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Honda eliminating boxy Element
The Honda Element, popular with dog owners and some types of businesses, will be discontinued after the 2011 model year, American Honda Motor Co. announced Friday.
Introduced in December 2002, the Element started a trend of box-on-wheels design reflected in Toyota's Scion xB and Mitsubishi's Outlander, among others.
"The Element proved that ultimate functionality can often come from thinking inside the box," John Mendel, executive vice president of American Honda, said in a press release. "It made boxy vehicle designs cool."
Edmunds.com gave the short-but-tall utility vehicle generally positive reviews.
"Behind that cubist philosophy is a level of versatility that sets it apart from many other small wagons and compact SUVs," the editors wrote of the 2011 model.
The Element was the subject of several recalls: 2003/04, ignition switch mechanism; 2007/08, braking system and stability module; and 2010, transmission shift cable.
Honda said it has sold about 325,000 Elements, but customers are increasingly attracted to crossover SUVs.
Too bad. These are not too bad, they have a ton of space and can haul most anything that needs to be moved.
It is rare for Honda to abandon anything, what a defeat.
Does not have "tons" of space. My Expedition has tons of space. I could fit an Element inside of it.
Yeah, but the Honda will still be running and on the road in 7 years, where your FORD will have either burned up or flipped over or been scrapped to make thimbles so old ladies do not hurt their thumbs when they sew.
@ tuffyturf
That doesn't matter to me. I plan to get rid of it in favor of the BMW X5. A bit smaller, but way nicer. I'm just not hauling 7 passengers or cargo around.
Tuffy Turf....driving an 8 year old Expedition, still going strong, absolutely no problems with it. Built Ford Tough!
Thomas John, although you are done with car payments, you are spending as much each month for gas.
Hey Phil, once you've loaded the Element into your Expedition, I'll stop by and take your Expedition for a ride in my '77 Suburban. 😉
@ Smudgearr
Now that one I can believe. Those things are huge!
thats the problem with this damn country buy a new car every year or two and basically "throw" the other one away then these older models that really could be still parted and repaired and used end up tossed away and these newer ones end up being tossed faster because you cant repair them causing more WASTE
honda shouldve said "we also realized all the people who love the Element has already purchased one and will be keeping it for the next 20 years no need to keep making them."
I have an 06' model... I deliver medical equipment in an urban area with my Element.... I cannot think of a better vehicle for my job than the Element. I have 106K on mine and I was going to replace it at 200k with another Element. I hope they come up with a suitable alternative. (those suicide doors are the BEST!)
@mind...it's not thrown away. I buy a gently used every couple of years. Mucher less expensive.
ahh...thats a gently used "car"
I agree with with "tuffyturf and Grass hopper" 100pct. You don't see Ford any where around the world except USA/Canada. Hey guys! When Little "Phil" will graduate from 2nd grade? He likes to brage just like a little kid.
Had a surburban and just loved it. Downsized to explorer and missed my surburban. I've always liked the element, but worried about the size. Sorry to see it go.
I once fit 28 Peruvian Midgets in an Element, to bad it's going away! 🙁
Tuffyturf....your ignorance is out weighed only by your stupidity.
Thank God these things are being discontinued. They're an embarrassment to the Honda Motor Company
that's too bad. the honda element was actually pretty cool and had a devout following with smart, healthy, active individuals. a hybrid version would have been great. honda should dump the insight, which is essentially a prius knock off.
Too bad. Great car. My 2002 has 329,000 miles on it. Still looks good and runs great. Total repairs (excluding normal maintenance items) have been a new brake light switch and a heater knob.
I could fit a Honda Element AND an Expedition inside my '93 Ramcharger. (burp.)
Drew's Expedition went 425 000 kilometres on three oil changes. Had oil top ups and no maintenance. The engine light came on so it can no longer pass emissions. Only a moron fixes and a car more than 10 years old that isn't a collector. The reason cops use Expeditions and not Honda's is because the quality song did not brainwash them. Enjoy your thinking that 300k is alot.
I'm kidding I love Fords.
We've had a Suburban and an Element, and I own a Ford van – all of them are great and dead reliable. The Element handled super well. I only wish that the clamshell doors on the Element had been sliding doors – they were impossible to open in tight parking spaces.
uhhh. hey 'Jack'. You might want to expand your narrow view of the world and do a little research as to how much Ford's are beloved in much of Europe. Especially their hot hatch line.
