Now is a great time to be an automotive consumer. Not only are today's production cars safer, faster and more efficient, but manufacturer concept cars are much more exciting and visionary as well. The 1950s', science-fiction-inspired promises of an automotive future with advanced safety equipment, fuel-efficient engines and cars that can be quickly reconfigured are just now coming to fruition.
While concept cars of the past, like the Ford Nucleon (yep, a nuclear-powered car), never stood even a remote chance of making it to your local dealer, today's concepts are quickly turning into real and affordable cars. Vehicles such as the Volkswagen New Beetle, Plymouth Prowler, Chrysler PT Cruiser, Ford Thunderbird and now the 2005 Honda Element are all examples of cars that seemed to go from crazy concept to driveway reality in only a matter of months.
The Honda Element began life as the Model X concept first shown at the 2001 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The inspiration for the Model X was the inaugural X Games held in 1998 in San Diego. If you don't know what the X Games are, the Element is probably not your cup of tea (we hear Buick makes some good cars for you non-X Gamers).
Like the X Games, the Honda Element strips away all the nonsense and gets right down to business. While the styling of the Element is a little different than that of the Model X, the true spirit of the concept survived. The Element's rear doors open in a clamshell fashion and the front doors open wider than usual to make access to the roomy interior easy. Composite body panels give the Element a cool, post-modern look and are designed to resist denting and chipping so that the vehicle can be used in the outdoorsy manner in which it was intended.
Cool-looking or not, the Honda Element we drove had only 7,000 miles on the odometer but the hip-looking composite material was peeling and discolored around the fuel filler door and into the side of the rear bumper. It was obvious that the damage occurred as a result of spilled fuel, but who among us can honestly say they've never spilled a little gas on their car when gassing up? Honda is billing these body panels as rough and rugged, and after talking to company representatives we confirmed that our pre-production test vehicle was not outfitted with the final version of these bumpers. These same Honda reps assured us that production Elements will have exterior pieces able to withstand the occasional fuel splash.
Inside, there is no carpet to soil and most interior surfaces are covered with a durable rubber or plastic texture — in many ways the interior seems more capable of standing up to rough treatment than the exterior. The floor is made of a rubber/vinyllike material that can easily be wiped out, swept out or possibly even hosed out. The seats are made of an equally durable canvaslike material but offer all the comfort of regular cloth-covered seats.
To maximize interior space, the front and rear seats can be folded completely flat and can be used as a small bed or cot. Once the rear seats are folded flat, they can swing up and stow to the side leaving a deep and flat cargo floor. The seats can be totally removed as well, but the flip-up storage feature is excellent in that it adds versatility. With the seats removed or stowed up and off the floor, cargo capacity is more than adequate. The Honda Element has a maximum cargo capacity of 75 cubic feet; that's almost 10 cubic feet more than that of bigger SUVs such as the Nissan Xterra and Ford Escape. But don't tell anyone; if word of this gets out, you may be spending every other Saturday helping some of your slacker buddies move back into Mom's house.
Even with all this cargo capacity, there is still plenty of room for people. The rear seats are incredibly comfortable and can recline. They offer plenty of head-, hip- and legroom. The latter is especially accommodating and borders on limolike space. Seating is arranged in a tier, or "theater" configuration, making the rear seats a little higher than the front seats so as to give everyone a commanding view of the surrounding scenery no matter where one sits.
The downside to all this space is that the clamshell doors are not as convenient as one might think. Yes, the doors do open very wide which makes getting in and out easy from a space standpoint, but that ease is marred by the inability of the rear doors to open independent of the front doors. In theory, it would be no trouble at all to have the front-seat passenger open his/her door to allow the rear-seat passenger in or out, but in practice we found it less than ideal in several situations. Extreme cold, wind, rain or snow would add to the hassle as the front-seat passenger would always have to open his/her door to allow a person into the rear seating area. The bottom line is that the doors look really cool and do allow for ease of loading cargo from the side, but traditional rear doors found on other small SUVs work much better in most situations. The added versatility for cargo loading is appreciated but if you plan to haul more people (especially children) than stuff, the Element may not be the best choice.
All this versatility and interior space would mean nothing without the civility and smoothness Hondas are known for. Honda has some of the most refined four-cylinder engines on the planet; in some cases they offer more quiet perfection than other automakers' V6 engines. The Element stays true to this formula and is powered by a fuel-efficient (22 city/26 highway with front-wheel drive and an automatic transmission) 2.4-liter inline four making 160 horsepower.
