The redesign year indicates that the car is either introduced for the first time or an existing model has been
significantly re-engineered. The more extensive or complicated the redesign, the higher the risk of reliability problems.
2003 Model Redesign Year
The redesign year indicates that the car is either introduced for the first time or an existing model has been
significantly re-engineered. The more extensive or complicated the redesign, the higher the risk of reliability problems.
Boxy and distinctive, the Honda Element was based on a CR-V platform.
Aimed at the active outdoor enthusiast, it has a spacious and flexible interior with a plastic-covered floor that is easy to clean.
All four seats can fold back flat, making a bed of sorts, and the rear seats fold up against the sides or can be removed.
There's no pillar between the front and the rear-hinged rear doors, so opening both creates a wide opening for loading and unloading cargo.
Despite these unique features, it wasn't as nice to live with overall as the CR-V.
Those rear-hinged rear doors can be a hassle, and the thick roof pillars interfere with the view out.
It's a long reach to the steering wheel, there are only seats for four, and a low payload capacity limits its utility.
The Element handles well enough, but is noisy and has a choppy ride.
Acceleration is adequate from the 2.4-liter four; expect 21 mpg overall with all-wheel-drive.
Without optional side airbags, the Element scored Poor in the IIHS side-crash test.
2007 brought standard curtain airbags, which improved the IIHS side-crash test to Good.
Earlier versions had antilock brakes only on the EX trim; ABS and stability control became standard for 2007.
2011 was its last year.
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