Competition: Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, Jeep Liberty, Mazda Tribute, Subaru Forester, .

Review

There are some cars that, from the moment you see them, you know whether you like them or not. There’s no middle ground; they are either appealing or not. However, once in a blue moon a vehicle comes along that shatters all preconceived opinions.

It doesn’t happen overnight, but rather, it wears on you like an old, tattered sweater: On the outside, it’s not that attractive, but once you try it on it fits so perfectly and comfortably that you reach for it again and again.

And, that’s exactly what happened when the 2004 Honda Element rolled into our parking lot. At first glance, the Element was like geometry-on-wheels - a perfect box. It was as if the design engineers tossed everything they knew about aerodynamics out the window, and instead used the Holsum Bread truck as a model for this utilitarian vehicle. It was square; it had few amenities and felt very, um … plastic inside. We were not that enthused about the thought of driving our Element around for an entire week.

Oh, How Wrong We Were

The Element was actually created and is priced to attract the attention of the youthful Generation Y. Positioned as a lead-in car for Honda (i.e., a “first car” for high school and college coeds) its purpose is to instill brand loyalty in these consumers. The thinking is that after graduation and upon making a real salary, these drivers will progress up the Honda chain of vehicles: First the Element, then the Pilot, until they finally enter the luxury Acura class. It’s all part of a grand scheme.

But, who says that Generation Y should have all the fun? Though the Element offers bare bones amenities (read: keyless entry isn’t standard), has a relatively small engine and a ground clearance that’s equal to most sedans, it’s one of the most versatile, surprising vehicles we have driven in a long time.

Where the Element excels is in its ability to serve a multitude of purposes without taking up too much space. Rising only 6.9-inches from the asphalt, the Element is ideal for loading heavy pieces of furniture and gear into the back without having to use as much strength as you would with a traditional SUV or truck. Additionally, the front and rear doors open away from each other, enabling extra wide items to be placed inside.

What's more, the bungee-cord style rear seatbacks are up for any task: They can fold flat into a bed, flip up and out of the way or removed entirely. Best of all, these seats are truly simple to operate. We flipped them in all directions, with our favorite being the fold-flat option that lets you gaze at the stars through the rear skylight. Camping anyone?

With seating for four, the Element offers an abundance of space for the tallest of travelers. Because the rear bucket seats are pushed so far back there’s limo-like leg room for passengers; and the same goes for the head room: due to the Element’s ride height, passengers who are 6' won’t find their hair brushing against the ceiling - even with the Element’s theater-style seating, meaning the rear seats sit up higher than normal.

Waterproof Linings, Cubbyholes and More

Built for the urban jungle, the Element is at home running errands and heading to the beach, golf course or state park. And, it has gobs of storage space to accommodate any adventure you throw at it: there’s plenty of cupholders in the front (3) and back (2), lots of places to stash stuff along the dash, overhead, in the doors and inside the center console. There are even hooks on the backs of the seats to hang backpacks, lightweight jackets or flashlights.

Dirt and kid friendly, the upholstery is spill proof and water resistant, meaning (at least theoretically) you can take a garden hose and spray off all the excess dirt that crumbled off your mountain bike. However, we wouldn’t recommend it. There’s no physical divider between the cargo-loving rear and the electronic-laden, instrument panel of the front; the possibility of spraying something that shouldn’t get wet seems a little risky.

What’s Going On Under There?

The Element comes equipped with a standard 2.4-liter i-VTEC 4-cylinder engine that cranks out 160 horses at 5,500 rpm and 161 ft.-lbs. torque at 4,500 rpm. During our test drive, it provided plenty of power as we navigated around suburbia and during a couple of extended spins out on the freeway, where at high speeds we never witnessed it gasping for air. In fact, the four-speed transmission downshifted beautifully whenever we needed additional power, while at the same time, delivering an EPA estimated 21-24 miles per gallon.

New for 2004, are Honda’s progressive valve shock absorbers, which use low-pressure gas and heavy-duty, high-density compression bushings. In layman’s terms, this translates into less vibrations and a more comfortable ride than previous models.

Simultaneously surprising and endearing, we grew to love our Honda Element. It became the ride of choice whenever we went out for lunch or had to run errands during the week. We piled in as many passengers as would fit and would talk about all of the new Element discoveries as we drove to our destinations. Front passengers delighted in opening and closing the numerous cubbyholes, while the backseaters erupted in laughter as they fully reclined their seats to soak up the sun.

The Honda Element - oh, how we hated to see it go.

Conclusion: When Honda introduced the Element to media at the autoshows a few years back, they made sure to tell us that this vehicle was designed by boys for boys, women need not apply. It is interesting to see who the buyers of the element are, women and senior citizens. The car sells well but not to the intended audience.

Editors Ratings

Pros: Lots of utlity, easy to clean, versatile interior.

Cons:Looks like a packing crate, noise on the inside, very rough ride.

Ratings (1-10)

• Style: 6
• Performance: 6
• Price: 8
• Handling: 6
• Ride: 5
• Comfort: 6
• Quality: 8
• *Overall: 6.4

More Data

Where Built: Japan.

Major Options: No factory options available. From Dealer: 6-disc CD changer, Automatic Transmission, cargo net, and seat covers.

Seating: 4

Number of Rows: 2

Length in Inches: 166.5

Warranties: 3 years/36,000 Limited warranty, 5 years/unlimited corrosion, corrosin.

Weight in Pounds: 3,304 T5, 3,084 2.4i.

Maximum Payload in Pounds: 992.

Maximum Gross Vehicle Weigh in Pounds: Not Available

Towing Capacity in Pounds: 1,500.

Gas Tank Capacity in Gallons: 15.9

Destination Charge: $490