Overview & Reviews

Sold from 2003-'11, the Honda Element compact crossover SUV remains one of the most distinctive and practical vehicles on the road. Happy Element owners are often city dwellers who appreciate both its small size and generous 75-cubic-foot maximum cargo capacity. Another notable element about the Element is the ability of its access-style rear doors to pivot backward a full 90 degrees, providing unimpeded access to the roomy and creatively configurable rear seats.

A used Element of any vintage is easy to recommend thanks to its functional interior, smooth four-cylinder engine and carlike handling, not to mention Honda's reputation for reliability. That said, it's worthwhile to focus your search on 2007 and newer models, as they offer a bit more power and enhanced safety features.

User Reviews:

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  03 Element - 2003 Honda Element
  By JH - May 24 - 8:40 pm

  Pretty much solid mechanically, although recently had a $900+ starter replacement. However, a squeaking suspension (even after new shocks), loose sun visors that wont stay tightened, a frozen passenger lock that Honda wont replace since it didnt begin to seize until over 60,000 miles (unlike the driver side, which was fixed for free), & map light lenses that keep falling out, are some 1st yr fit & finish issues with my 2003 Element.

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  Fun, but not what I expected of a Honda - 2008 Honda Element
  By Cruisedoggy - May 12 - 2:40 pm

  At 54, this was my very first new car...ever! Everyone said what great cars Hondas are, so I was excited to be buying one, and my beloved Element to boot. At 1000 miles it had been in the shop twice for fuel tank sensor issues. Now at just shy of a year and only 5700 miles I am truly disappointed. It IS fun to drive and I love its funny nerd cool look, but the quality really lacks....small irritations: defrosters are non- existent, radio speakers vibrated from the start, drivers side doors rattle. Im a single old guy, so its hardly been given rough treatment.

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  Worst car I have ever owned - 2005 Honda Element
  By Copywrites - May 7 - 10:05 pm

  If you are expecting perceived Honda quality, you will be very disappointed in the Element. It will start at about 3000 miles when your rear brakes will start grinding, Then at about 20,000 they will literally explode. Make sure you are always near a repair shop. At 45,000 miles you will need a new manual transmission because yours will pop out of gear at low speeds and require two hands to shift it into 1st or 2nd gear. Have no idea what to expect at 50K because Im dumping it at 48K. Goodbye to the worst built car I have ever owned. (I have owned more than 30 cars BTW)

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  Element SC - Too many problems - 2007 Honda Element
  By iPhoneholio - February 14 - 4:25 pm

  Cons: The Element is my first Honda and probably the last. Reliability and build quality was surprisingly poor with subpar components. Tires wore out at 24,000 miles, all new brakes (rotors & pads) at 30,000, speedometer broke at 5,000 miles, windshield replaced twice with mystery cracking, drivers seat cushioning compressed and wrinkled, and scheduled services are over priced. The ride of the SC model is very harsh if the road is less than perfect - I had to stop drinking coffee in the car due to it too easily splashing. Brakes are noisy even shortly after replacement. Very uncomfortable for long drives due to no "dead pedal".

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  a buckboard with short range - 2008 Honda Element
  By kirkd1 - February 14 - 3:01 pm

  ...and bad gas mileage. Admittedly moving from an 04 BMW X3 was a questionable decision. But at lease turn back they wanted $3k more for the 04 than we paid for the 08 Honda. We were looking for a smaller carbon footprint. The BMW spewed 20 pounds per 15k miles where the Honda 6 pounds. We were not expecting the poor gas mileage (it is a shoebox but still). The absolute biggest pain is the range, it has a small tank, you would think they could find room for a little bigger gas tank.

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  Dont replace a BMW with an Element - 2008 Honda Element
  By kirkd1 - January 30 - 3:36 pm

  I thought the ride was buckboard with the 04 X3 but this sc is STIFF. Goes around corners better than the minivan character of the regular models but rear seat passengers need kidney belts. This is "she who must be obeyed"s and she doesnt complain but has mentioned the stripped down features coming from her X3 (no automatic lights or turn down passenger parking mirror bugs her). Really we wanted a smaller footprint (carbon and fuel economy) but this is only getting 19 mpg on a good day and the X3 was 17-18mpg. 6 pounds of pollution per 15k miles for the Honda and 15 pounds for the X3. My biggest beef is the short range, especially for a brick with bad fuel economy.

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  Good but ... - 2006 Honda Element
  By Rob - October 30 - 4:16 am

  Good car but not Honda quality nor design. Cheap plastics are easy to scratch. Car does best on smooth surfaces.

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  Ugly Duckling - 2005 Honda Element
  By Bill Walsh - October 28 - 6:20 pm

  The only thing I can say is this vehicle is functional. It is ugly but practical. I am a woodworker and it does all I need it to do. It carries 4X8 sheets of plywood or dimensional lumber. I like the fact that it is not carpeted. It has no "gonads". You are not going to burn rubber with it. The good gas mileage is a tradeoff. When I first bought it, I was embarrased to be seen in it. (After being MR. PICKUP). Now I can live with it.

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  Really Dont Like It - 2008 Honda Element
  By JustCC - October 9 - 9:51 pm

  All the stuff I have in it slides all over the place (nothing slides in our Suburban), the seats hurt my butt and back, the headrests puts my head in a weird position, Ive had two very minor fender benders at very low speeds and each one has resulted in mega repair bills because if the front touches anything it caves in. The paint on the cladding chips easily. Small gas tank means more frequent fill ups, rattles, I hate hate hate having to get out of the car to close the back windows.

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  Buyer beware - 2006 Honda Element
  By Jakesdog1 - July 19 - 2:00 pm

  I had owned Hondas before and had no problems with them. The element I bought seemed like a perfect choice for reliable and functional little SUV. It has been to the dealership six times for the same sputtering under acceleration. The Honda of America rep assured he he would fix it or buy it back. Since then it has sat at the dealership for nearly a month waiting on answers. I have been patient yet they question my urgency in resolving the issue. Imagine car payments on a car you can not use. That is my element. Honda needs to stand behind the product when there is a problem. We all make mistakes. But you lose face hiding behind voice mails.