Base price: $17,000 (est); 4wd, $18,500 (est)
Vehicle type: front-engine, front- or 4-wheel-drive; 5-door 4-passenger wagon
Interior volume, F/R (cu ft) 59/45
Cargo volume, seats up/maximum (cu ft) 25/74
Wheelbase 101.4 in
Length/width/height 166.5/71.5/74.0 in
Turning circle 34.9 ft
Curb weight 3350–3600 lb
EPA city/highway mpg 20–21/23–25
Fuel-tank capacity/range 15.9 gal/318–334 mi
Passive restraints driver and passenger front and side (opt) airbags
POWERTRAIN
2.4-liter DOHC 16-valve 4-in-line, 160 hp; 5-sp man, 4-sp auto
SUSPENSION
F ind, struts, coil springs, anti-roll bar
R ind, multilink, coil springs, anti-roll bar
BRAKES
F/R vented disc/disc
ABS optional
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HONDA ELEMENT
Take a Honda CR-V, square off the lines, remove the central roof pillar, relocate the rear door hinges so they open aft, and what do you have? You have the new Honda Element, a small-scale SUV devoid of frills and aimed at the elusive youth market. Make that the elusive male youth market, specifically 22-year-old guys who may or may not have full-time employment, since jobs might get in the way of their intensely active lifestyles.
The Element is a foot shorter than the CR-V and nearly eight inches taller. That vertical dimension, plus the way the clamshell doors enhance access to the second-row seats—the rear doors swing out 90 degrees—make it feel roomier than a CR-V even though the CR-V is two cubic feet bigger. The cargo floor is flat, and the rear seats can be folded up against the sides to provide a respectable cargo cavity. Or fold the rear seats flat to create a somewhat lumpy double bed. Or fold all the seats flat to create emergency sleeping space for four, a big plus for semi-employed guys tired out from all their activity but a little short of funds for luxuries like motels. Another guy-oriented interior feature: The flat floor is clad with plastic, rather than carpet—much easier to clean after a hard day’s night at the beach. Just hose it out and you’re ready for more partying, dude.
The Element shares the CR-V’s powertrain—a 2.4-liter DOHC 16-valve aluminum four rated at 160 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque, mated to a five-speed manual (standard) or four-speed automatic transmission—as well as its optional all-wheel-drive system. It also shares the same basic platform but with modifications. The wheelbase has been shortened by a almost an inch, to 101.4 inches, and the track has been expanded from 60.4/60.6 inches front/rear for the CR-V to 62.1/62.3. More important, to achieve acceptable body-shell rigidity, Honda added structure to compensate for the absent B-pillar, which adds up to a heftier curb weight—some 250 pounds heavier than a comparable CR-V. This doesn’t help performance or fuel economy. The Element is slower to 60 mph and loses about two mpg to the CR-V. On the other hand, Honda has stiffened the suspension components to handle the extra mass and taller profile, giving the Element a surprisingly high fun-to-drive index.
The Element is available in DX and EX trim levels, with front- or all-wheel drive. An advantage of all-wheel-drive models is a removable glass panel in the rear of the roof that makes it possible to transport tall cargo. Besides aluminum alloy wheels, EX models get a 270-watt audio system that includes a subwoofer, dude.
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