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:

• 

  Great small SUV, terrible MPG - 2008 Honda Element
  By WW - March 13 - 11:53 am

  The Honda Element is a great vehicle. Handles nicely and has a great turning radius. The interior is well thought out, great to throw the kids bikes inside and not have to worry about dirty carpets, also works well with the dog. Tremendous amount of room for a vehicle with such a small footprint. The engine is somewhat buzzy when pushed. The gas mileage is not coming close to the sticker. 16mpg mixed driving and I have a light foot. Still breaking in, I have only 800 miles on it, I hope it improves. Not the best vehicle if you have a long commute.

• 

  Excellent Dog Mover! - 2008 Honda Element
  By Robert Wong - March 4 - 9:23 am

  Upgrading from a 97 CRV. I chose this for our dogs. It has flat floors and rear seats that can be removed. Quality is top notch. Power is excellent. It has very good torque from a stand still, much better than what I had. Excellent daily driver. Love the black housing headlights and smoked rear taillights. Sound system kicks, 270 watts will make your internals thump. XM satelitte all the way! It is the only true versatility vehicle on the market. Easy to clean! Im very happy with the purchase. Only complaints would be missing dead pedal, seats need lumbar support, a lot of roll (needs bigger sway bars) & steering wheel comes close to my legs when entering in.

• 

  the element - 2006 Honda Element
  By element2 - March 4 - 6:53 am

  the element has been my favorite car since 2003 i like the box i thinks it needs gps heated seat and 4 separate doors

• 

  A Home Run by Honda - 2005 Honda Element
  By Anthony - February 29 - 10:06 am

  Honda hit a home run with the design of the Element. Element gives you the best of all worlds. It has the smooth ride of a car, the safety of an SUV, and the cargo hauling ability of a truck. The functionality and design of the Element has to be seen to be appreciated. Fuel economy is acceptable. The 4 cylinder engine has surprising pep making everyday commuting fun and comfortable. The stereo in the EX AWD is awesome. The price of the Element is very reasonable, especially considering the quality and features the Element offers. Our first camping trip with the Element was so much fun. There was enough room for 2 adults and a dog to sleep comfortably inside.

• 

  Honda Element - 2005 Honda Element
  By William Rohrey - February 27 - 8:30 am

  So far it has been very good ,as much or more than I expected. I like this for its room & easy 0y entry from both sides & rear. The bad part is having to open the front doors to be able to open the other doors.I think Honda builds a good product in all their cars. Bill

• 

  Style with Great Functionality - 2003 Honda Element
  By frdglove - February 25 - 2:00 am

  I have had many vehicles over the past 40 years and this Honda Element represents the most fun yet functional vehicle I have owned. It is spacious inside but compact outside. It has the interior dimensions of a Ford Expedition but the outside dimensions of a midsized sedan. Climbing hills with four adults I can accelerate as I want. Its fantastic!

• 

  Know what youre buying - 2003 Honda Element
  By JPL - February 25 - 2:00 am

  Ive owned my Element for 2 weeks now. I surf and snowboard, so I was automatically intrigued by the vehicle. In this regard, it does everything it claims to do, or better. Unlike some other reviewers, I really have nothing to complain about. Performance is fine, it handles great, and no real wind-noise even at 80 mph. Im also now getting 24 mpg city and highway and fully suspect that number to rise a bit as the engine further breaks in. Keep in mind, this isnt a BMW, a Honda Odyssey, or a Mercedes. For what it does, and what it is meant to do, it does great! Just understand what you will be using it for when buying.

• 

  Love this SC - 2008 Honda Element
  By cousinvinney - February 24 - 12:13 pm

  I have driven this car from Chicago to NY to North Carolina and just love it. It really is a good city car. I am 240 lbs and this is the most roomy little car on the market. The SC doesnt have as much road noise because its carpeted rather than the rubber flooring. Mileage after 12000 miles is consistently between 18.5 and 19 city (under 7k miles15-16) always mid 20s on the road. The engine could be a little bigger - it runs at higher RPMs. The 4cyl is torquey and there is always power. Gets pushed about a little in high winds but nothing serious. Could till be a bit quieter inside. I am about to trade in a 2005 f-250 for another one - we will have a fleet i guess. Drive safe!

• 

  07 Element EX AWD MT review - 2007 Honda Element
  By Alaskan_Toaster - February 23 - 2:31 pm

  I have had my E for almost 7 months now. Included in my 16000 miles is a 6300 miles across the US trip from GA to AK (yes, Alaska). I towed a 1500# trailer behind it the entire way. I have absolutely no complaints about the comfort of the seats (even after 10-12 hours). The creature comforts and convenience items were well placed, easy to reach, and worked wonderful. The utilitarianism (is that a word?) of the vehicle is fantastic. We have made the decision to buy a second one to replace our other small SUV. IMHO - you wont regret getting one.

• 

  Not Just Another Cube - 2006 Honda Element
  By Gaspar - February 20 - 6:06 pm

  Comfortable, quiet enough and smooth ride has made this car fun to drive on trips. Four passenger seats has its drawbacks. Acceleration adequate for city driving, but a bit restrained during highway maneuvers. Typical of SUV style, the visibility is less than youd get in your regular car, and something other users have mentioned. Seat fabric is not easily cleaned as youd imagine from its hype. I enjoy the look and easily recognizable factor at the Mall.