Honda went out on a limb with the Element. Normally a conservative company, it designed a unique vehicle, both in appearance and packaging. The Element is sort of military/utilitarian chic. Honda says Element was designed specifically for young male buyers who need a truck to haul their stuff, but want the security of an enclosed cargo area with car-like performance and economy. As it turns out, the Element appeals to a much larger audience than young men.
Element features a plain, durable, scratch-resistant interior, and that's a big part of its charm. Its seats are designed to get wet. It looks like a little truck, but is built with components from the Honda Civic so it drives more like a car than a truck-based SUV.
The Element was all-new for 2003 and returns for 2004 with minor changes. Most significantly, there's now a mid-range LX trim level between the plain DX and the premium EX; meanwhile the EX comes with more standard equipment than before.
Each of the three trim levels is available with a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission, and a choice of front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. All are powered by a four-cylinder engine, Honda's i-VTEC 2.4-liter.
The entry-level DX ($16,100) does not come with a radio or air conditioning. It does, however, come with power windows and door locks, four-wheel disc brakes, and an adjustable steering column. The new LX ($17,100) adds air conditioning with micron filtration and a four-speaker AM/FM/CD stereo.
EX ($18,900) adds aluminum wheels, anti-lock brakes, cruise control, power mirrors, remote keyless entry, a passenger-side armrest, and a seven-speaker, 270-watt AM/FM/CD audio system with an auxiliary input for an MP3 player or other digital media.
All of the above can be ordered with an automatic transmission ($800) and/or Honda's Real Time all-wheel drive ($1400). Order all-wheel drive, and you also get a large rear skylight that tilts open or removes completely and stores inside the vehicle. Side-impact airbags ($250) are offered on the EX only.
Safety features include front seatbelts with pre-tensioners and load limiters to reduce the chance of belt-related injuries. The Element earned a five-star rating for both driver and front-seat passenger in the federal (NHTSA) frontal crash test. Side-impact airbags are only available for the EX, however, and are an extra-cost option that we recommend as they can help reduce injuries in a side impact. As mentioned, ABS only comes on the EX model, and we recommend it as it allows the driver to maintain steering control in an emergency-braking situation.
The Honda Element is one funky looking car. Or is it a van? For one thing, the front fascia, front and rear fenders, and rocker panels are all made of a scratch- and dent-resistant composite that's molded in a dark gray color.
From the front, the Element has a cheeky, chunky look accentuated by rectangular headlights and the unusual design of the bumper. The side of the vehicle has a distinct shape unlike any other on American roads. The hood line is fairly low and leads to a steep windshield flowing into a gently curved roofline; while the rear tailgate is nearly vertical.
That tailgate is split horizontally so that the lower half can be used as a seating surface for parties. The Element's rear corners are nicely curved, so it does not look as chunky from behind. Large 16-inch wheels help ensure the Element doesn't look like a minivan.
When it was first shown as a concept vehicle in 2001, nobody dreamed that Honda would be brave enough to bring the Element into production so quickly. Certainly no one thought it would be sold in the U.S. But Honda stuck with its radical concept right down to the pillarless, center-opening doors, an increasingly popular feature on full-size extended-cab pickup trucks.
