- crossover 177,191
- 69 below average
- 5,950 fair
- North Hampton, NH
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- autoshopper.com
- 69 below average crossover 177,191
2003 honda element review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. So novel: can it really be a honda?. introductionthe honda element is one of those vehicles that elicits that great question: what's that? Some people hate the thought of driving a car that's the center of attention, but others find that's part of the thrill of owning a car that's different from other vehicles on the road. honda is known for conservative styling, which is not a bad thing for the majority of people who are only looking for reliable and functional transportation. An optional all-wheel-drive system will be available half way through 2003. It's really a starting point, however, as it does not even come standard with a radio or air conditioning. A loaded ex model with automatic transmission and awd will top the price range at around $21,500. walkaroundthe new honda element is one funky looking car. Or is it a van? when it was first shown as a concept car in 2001 nobody dreamed honda would be brave enough to bring it into production so quickly and certainly no one thought it would be sold in the u. Honda stuck with its radical concept, however, even down to the center-opening doors, an increasingly popular feature on full-size extended-cab pickup trucks. what the suicide doors offer is great access to the rear of the vehicle from the sides with no b-pillars to get in the way. For safety reasons, the rear side doors cannot be opened unless the front door has already been opened first. Likewise they have to be closed before the front side doors can be closed. Moreover, front-seat occupants have to unbuckle their seatbelts before the rear doors can be opened as the front seatbelts are attached to the front edge of the closed rear doors. from the front, the vehicle has a cheeky chunky look accentuated by rectangular headlights and the unusual design of the bumper. The side of the vehicle has a distinct shape unlike any other vehicle on american roads. The hood line is fairly low and leads to a vertical windshield that curves up to a roofline that sweeps back to an almost vertical rear tailgate. the rear tailgate is split horizontally so that the lower half can be used as a seating surface for tailgate parties. From the rear the corners are nicely curved so that the element does not look as chunky from behind. Large 16-inch wheels help ensure the element doesn't look like a minivan. Plastic cladding runs along the lower half of the body to add character and protection from flying gravel. interiorversatility is the key word in the design of the honda element's interior. Honda spent a lot of time designing features with flexible utility first and foremost in mind. that does not mean it scrimped on comfort or safety. On the contrary, the element has many of the safety features one would expect in a modern car. Side air curtains are an option. Honda designed the element to offer excellent crash protection. the two rear seats are raised off the floor a couple of inches higher than the front seats so that rear seat passengers can actually look over the front seats for better visibility. the center opening doors allow easy loading of bulky objects and once inside there is plenty of room for them. The rear seats fold down easily and for greater space they can be hooked up to the side leaving an uninterrupted flat floor space. The front passenger seat back can also be folded forward to make room for a 10-foot surfboard. (that would leave room for the driver and one passenger behind the driver.) the driver's seat as well as all the other seats can be folded back making for a large if uncomfortable double bed. When parked, the element can be set up to serve as a giant locker for surfboards and other large items. the floor is covered in a urethane-coated material that resists water, dirt and scratches. It is easily cleaned. The seats (on all but the dx) are coated in a waterproof material designed for easy cleaning. storage areas abound, including large storage pockets on the backs of the front seats. Cupholders can be found on the backs of folded seats. the dashboard reflects the simple design elements of the element. The gauges are contained in three deep pods. The climate and radio controls are well placed. An innovative option is an auxiliary jack for plugging in an mp3 player so the stored music can be played back directly through the element's sound system. The system included with the ex is pretty decent and includes a large sub woofer beneath the dashboard. driving impressionthe honda element is basically a rebodied cr-v, so it is not surprising to find that it drives like one. Like the cr-v, the element is built on the same platform as the honda civic. This is a front-wheel-drive car so there is a touch of torque steer, that tugging of the steering wheel under hard acceleration, but nothing of real concern. We found the available automatic transmission to be less fun as it almost spoils the funky feel of the element. summarythe honda element is an attractive proposition for someone who wants a genuine utility vehicle that behaves like a car. There's no denying the utility of its versatile interior. And, in terms of driving dynamics, cars behave much better than trucks. Although archaic epa rules say the element is a truck, it's really a modern station wagon masquerading as a hip looking van. Looks are part of the attraction here. We found it appeals to people of all ages. model lineupdx 2wd; dx 4wd; ex 2wd; ex 4wd. assembled ineast liberty, ohio. options as testednone. model testedex 2wd. Anti-lock Brakes✔ Power Mirrors✔ Cruise Control✔ MP3 Player✔ Air Conditioning✔ Alloy Wheels
5,950 North Hampton, NHNorth Hampton, NH at autoshopper.com