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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  Different type of SUV - 2008 Honda Element
  By dragon43078 - February 19 - 4:37 am

  I lkie the interior and exterior design. It is not a copy of anything else out there. I hate looking for my vehicle and seeing several that match. Has more pep than I was led to believe. Heater actually puts the heat on my feet instead of my knees like it did in the Kia. Defrosts the windows really quick. No blind spots. I sit up high enough that oncoming trucks headlights are not in my eyes. Handles better than i thought it would being as tall as it is. Unique atomic Blue paint.

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  Honda Betrayal - 2003 Honda Element
  By Disappointed George - February 14 - 10:00 am

  I purchased my Element in January 2003. Honda claimed that it would meet my most important criterion--safety. Safety was important because my 16 year old daughter would be driving it. No safety tests were available but I trusted Honda. That trust was misplaced. The Element did poorly in the side-impact tests. There is no excuse for any new SUV to not excel on side-impact tests. There is no excuse for a car company to tout the sefety of its pillarless design and then do poorly on the side-impact tests. There is no excuse for a father to purchase a car for his daughter before he knows for sure it is a safe car.

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  This is a great SUV - 2008 Honda Element
  By Proud "E" Owner - February 11 - 6:20 pm

  The Element really stands out from the rest. It is very comfortable, durable, and user friendly. Suits all of my needs. I have a child who is in a booster seat still and its easy to get in and out because the doors open up so widely. I am in love with this car -- you wont regret purchasing one!

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  Work Vehicle - 2005 Honda Element
  By Honda Bob - February 11 - 1:13 pm

  I use this vehicle in my business of servicing Hondas on site. I drive about 100 miles a day and have modified the vehicle with air tanks and air compressor. Also, I have my tools in the back. I installed a 750W invertor under the hood for 110V power when I need it. My laptop sits on a Jotto-desk on the right side. The backup sensors I installed really come in handy sometimes.

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  ChrisBs Element - 2003 Honda Element
  By topher101762 - February 8 - 2:00 am

  The Element has been a joy to own. It is incredibly easy to drive, very usefull, and you dont have to be 18 to own one. (Im 41) Wish it had some more punch and a little better fuel economy. Very hard to find an EX AWD with a manual; however, mileage is virtually identical with either transmission.

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  Not perfect, but close - 2003 Honda Element
  By ThadDecker - February 8 - 2:00 am

  The Honda Element satisfies most of the requirements of a typical family. The build quality is excellent. The performance and ride are great. The price is right and hopefully the resale will be good. After 9 months and 16,000 miles, we have had no problems, except for several intermittent rattles in the dash. We have had no mechanical issues and no trips to the dealer other than service. Though not perfect, it meets more of our requirements than did any other vehicle available at the time.

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  Great Car/Suv - 2004 Honda Element
  By mattdoggydog - February 2 - 9:03 am

  I love my element. The stadium seating in the back seat is a fav among my friends. Most of my friends say this car is ugly until they see how "cool" it is inside. I love the available space and the ease of cleanup. The panaramic view from the front is great. Manueverability is great and parking is easy. This car is fun to drive and I cant wait to take it camping. Legroom in the back is great, headroom everywhere more than enough.

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  Its an E Thing - 2004 Honda Element
  By Don Quixote - February 2 - 2:00 am

  This is by far one of the most fun cars Ive ever owned. It just does something to me that when I see open fields of snow I want to veer off the road and go driving through them. I feel the call of the wild beckoning me to come and play with my new Element. I didnt like the looks of the Element when I first saw them. In fact, I thought it was down right ugly. But once I found the color that I liked, it really grew on me. Best ride for the money.

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  Element is a good little car - 2007 Honda Element
  By DWoodman - January 28 - 3:25 pm

  I was drawn to the Element by the interior flexibility and suicide doors and it doesnt look like a mini-van. My previous car, however was a Subaru Forester and I think Honda could take some lessons from Subaru on building AWD drive trains. This car has torque steer on hard acceleration and there is a lot of wheel spin on wet pavement. Once you get the element going, its a hoot to drive. I am interested, though, to see how this car will perform in snow (a little worried). The ABS works well which will be good for snow driving. I miss not having the headlights turn off when I turn the ignition off, although, the warning bell has kept me out of trouble so far. I could do without sunroof

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  Love my E - 2008 Honda Element
  By wowaddict - January 26 - 9:46 pm

  I love my E. Its everything I expected. If youre used to a luxury car this is not for you. This is a no frills car. But lots of fun to drive. Its a peppy little suv with tons of storage. I love the interior and the whole look of the car. The XM radio and iPod hook up are great. The seats can basically turned in to a huge bed. The gas mileage is ok not great but not bad. Its not a car so its not fair to expect great gas mileage but for an SUV its good.