2007 Honda Element [ 2008 ]
Honda Element
Overall Score - 8.6 (Very Good)
The Element offers a distinctive and fun exterior design, comfortable front seating, and class-leading cargo space and versatility. However, with somewhat uncomfortable back seats and occasionally awkward reverse-hinged rear doors, it isn't the best choice for buyers who carry many passengers regularly. If you're in the market for an affordable compact SUV, you should also consider the class-leading Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V.
The 2007 Honda Element is a small SUV noted for a very good engine, the versatility of its interior, and its unusual, boxy appearance. With the reliability of a Honda, competitive pricing and very good long-term cost of ownership, it is a practical choice for many. The New York Times notes, "The fact that this odd box can travel so quickly and move so nimbly can bring a touch of giddy delight to an ordinary commute."
Like Car and Driver, most reviewers praise the Element's "huge and flexible cargo space, disciplined Honda powertrain" and "reasonable price." Edmunds sums up the praise well when it says, "We like it just fine for the light-duty utility it delivers for its size." But the emphasis in this design is on the cargo hold -- the rear seats are not practical for regularly transporting friends or family members.
The Honda Element faces some stiff competition. In a test drive, Car and Driver notes that "It's so unconventional ... that we couldn't really warm up to it, and it finished last in a comparison, behind a Scion xB, a Chrysler PT Cruiser, and a Chevy HHR."
IntelliChoice has rated all versions of the 2007 Honda Element as "Excellent" values, rating the vehicle "Best in Class." The 2007 Element is also rated as a "Smart Choice" for offering the lowest fuel costs, lowest maintenance costs and lowest operating costs of any small SUV.
Element Performance - 7.6 (Good)
On balance, reviewers find the performance of the Element satisfying and nimble for a vehicle of this class. "We've found that the Honda Element does offer reasonably peppy around-town response with enough smoothness to make everyday commuting a pleasant enough experience," says Edmunds. continue
Element Exterior - 8.3 (Very Good)
According to just about every observer, the Element has one of the most unique profiles on the road. "Easily recognizable at any distance, the Element's boxy greenhouse, two-tone body panels and forward-opening rear doors are only some of its unique styling features," according to Kelley Blue Book. continue
Element Interior - 7.7 (Good)
Reviewers widely observe the interior of the Element to be spacious for its class, with comfortable front seating, and functional cargo capabilities. "Behind that cubist shape is a level of versatility that's pretty much unmatched by any other small wagon or SUV," says Edmunds. continue
Element Safety - 9.7 (Excellent)
The Element has consistently performed well on safety tests, and the federal government awarded the Element five out of five stars for protecting all passengers in both front and side impact crash tests. In addition, the active safety systems found on the Element are very impressive for this class vehicle. continue
Element Reliability - 7.0 (Good)
The 2007 Honda Element reliability score shown is the Predicted Reliability rating provided by J.D. Power and Associates. This score is based on trending the past three years of historical initial quality and dependability data from J.D. Power's automotive studies, specifically the Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) and the Initial Quality Study (IQS). Honda backs up the Element with a three-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty. continue
- Overall
- Performance
- Exterior
- Interior
- Safety
- Reliability
- Specs