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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  Beautifully Used - 2004 Honda Element
  By coachbarnes11 - January 3 - 8:33 pm

  This is the 7th Honda I have owned. I was curious about the Element when they first came out and was glad to finally purchase a used one with a manual "yeah!" and 100k on it. Of course it has been flawless since I have owned it. So many possible ways to use this vehicle. As a competitive triathlete I am looking forward to this summer and using it for fun weekends. I am going to keep up on the maintenance and do a big service here in the spring (plugs, fluids, etc.). As long as I take care of it, the E should go another 100k for me easy. The skylight is way cool! Stereo is more than adequate and iPod friendly. I might even go camping with my son and sleep on the seats that make beds!

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  Solid, uninspried alternative to SUVs - 2004 Honda Element
  By kingchupi - December 24 - 10:00 am

  The looks arent for everyone, so be prepared to explain yourself. I think the consensus for why people buy the Element is universal, the combination of value, reliability, and versatility. The ride has no sporty intentions, so slow it down around turns. The 160 hp engine feels great, the Element never feels underpowered. Overall Im very happy with my Element. Here are some improvements that wouldnt fit below: 5) The gas tank holds 15.9 gallons, but the nanny fuel light comes on after using only 12 gallons. Abiding by the fuel light, youll be filling up after only 300 miles. 6) The recommended load capacity is something like only 680 lbs.

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  The element not so great. - 2007 Honda Element
  By Isaias Medina - December 14 - 8:34 pm

  I bought the gold looking element for its looks and roominess. It looks very different from other SUVs and it has great cargo room capabilities. The car has been very useful in many ways, but I have several issues with it. It has 42k miles and I have replaced both front and rear brakes and still the brakes are working poorly, Im sure it may need additional brakes work. The tire pressure monitoring system stays on all winter, the dealer said it was normal for this car. I have replaced the windshield once, it needs a new set of tires soon, the dashboard makes cracking noises during winter, it may need alignment again. Otherwise the engine and transmission work fine.

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  Second Element, Second Car bought new - 2008 Honda Element
  By pepsicolacat - November 16 - 5:27 pm

  I own a 2005 element ex awd which has a four speed automatic. The 2008 ex awd has five speed automatic which gets better gas mileage than a five speed manual. I average 20-21 on the 05 if I drive 80 to 85mph on the freeway. I averaged 24mph on a all freeway trip averaging 90mph driving from Columbus to Dayton.

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  Element SC - 2009 Honda Element
  By Ben in Yorba Linda - October 18 - 9:43 pm

  Recently purchased, put first 1K miles on her today. Overall excellent car, feels very safe. For only a 4 cylinder I am averaging only 20 miles per gallon. Interior is cheap for the most part, especially considering it is a $24K rig. Cheap plastic steering wheel, no ipod controls and no security system come standard, you have to add them as accessories. Wake up Honda and make these standard. Heavy orange peel in paint. Extremely vulnerable to chips. This is unacceptable for any modern vehicle.

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  The perfect surf vehicle - 2005 Honda Element
  By bryan - October 16 - 7:10 pm

  While the element certainly is not for everyone, the decidedly non-SUV/minivan shape and the waterproof interior make it the perfect car to take to the beach with your surfboards strapped on. Not only is the floor made of rubber, but the seats are made of a waterproof material. Upon returning home, just open the doors, hose out the sand and let it drip dry.The 2WD EX 5-speed has excellent acceleration and plenty of power in all gears. Fuel consumption is OK.100s of satellite radio channels and a way-above-par radio for a honda product make choosing the EX trim line a no-brainer.In short, you certainly wont see (nor expect to) five kids in soccer uniforms come pouring out.

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  Not Your Average Compact SUV - 2004 Honda Element
  By Winsted Mike - October 4 - 2:00 am

  Nice balance of performance, driveability and economy. Decent acceleration and fuel economy (22-23 mpg). Handles hills at Interstate speeds effortlessly. Funky shifter looks odd, but works well. Most controls are simple and straight forward. Seats are comfortable, handling precise and ride firm, but not jarring. Nice surprises: sunvisor extenders, storage everywhere. Quirks: high belt line makes reaching drive-up ATM a stretch, gauges hard to read on cloudy days, dashboard light adjustment is awkward, no glove box light, cargo slides on plastic floor as you drive. Cant get optional arm rest/storage bin with the stick shift (do it yourself).

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  Great Vehicle - 2004 Honda Element
  By Jade29 - September 30 - 10:00 am

  So far Ive enjoyed the Element immensely. It drives like a car and the roominess is great. I love the rubber flooring, too -- its nice to not worry about spills. The clamshell doors make it easy to load and unload, although theyre a bit of a pain when you just need to put something small in the back seat. You have to open the front doors to open and close the back. There are lots of nooks and the stereo isnt bad either, especially for a factory install. The only major complaint is the gas mileage. So far, Im getting about 16 mpg driving about 12-20 miles per day. Im hoping that will get better as the engine breaks in.

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  Does the job - 2008 Honda Element
  By upstatenewyorker - September 27 - 4:43 am

  My 2008 Element EX AWD with 5 spd manual does all I need it to. I replaced a 04 Jetta because I wanted 4WD for the winter road conditions and I needed space to haul stuff- but did not want a pickup truck. The Element along with a lightweight aluminum trailer when needed satisfies all needs. Upon delivery from dealer, I noticed a leak of clear fluid on my garage floor... turns out it was from the rear differential, and they promptly replaced it and Ive had no problems since. Feels stable in slippery conditions, and has good power. Ive consistently averaged 25 mpg summer, 22 in winter. Smoothest manual transmission Ive ever driven.

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  This is my second one - 2008 Honda Element
  By Dave Perry - August 31 - 6:02 pm

  This is my second Element. My first one was a 2006, same equipment, different color and traded for an S2000 which was fun while it lasted. I use my 2008 Element as a daily driver and I also sell a high-end Swedish car in my day job which I know inside and out (this will explain some of my suggestions later on). I think the Element is the perfect vehicle for me for a lot of reasons. It gets reasonable gas mileage (27 highway, 24 overall), it has reasonable power, is a blast to drive (no S2000, but what is?), is reliable as motor vehicles get, and has great ergonomics and fun to drive.