20,850
Price as tested:        $21,310
Engine:         2.4 liter DOHC four-cylinder
Drivetrain:         four-speed automatic, four-wheel drive
Horsepower:         160 @ 5500
Torque:         161 @ 4500
Fuel capacity:        15.9 gal.
Est. mileage:        21/24