- Honda announces that 2011 will be the final year for the Element.
- The automaker has sold 12,960 Elements in the calendar year to date.
- Honda sold 939 Elements in November 2010 versus 1,017 in November 2009.
TORRANCE, California — The Honda Element will be discontinued after the 2011 model year, Honda announced on Friday. The Japanese automaker explained that "utility-seeking customers have more recently embraced other vehicles in the Honda lineup," such as the Honda CR-V, but sales of the boxy Element had been slipping recently.
When Honda reported its November sales on December 1, the Element had tumbled 11.5 percent versus a year ago. Honda sold 939 Elements in November 2010 versus 1,017 in November 2009. Honda has sold 12,960 Elements in the calendar year to date, a decline of 3.4 percent versus 2009 sales. Sales of the Honda Ridgeline have also been suffering. Honda reported a sales drop of 36.4 percent in November 2010 sales of the Ridgeline versus a year ago.
Honda offered little in terms of explanation for the demise of the Element. However, the Element lagged behind other vehicles in the Honda lineup in fuel economy — an increasingly critical element for vehicle shoppers. The 2010 Element 2WD with the 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and five-speed automatic transmission delivers 20 mpg in city driving and 25 mpg on the highway, according to the EPA. In comparison, a 2010 Honda CR-V with the same powertrain delivers 21 mpg in city driving and 28 mpg on the highway.
The Element made its name in quirky ways and proved to be a favorite of pet owners. Honda introduced the Dog Friendly Element accessory package in 2009. The automaker said it sold more than 325,000 Elements in the U.S. since its introduction in December 2002.
Inside Line says: Could Ridgeline be next on the chopping block? — Anita Lienert, Correspondent
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genek1200r says:
02:04 PM, 12/29/2010
Very sorry to see Element go. I was hoping for a V6 to be available in the future. I bought it for a purpose of caring dogs and load, but its usefulness extends far beyond that. We have other CUVs in our household, but if it is a family trip we always take our 08 Element because it will take 2 adults, 1 baby in a car seat, 1 90lb dog, 1 baby stroller and 2 mountain bikes into its roomy interior with our a problems. And clean up with water hose and a leaf blower is a pleasure. The best car I ever owned!!!
se_riously says:
03:41 PM, 12/06/2010
The CR-Z will die soon too. It only sold 1,024 last month, despite being brand new.
guest18 says:
02:47 PM, 12/06/2010
Too bad. We own a 2003 Element EX and enjoy it for the following:
1) Very utilitarian - highly useful space, relatively low clearance to the floor, simple access to roof rack attachment points, and aux-in jack on the dash (very forward thinking back in 2003 as now most (all?) cars have an aux-in jack standard.)
2) Relatively durable and easy to clean. It is a pleasure beating up on this car like a junker with our dog, kids, mud, sand, and snow. Also, driving it through c**p that most people in their nice, SUV/crossovers won't because they're worried they will scratch/chip the finish.
3) With manual transmission paired with AWD, it is a decent ride for what it is (After testing the automatic AWD, we almost didn't buy an Element because it was such a poor experience.)
In my opinion, Honda is doing so many things wrong nowadays - bland/bizarre designs, so-so performing cars, and crossover concepts that make the Element look like a good idea. Specifically for the Element, no positive refresh as it seems like they've just dumped their 'scrubs' to work on it after the initial launch. With the direction that the Element has been taking and limited appeal, I have to agree that killing it is the logical decision.
recluse415 says:
01:34 PM, 12/06/2010
I have a 2008 Element EX. It is by far one of the best automotive choices I have ever made. It holds an astronomical amount of stuff: I once carried 3 passengers and $1200 worth of stuff from IKEA. I also love the simple interior and rubber floor.
I've found that it is kind of gutless when passing on the freeway, but it is NOT slow off the line. And gas mileage has been decent, even with my lead foot.
Oh, and mine is Kiwi Green Metallic. It was refreshing to get a car in a color that had a little character to it.
volfan71 says:
01:30 PM, 12/06/2010
Any chance they replace it with the CrossRoad suv. I see it as an suv bodied Mazda 5 fighter. Makes sense for those that occasionally need to haul more than 5 but don't need the size and price of a full size suv or minivan.
crispalicious says:
11:09 PM, 12/05/2010
Only a small percentage of the people who commented here actually know what class/purpose the Element was intended for. The rest really should not have disrespected such a useful car. My family owns an Element and it has the right balance between utility and driveability. In fact, with the creative storage bins and seat configurations, you'd be surprised at how much you can put in there.
It's definitely not a big people mover, but I've taken the Element with a full car of people and luggage on trips with friends and it was more than accommodating. They praised the leg room in the back and no one complained about not having "shotgun" privileges. This is coming from guys who always argue about that stuff. My point is that the Element is being killed off because of changing trends and because everyone who wanted one already has it, not because it sucks.
ford_flexer says:
12:33 PM, 12/05/2010
Good they killing that thing, the next that should go is the ridgeline because it's about the most most sorry excuse for a pickup truck ever, my friend is on a company lease with an element and wishes that his comapny was trying to be so green they thought because it was a honda they would have grass growing out their tailpipes while i sit back in my ford flex and enjoy my so called BOX(screw all that call it that) and look through my moon roof and tow small trailers hahhahah
tdiluv says:
10:04 AM, 12/05/2010
Why can't anyone make one of these boxes real fuel efficient?? Ohh, wait a minute maybe it's because it's a BOX !!
jpdisarro says:
09:19 AM, 12/05/2010
@aston_dbs
I agree with you about the Element vs. the PT Cruiser. I had to drive a rental PT Cruiser for one summer and it almost killed my desire to drive. That car made me envious of my roommate's rental Elantra.
rtblues says:
06:47 AM, 12/05/2010
The first time I saw one I said to myself " Honda must have said "lets make the most ugliest vehicle possible, and see if those dumb americans will buy it"
They, (HONDA) tried to cash in on the "trendy-edgy" segment and it was an epic failure.
It was a box with more "turbo" plastic then sheetmetal and awful colors to boot. A human could beat it in a foot race for the first 60 feet.
Someone made the comment comparing this thing to a PT Cruiser............ you have to be kidding....
How mant PT's? ........... 3,000,000+ vs 325,000 yeah right