Hey S.Colbert,
The Expedition's 425,000 "kilometers" is a lot less than the Element's 300,000 "miles". BTW... I would take an Expedition over an Element any day. I need room for the ego.
I think Phil has a self-esteem problem and it's gonna get worse when he gets that X5. Every single report I've read says it's the most useless SUV on the planet.
@ Phil – from FORD to BMW?! How un-American!
Good plan, those things are hideous.
Not only that I had a friend who had one. She liked the feel on the inside and truly thought she was gonna love it. However, it had such a bad blind spot that she hit several things backing up. She nearly hit someone walking in a parking lot and she scrapped the side of it several times. I thought she was just getting to be a lousy driver then I drove it one day and low and behold it does have a seriously bad blind spot when you turn to look behind or beside you. She got rid of it soley for that reason. Other than that she loved it.
I agree. I saw the xB on a car and thought "X-Box" and to this day I call all cars that look like the Element "X-Boxes."
A blind spot? Klutzy driving much? Owned mine 7 years, never dinged a thing with it. Survived being t-boned too without anything but a bruise on my jaw. I
I seriously considered one of these before I bought my Toyota FJ Cruiser. If the FJ wasn't around, this is what I would've bought. My neighbor did buy the Element and repeatedly said he was unhappy with the amount of engine power.
I am not sure how you would group the FJ and the element in the same category? Only thing they have in common is that half door. Other than that, the element is basically a civic with a square cab. The FJ is a fully functional off road capable SUV, more in the Jeepish category. The FJ comes with an electronic locker, true 4×4....you get the idea.
I loved my 2007 Element. I traded it in for a 2010 FJ Cruiser because I needed more towing capacity and 5 seats. I love the FJ too. Two really great cars that have been extremely reliable. The suicide doors rock on both cars and the kids love them! Too bad both have been discontinued.
CR-V is the same chassis, same functionality, but lacks the UGLY.
Actually, it was a toss up in 2004 whether I would buy the Element or the CRV. But the very reason that they changed the CRV's body style summed it up for my family. The Element was boxy to the point of being cute and the new body style CRV was the ugly vehicle. We went with an Element and have never looked back.
@ Old_Professor: I love the new design of the CR-V but I sort of understand what you mean about the body style. The trick to it is you have to get it with the spoiler. It completely changed the look of the car.
IF I had to chose – Element. Nicer, unique-er, etc.
Thank goodness! Now if only we could get rid of other ugly cars out there...
I'd rather have a car that some people think is ugly than one which looks like 90% of all the other ones.
Like cars by Ford, GM Chevy, Hundai?
Ive seen this vehicle in a head on collision with a heavy duty Dodge Ram duely and sent the Ram flying with a messed up front in. The Element front in was a little crunched in and the occupents were able to walk away from it. The boxy design might have helped.
I guess Hondas then are not subject to the laws of physics ... but I would bet that Newton's 3rd law applies with Hondas too.
Such a shame... they made some great commercials for it though http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unkAvO9v2Nk
i would have totally bought one.
So what's stopping you..???
What a ridiculously uncool looking thing anyway. The sooner the last ones are off the road the better.
I hear you, these look hideous. Nevertheless, it's a Honda, so very reliable and those already sold are going to last a loooonngg time. All in all, I can't find one positive think to say about this vehicle.
And you're the arbiter of cool? Or are you so insecure that you have to fit in with everyone else?
"Very reliable" IS a positive ...! 🙂
Every vehicle manufacturing plant would have produce some vehicles with problems. Assembly lines are not 100 percent fool proof.
Those things are ugly as h3ll! I wouldn't get caught dead in one!
It's better than what I drive now.
I prefer safety over how the car looks or performs any day.
Thats like when people say fat people have great personalities..
"Ugly" cars are here to stay. DEAL WITH IT!!!
Element is/was pretty cool. Nissan Cube is on ugly automobile, though.
I would love to see Honda bring back it's Accord wagon to the US. The car had all the assets of the regular Accord, plus it had enough room to move chairs, bookcases, appliances, and many other things. I moved using an Accord wagon that was full and despite the load, I felt safe driving it. The wagon with it's low profile and front wheel drive was very stable on the road in bad weather and mine made many trips on icy, snowy, slick roads. I hope Honda is paying attention to the people who don't want an SUV but really want a traditional wagon.
You do know about the Accord Crosstour? It's today's Accord wagon. You can get it with all-wheel-drive.
it wont be much longer, youll all be eating your buddist buddies
Then you need to look at a Subaru Outback.