Honda made its mark in the SUV market with a stylish crossover called the Honda Element. Two distinctive features of this SUV are its bi-parting side doors and a boxy layout. This five-door compact crossover comes with the option of a standard front-wheel drive and an available all-wheel drive system. The car can easily accommodate up to four people and offers ample room for storage. Here is everything you need to know about the SUV:

Key features  

Honda’s R&D engineers introduced a concept called Model X, intended to achieve high functionality by combining the best features of an SUV and a pickup truck. Its styling was inspired by a lifeguard station, and the roof resembled the curve of a surfboard. This concept also inspired the design of the Element SUV. This car then went on to win the “Dog car of the year” title for being an extremely pet-friendly option. The car became extremely popular over the year, and according to a survey, it was a hit among women, who made up 38% of its consumer base. Here is what you can expect:

Exterior

The Honda Element is a tiny crossover that is mechanically and aesthetically identical to the first model released in 2003. Over the years, the SUV retained the original features and quirky design, with the exception being its sporty SC trim and the navigation system added to the EX trim. The foldable rear seats and swing-out rear doors of the Element make loading gear simple. Its compact size and boxy shape help in achieving easy maneuverability.

Performance

The car comes with a 4-cylinder, 2.4-liter engine that can generate 166 hp and 161 lb-ft of torque. It is paired with a standard five-speed automatic transmission. Both the LX and EX trims come with standard front-wheel drive, but they can be equipped with an all-wheel drive system. The four-cylinder engine may not win any races, but it is refined and more than capable of handling the demands of daily driving and commuting. Although its ride can seem harsher than the typical small crossover, the Honda Element exhibits a surprising degree of responsiveness and agility while in motion. However, at highway speeds, the box-on-wheels design can generate substantial noise due to a large amount being pushed by the vehicle.

Safety

In terms of safety, the Honda Element comes with all the standard equipment. This includes antilock disc brakes with brake assist, stability and traction control, front side-impact airbags, full-length side curtain airbags, and active front head restraints. The SUV received the highest possible rating of “Good” from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in both frontal-offset and side-impact crash tests.

Interior
The car’s theater-style seating configuration provides the rear-seat passengers with plenty of space and excellent views. Several compartments and pockets in the car offer a wide variety of storage options for smaller items. When it comes to loading cargo, the swing-out doors make it extremely easy. The rear seats of the Honda Element can be folded or removed entirely to offer 75 cubic feet of cargo space and easy accessibility. You can use a hose to clean the urethane utility floor, making the car clean-up smooth regardless of whether you fill the car with camping equipment, sporting equipment, or the family pet. Additionally, you can opt for the Dog Friendly package in the EX trim to get an enclosed kennel, pet bed, and ramp installed by the dealer.

The Honda Element continues to be a great choice for those looking for a tried-and-tested compact utility vehicle that offers a wide range of handy features. So, check out this versatile SUV by visiting your nearest dealership.