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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  An ELEMENTARY decision - 2003 Honda Element
  By anointed1 - March 29 - 10:00 am

  We love this car! It has room galore.Its exciting to drive.We purchased it less than 5 weeks ago and have put nearly 3,000 miles on it.We will probably get a 2nd one before the year is out.Im hopeful that Honda introduces some other fun colors like our Sunset Orange Pearl.A bright purple would be great!We equipped ours with running boards,roof rack,2 bicycle racks,interior curtains for privacy when camping out,wheel locks,all-season floor mats,keyless entry and theft alarm system.We also got a 7yr 100k mile $0 ded, warranty for $900.I purchased it online via the Edmunds dealer quote system.We got everything mentioned above for $24,000 at 3.44% 5yrs.

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  Not Bad But Awful Shift Points - 2008 Honda Element
  By Peter - March 28 - 9:32 pm

  Bought it for work use. Love the rubber interior features and space. Unfortunately was delivered with defective right rear hub, but was replaced quickly. More horsepower needed. Extremely disappointed with shift points of auto trans.. Cant seem to get 4th and 5th gear to shift in order to lower RPMs and maybe improve mediocre gas mileage - currently have 5300 miles on it and cant get better than 20 highway. Windshield size and angle makes it very difficult to see traffic lights. If I had realized transmission problem I might have considered the manual trans.

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  Not what it should be - 2003 Honda Element
  By Ken - March 27 - 2:08 pm

  I got the car and thought it was the best for about a year, but since then i have had 3 windshields replaced, and 2 more chipped, because the windshield is to stright. My drives seat has had to be replaced, Honda said I wore it out, not so it is made out of bad material and they wont fess up to that. Now I have had to tune up the computer so the engine light would go out. The millage lights in the dash had to be replaced. Bottom line to many things are going wrong to give this car a good review, i wish i had some of the cars these other people are talking about.

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  Three months so far - 2008 Honda Element
  By TheGreatOneFan - March 27 - 2:03 pm

  Have my Element for three months. If you are looking for luxury, dont buy this car. Very functional. MPG as advertised. If I were to purchase again, I would.

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  4 Years & Still Love It - 2004 Honda Element
  By John McQ - March 26 - 2:32 pm

  If you like a practical vehicle, not showy, but tough, durable and fun to drive - The Element is for you. I have gone through 4 bad Michigan winters and was very impressed with the dependability and the way it handles in adverse weather conditions. This is a great little truck I plan on driving it until it falls apart and just cant be driven anymore.

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  not built to last - 2005 Honda Element
  By a de la ossa - March 26 - 12:15 pm

  After only 15,000 miles the authorized Honda service dealer has had me replace the battery and tires-- 15,000 miles. In addition, the exterior body is extremely prone to dings, as the metal is very thin. Dent Doctor franchisees love this car. This car has soured me on Honda.

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  Perfect For Dog Owners and For Commuting - 2008 Honda Element
  By Louise - March 20 - 1:12 pm

  I spent a year looking for a suv that got good gas mileage and would fit my 4 dogs in (Great Dane,2 Rat Terriers and Border Collie). I keep turning away from the Element due to its not so attractive appearance,but it was overall perfect for what I needed! It by far beats every SUV with gas mileage and space. With the dogs, no carpet to worry about, therefore no smelly car! The buying process was painful. We spent 6 hours at the dealership trying to get a good price. We walked out paying $19k with $290 a month payments. We did good. Great Car, wouldnt give it up for anything!

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  Lovin it! - 2004 Honda Element
  By Kevin - March 18 - 11:06 pm

  My dad has fun with his 04 Element, especially since it stands out with its Fiji Blue color. He mainly uses it to deliver restaurant supplies to his restaurant in LA. Ill occasionally take his car to school once in a while. I cant complain about those handy fold-up rear seats. Although they are a bit heavy, once folded up, you have plenty of cargo room. The floor is so easy to clean off as well - just spray it off with a garden hose. Handling is sharp sure doesnt feel clumsy on turns. I love this box!

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  Best car i have ever owned - 2007 Honda Element
  By hatchva - March 15 - 12:15 pm

  I bought this car to replace a truck and a mini-van. It did that and more. Drives like a car, has the utility of a truck, and the comfort has surprised me. I have used it for family vacations, football tailgating, commuting, hauling large items to the dump, taking the dog swimming, and kayak fishing. I plan to go camping in it this spring. It is without a doubt the most useful and fun vehicle to drive and own that I have ever had!!!

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  Element - 2005 Honda Element
  By j - March 15 - 10:12 am

  This car has not had any problems and is the most functional vehicle we have ever owned.