Honda Element and SUVs

[Wag]

Anyone see this thing? Someone in my condo development owns one of these butt-ugly suckers. Not sure why anyone would want it. What kind of milage you get on it?
Element Owner's Club

Seems like SUVs are particularly huge this year- especially the Cadillac one. Now there also seems to be SUV/mini-van hybrids too.

 

[CastorTr0y]

i dont lke any suvs/vans/big trucks

im guessing it gets bad milage

 

[Encryptic]

Ugliest Honda I've ever seen in my life. Why on earth they produced this abortion is beyond me.

Given that it's an SUV, I imagine it gets so-so mileage.

 

[Jzero]

I like it b/c it's effing cool
It's got a lot of utility with it's hoseable floor, neoprene stowable seats and high roofline.
It gets about 25 MPG. How do you define bad mileage? It gets decent mileage considering the shape and weight and it's an I4.

 

[iamwiz82]

i believe car and driver got 22.4MPG on their long term test drive.

 

[LoudTIGER]

i drove one the other day... it feels pretty good for a vehicle that looks like it's bulky and obtrusive. the handling isn't too bad, and there is decent power from its 4cyl engine. i wish it had a 6cyl though. when asked about the engine choices, the salesman said that if it had a 6cyl people would simply drive too fast and flip the car over. whatever, crap. lol. anyway, there's lots of room in the car, and it's good for adventurous people.

 

[BigSmooth]

It's an interesting idea, and very utilitarian, but I personally think the execution was poor. The styling is vile and it's underpowered.

Even so, I can see why people buy them; they do have a number of good qualities and they're cheap.

 

[orky56]

the element is honda's answer to the pathetic aztek

if honda didnt notice, the aztek sucked.

 

[Thegonagle]

Honda Element? It's mechanically similar to the CR-V, so it probably gets similar mileage, probably around 20 MPG in urban "surface" streets, and in the mid to high 20s on the highway.

But don't trust my guess. Look it up for yourself.

 

[ElFenix]

its a VAN, not an SUV!

 

[Fausto]

If you can get around the looks.....here's why people drive them.


*You sit up fairly high so you have a decent view of the road.

*They have a LOT of room inside, particularly when you yank the rear seats.

*Engine is reasonably smooth for a biggish 4-cyl and has acceptable power.

*Gets decent mileage (around 25 on the highway according to friends that own them).

*Interior is easy to clean up- handy if you have kids or like to mountain bike or whatever.

 

[conjur]

I think one of the reasons keeping the Element's sales down is the lack of 5-passenger seating. That was a complaint I heard the most at the Honda store where I worked.

Otherwise, I like it. It's very practical, good gas mileage, and decent pep (took them out on test drives all of the time) and I like the way it looks.

 

[Jzero]

Originally posted by: conjur
I think one of the reasons keeping the Element's sales down is the lack of 5-passenger seating. That was a complaint I heard the most at the Honda store where I worked.

Otherwise, I like it. It's very practical, good gas mileage, and decent pep (took them out on test drives all of the time) and I like the way it looks.

It's not targeted towards the family. If you want seating for 5 you should get the CR-V.

 

[Wag]

But it's so ugly. Lol.

I suppose the manufacturers are looking at car-SUV hybrids now. Most people driving SUVs probably don't need an open bed.

 

[BigSmooth]

Also, this long-term review is not going too well. It seems AutoWeek's Element is not blessed with Honda's typical build quality.

 

[UNCjigga]

I think it'd be really cool if they could do a hybrid element with 4-cyl + electric motor for more torque, but I think the Element is too small for that kind of setup (you'd lose all your luggage space building a hybrid out of that!)

 

[Jzero]

Originally posted by: BigSmooth
Also, this long-term review is not going too well. It seems AutoWeek's Element is not blessed with Honda's typical build quality.

Or is it a typical first-year production vehicle? I know I'm going to wait a couple years before I get one....if they are still manufacturing it hahaha.

I almost hope it fails so that I can pick up a closeout on the cheap....

 

[conjur]

Originally posted by: Jzero

Originally posted by: conjur
I think one of the reasons keeping the Element's sales down is the lack of 5-passenger seating. That was a complaint I heard the most at the Honda store where I worked.

Otherwise, I like it. It's very practical, good gas mileage, and decent pep (took them out on test drives all of the time) and I like the way it looks.

It's not targeted towards the family. If you want seating for 5 you should get the CR-V.

Well...that's who's buying it! The typical buyer is a male/female couple in their 40s with children. Not the desired collegiate/post-collegiate demographic.

 

[bolido2000]

It doesn't look bad. More like a toy than a real car. Still pretty cool

 

[Jzero]

Originally posted by: conjur

Originally posted by: Jzero

Originally posted by: conjur
I think one of the reasons keeping the Element's sales down is the lack of 5-passenger seating. That was a complaint I heard the most at the Honda store where I worked.

Otherwise, I like it. It's very practical, good gas mileage, and decent pep (took them out on test drives all of the time) and I like the way it looks.

It's not targeted towards the family. If you want seating for 5 you should get the CR-V.

Well...that's who's buying it! The typical buyer is a male/female couple in their 40s with children. Not the desired collegiate/post-collegiate demographic.

Sucks to be those people But it's honestly way too small to be practical as a mini-van. There isn't much cargo space with the rear seat out, and while the suicide-door is convenient, it's still essentially a 2-door car. Perhaps they should offer a retooled CR-V with some of the no-mess features they used in the Element?

Perhaps in a subsequent model-year they will add a 5th person. Not like the CR-V "comfortably" seats 5 anyway....just b/c there are 5 seatbelts....

 

[rh71]

<-- wishes only mid-size SUVs would be the only ones who remained in the SUV class. :|

 

[OITLadyOwl]

The Honda Element looks like a toaster on wheels. Yick.

 

[Medellon]

My brother-in-law's brother just bought one and it is butt ugly! For the almost 20 grand he paid he could get a decent Accord which IMHO is a much better car.

 

[Jzero]

Originally posted by: Medellon
My brother-in-law's brother just bought one and it is butt ugly! For the almost 20 grand he paid he could get a decent Accord which IMHO is a much better car.

Use the right tool for the right job.

Try this little experiment:
Get my kayak. It's a surf boat so it's only 8 feet long!
Fold down the seats in the Accord.
Stuff the kayak into the trunk, and be able close it!
Drive the car onto the beach. Surf all day.
Drag the kayak up through the sand.
Stuff the muddy kayak back into the trunk.
Get home, take the boat out.
Hose all the mud right out of the car.

As much as I love the new Accords, my boat will not fit all the way inside, and I wouldn't want to get mud all over the interior.

You could argue a holy war about whether or not it's ugly. The appeal lies in what you can do with it.

 

[billandopus]

Originally posted by: OITLadyOwl
The Honda Element looks like a toaster on wheels. Yick.

Well said. Expensive too relatively.