Certainly the Honda Element won't win any drag races, but it can break the front tires loose and does offer peppy performance with enough smoothness to make everyday commuting a pleasant experience. Under heavy acceleration the four does make a little noise, but it never sounds or feels harsh, and the surging VTEC sometimes associated with Honda's higher-revving fours is not noticeable. Open highway travel is probably where the Element does its best work — cruising along at 60 or 70 mph, the engine is virtually silent.
From behind the wheel, the Element feels as tall and boxy as it is. With the front windshield having minimal rake and the hood being very prominent, the Element comes off a little like a Honda jeep. Some drivers liken the Element and its driving position to a "mini-Hummer," and that is not an altogether unfair assessment. This is a definite plus; a high seating position is one of the many implied promises of the modern SUV, and the Element delivers. Even with its tall profile, handling is predictable. The steering offers positive feedback and the wide track keeps the Element stable in evasive maneuvers.
Although our tester was an automatic, we were able to spend time with a manual as well. The five-speed manual is precise and easy to shift but the odd placement of the shifter takes a few minutes to get used to. The clutch is light without feeling flimsy. With a manual transmission, the Honda Element is more fun, as that type of transmission is more in keeping with the spirit of the vehicle. The automatic shifts up and down without drama but does sap some power from the inline four. The automatic version of the Element is not frustratingly slow, but there is an extra bit of pizzazz in all rev ranges when driving the five-speed — the manual is simply more rewarding.
Its pleasant cruising manners plus cavernous and versatile interior make the Element a wonderful road trip car. The only thing that could detract from the fun of the open road is the Honda Element's shape. Because of its boxy, high roof, the Element is prone to wind noise as well as noticeable wind buffeting. In gusty conditions, this box on wheels provides plenty of surface area for the wind to really push. The Element never feels tippy, but high winds can really bounce it around.
New car shoppers who need the convenience and versatility of an SUV, but can't stomach the ideal of single-digit fuel economy, will find the 2003 Honda Element a godsend. True to its Model X roots, the Honda Element delivers plenty of cargo capacity with a striking and utilitarian exterior shape. The interior is excellent in its ability to comfortably accommodate people or lots of cargo without sacrificing durability or standout styling. And true to its Honda name, the Element is smooth and refined and has enough pep to keep its intended audience happy. While this boxy-looking little SUV may have a few minor weak spots, it does offer young Honda shoppers a fresh alternative to Dad's Accord without the worry of limited reliability.
While concept cars of the past, like the Ford Nucleon (yep, a nuclear-powered car), never stood even a remote chance of making it to your local dealer, today's concepts are quickly turning into real and affordable cars. Vehicles such as the Volkswagen New Beetle, Plymouth Prowler, Chrysler PT Cruiser, Ford Thunderbird and now the 2005 Honda Element are all examples of cars that seemed to go from crazy concept to driveway reality in only a matter of months.
The Honda Element began life as the Model X concept first shown at the 2001 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The inspiration for the Model X was the inaugural X Games held in 1998 in San Diego. If you don't know what the X Games are, the Element is probably not your cup of tea (we hear Buick makes some good cars for you non-X Gamers).
Like the X Games, the Honda Element strips away all the nonsense and gets right down to business. While the styling of the Element is a little different than that of the Model X, the true spirit of the concept survived. The Element's rear doors open in a clamshell fashion and the front doors open wider than usual to make access to the roomy interior easy. Composite body panels give the Element a cool, post-modern look and are designed to resist denting and chipping so that the vehicle can be used in the outdoorsy manner in which it was intended.
Cool-looking or not, the Honda Element we drove had only 7,000 miles on the odometer but the hip-looking composite material was peeling and discolored around the fuel filler door and into the side of the rear bumper. It was obvious that the damage occurred as a result of spilled fuel, but who among us can honestly say they've never spilled a little gas on their car when gassing up? Honda is billing these body panels as rough and rugged, and after talking to company representatives we confirmed that our pre-production test vehicle was not outfitted with the final version of these bumpers. These same Honda reps assured us that production Elements will have exterior pieces able to withstand the occasional fuel splash.
Inside, there is no carpet to soil and most interior surfaces are covered with a durable rubber or plastic texture — in many ways the interior seems more capable of standing up to rough treatment than the exterior. The floor is made of a rubber/vinyllike material that can easily be wiped out, swept out or possibly even hosed out. The seats are made of an equally durable canvaslike material but offer all the comfort of regular cloth-covered seats.
