Description: Compact SUV
Base MSRP Range: $16,100 - $21,350
Invoice Price Range: $14,881 - $19,726
Only a quick glance at Honda's cubistic crate on wheels will tell you this isn't another tot-toting sport-utility vehicle. Instead, it's a radical idea for gear-hauling basic transportation that amounts to a big box on wheels with scrub-able cabin and a thrifty but strong four-pack engine.
It's stark and square and downright cubic yet fixed with seats for four plus a high-powered stereo that adds a connection for external audio kit like a MP3 player. On those flat sides, check out the double doors: Front one's hinged up front but the adjoining rear door has hinges on the tail side and both doors open wide in suicide-door fashion to forge a broad pillar-less opening on each side for stuffing gear aboard -- trail bikes, snowboards, maybe even a sofa and stereo speakers to outfit that dorm room. Then at the rear the hatch door consists of top and bottom sections that swing open like a clam's shell -- the lower lid folds down flat in line with the cargo floor as a seat or loading dock while the top one swings up until it's horizontal with the roof. It shelters the bay when up and creates an opening as wide and tall as the cargo bay.
Inside, the flat floor of Element is covered by a hard urethane-coated surface that sweeps out and wipes down fast. Likewise, the four flip-and-fold seats in the cabin are also designed for quick cleaning. Front seats are clad in a feel-good fabric that's actually waterproof while two back seats wear durable vinyl upholstery. Layout consists of a pair of firm bucket-style seats in front and followed by two broader buckets set side-by-side in a second row. Seatbacks for the front set fold rearward until flat, as do both seatbacks on the second row. In effect, with all seatbacks folded down you end up with two long rows that resemble cots or sleeper seats. And back seats perform other tricks -- each has a hinge on its outboard flank so the entire seat flips up to rest in vertical stance out of the way against the cabin wall. Or each seat pod may be removed entirely -- they're light in weight and easy to eliminate.
For locomotion, Element carries the engine used by CR-V, a twin-cam 2.4-liter in-line-four with aluminum block and heads and Honda's i-VTEC variable timing valvetrain. It delivers 160 hp and mates with either the standard manual five-speed or optional automatic four-speed transaxle for the FWD version or one with Honda's intelligent 4WD device permanently engaged to send the engine's power to all wheels. Two levels of trim apply to Element -- DX and EX, and 2004 editions come in cool new colors, like the latest tint called Fiji Blue Pearl.