To maximize interior space, the front and rear seats can be folded completely flat and can be used as a small bed or cot. Once the rear seats are folded flat, they can swing up and stow to the side leaving a deep and flat cargo floor. The seats can be totally removed as well, but the flip-up storage feature is excellent in that it adds versatility. With the seats removed or stowed up and off the floor, cargo capacity is more than adequate. The Honda Element has a maximum cargo capacity of 75 cubic feet; that's almost 10 cubic feet more than that of bigger SUVs such as the Nissan Xterra and Ford Escape. But don't tell anyone; if word of this gets out, you may be spending every other Saturday helping some of your slacker buddies move back into Mom's house.
Even with all this cargo capacity, there is still plenty of room for people. The rear seats are incredibly comfortable and can recline. They offer plenty of head-, hip- and legroom. The latter is especially accommodating and borders on limolike space. Seating is arranged in a tier, or "theater" configuration, making the rear seats a little higher than the front seats so as to give everyone a commanding view of the surrounding scenery no matter where one sits.
The downside to all this space is that the clamshell doors are not as convenient as one might think. Yes, the doors do open very wide which makes getting in and out easy from a space standpoint, but that ease is marred by the inability of the rear doors to open independent of the front doors. In theory, it would be no trouble at all to have the front-seat passenger open his/her door to allow the rear-seat passenger in or out, but in practice we found it less than ideal in several situations. Extreme cold, wind, rain or snow would add to the hassle as the front-seat passenger would always have to open his/her door to allow a person into the rear seating area. The bottom line is that the doors look really cool and do allow for ease of loading cargo from the side, but traditional rear doors found on other small SUVs work much better in most situations. The added versatility for cargo loading is appreciated but if you plan to haul more people (especially children) than stuff, the Element may not be the best choice.
All this versatility and interior space would mean nothing without the civility and smoothness Hondas are known for. Honda has some of the most refined four-cylinder engines on the planet; in some cases they offer more quiet perfection than other automakers' V6 engines. The Element stays true to this formula and is powered by a fuel-efficient (22 city/26 highway with front-wheel drive and an automatic transmission) 2.4-liter inline four making 160 horsepower.
Certainly the Honda Element won't win any drag races, but it can break the front tires loose and does offer peppy performance with enough smoothness to make everyday commuting a pleasant experience. Under heavy acceleration the four does make a little noise, but it never sounds or feels harsh, and the surging VTEC sometimes associated with Honda's higher-revving fours is not noticeable. Open highway travel is probably where the Element does its best work — cruising along at 60 or 70 mph, the engine is virtually silent.
From behind the wheel, the Element feels as tall and boxy as it is. With the front windshield having minimal rake and the hood being very prominent, the Element comes off a little like a Honda jeep. Some drivers liken the Element and its driving position to a "mini-Hummer," and that is not an altogether unfair assessment. This is a definite plus; a high seating position is one of the many implied promises of the modern SUV, and the Element delivers. Even with its tall profile, handling is predictable. The steering offers positive feedback and the wide track keeps the Element stable in evasive maneuvers.
Although our tester was an automatic, we were able to spend time with a manual as well. The five-speed manual is precise and easy to shift but the odd placement of the shifter takes a few minutes to get used to. The clutch is light without feeling flimsy. With a manual transmission, the Honda Element is more fun, as that type of transmission is more in keeping with the spirit of the vehicle. The automatic shifts up and down without drama but does sap some power from the inline four. The automatic version of the Element is not frustratingly slow, but there is an extra bit of pizzazz in all rev ranges when driving the five-speed — the manual is simply more rewarding.
Its pleasant cruising manners plus cavernous and versatile interior make the Element a wonderful road trip car. The only thing that could detract from the fun of the open road is the Honda Element's shape. Because of its boxy, high roof, the Element is prone to wind noise as well as noticeable wind buffeting. In gusty conditions, this box on wheels provides plenty of surface area for the wind to really push. The Element never feels tippy, but high winds can really bounce it around.
New car shoppers who need the convenience and versatility of an SUV, but can't stomach the ideal of single-digit fuel economy, will find the 2003 Honda Element a godsend. True to its Model X roots, the Honda Element delivers plenty of cargo capacity with a striking and utilitarian exterior shape. The interior is excellent in its ability to comfortably accommodate people or lots of cargo without sacrificing durability or standout styling. And true to its Honda name, the Element is smooth and refined and has enough pep to keep its intended audience happy. While this boxy-looking little SUV may have a few minor weak spots, it does offer young Honda shoppers a fresh alternative to Dad's Accord without the worry of limited reliability.
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