Value for the money, handling, utility, fuel economy (24 mpg for a SUV ain't bad), stereo, ridiculously immense space for four people. For the money, very, very, very hard to fault in any way.

Bizarro sense of style. Let's just say I definitely didn't buy this car because it was a looker. The hard plastic on the outside is split up in weird places, and the panel gaps are rather wide. The rear bumper looks like it's falling off. The chunky five-spoke wheels don't help, either. The most successful part of the car is the front end, which I think is very strong and muscular, and it does happen to look a lot better on the road than it does up close.

I shocked myself by buying a car that, just months before, I had thought was the ugliest thing on four wheels and an insult to its target audience. After being persuaded to test-drive it, my tune changed instantly. My choice was solidified when I was offered their special 0.9% financing for 4 years, even though I'm only 21 and it was on a joint loan with my dad, together with a price of $18,315 including destination.. not that far below invoice, but below invoice nonetheless. Engine - Quiet at idle, revs smoother than any 2.4 has a right to, has good midrange punch. The initial tip-in is just a touch soggy, and it doesn't have a whole lot of top-end power, but the tuning is right for a little truck. The sound of it is just as nice as it is in the Accord, and the feeling underfoot is exciting. Transmission - The four speeds are spaced well. The Accord's 5-speed auto would be better so that the engine could turn slower on the freeway, for the sake of economy, but the four gears it does have work exceptionally well together. Shifts are smooth, and it knows when to do them. Grade Logic really works, too. It's always in the right gear on the long grinders. Only complaint is that the selector stick feels too heavy. Handling - Excellent. This is what changed my mind about the car in the first place. The anti-roll bars keep the body flat and the rubber is big enough to provide good performance. The steering feel is superb, and the car feels lively. It feels a bit like a Civic Si on stilts, in fact, but on the other hand, there are limits. I've had the rear end snap loose when I entered a corner too fast, and I've heard tire squeal at what seemed like fairly conservative speeds. The center of gravity is, after all, rather high. Since C/D reported tire wear is a problem, too, I would advise sane driving. Also, my Element started wandering on the freeway after 1,000 miles. Too-low tire pressures turned out to be the culprit. Braking - I think the pedal is a little bit soft, and the brakes don't feel powerful, although in reality the four discs perform very well. The ABS is a must - I've already had to use it 3 times in deer-related scenarios. Lights - The low-beams are good, issuing a perfectly rectangular and uniform pattern, but the high-beams are a bit uneven and washed out. This is an issue of prime importance to me due to the proliferation of deer in my area, as I hinted above. It's not dangerous, but it is an area that could be improved. The style of the lights, both front and rear, is distinctive and catches the eye, always a good thing to alert other drivers to your presence when the bright orange panels can't do it for you. Dash - The layout of the controls is generally good, and the instruments are very easy to read at a glance. They do not get hidden when I adjust the wheel and seat to my 6'1" frame. The one iffy component is the cruise-control button hidden WAY under the left side of the dash, where it's impossible to see and also difficult to reach/feel. I really enjoy the nice, grippy steering wheel, although I wish the plastic "flash" had been trimmed better. The feel of the material is so good that it's a shame for this minor flaw to remind me that it is, after all, just plastic. I'm afraid to trim it myself and mar the surface. The materials that you generally do not touch do not look or feel that great, but it's typical Honda prioritization that dictates that what you can feel is what makes you feel rich, and it works. Audio - This was another major selling point. It seemed like a miracle - the quality of the Beethoven that I listened to was so good, so full and free of distortion and vibrations, that it almost sold the car all by itself. Utility - I put two full-size road bikes in the back, without taking the wheels off, after flipping up just one of the seats in 15 seconds, and there were plenty of hooks to bungee them down. Another time I fit $500 worth of groceries from Costco after flipping them both up - my old Celica could do that, too, after I folded down the back seat, but it had to be stuffed clear to the roof. I could still see out the back of my E after putting an even bigger load in it. The load floor is noisy, though, and anything that can roll around on it will make quite a racket. The floor-mats that were included with my E made the four under-foot places quite a lot more livable and listenable. The overhead storage bin is nice for CDs, but they make a lot of racket up there. I don't have a suitable place for my garage-door opener, either, and HomeLink was not an option. Comfort - The driver's seat isn't exactly luxurious. It's too low and too thinly padded, and I find myself sitting forward rather than back into the chair. On the positive side, the material is grippy and the side bolsters keep my butt planted during tight U-turns (which are very tight thanks to an excellent turning radius). Lots of space, too; everything else feels small now!

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'02 Chrysler PT Cruiser

Great design with the double-side doors, flat floor, reclining back seats, big dashboard, and plastic-covered interior. I'm getting about 24 US MPG which is 28 Canadian (yes, US gallons are smaller than the rest of the world's). People who complain about the low power of the car should stop whining and buy the 5-speed. I did and I can pass anything on the road.

People have already commented that the Element is too low to the ground, stops too slowly, and is unsteady in wind, so I won't belabor those points. I should note, however, that it's no worse in wind than a van or a car with a canoe on top. The biggest flaw I found with the car is how easily the plastic interior is damaged. It's absolutely astonishing!! You can easily scratch the stuff with your fingernail!! I'm NOT KIDDING. Try it at the dealer before you buy the car. I had scratches on my car by the time I had driven it 8 minutes from the dealer to my house. The scratches were on the back gate and were caused by a soft plastic toolbox that had slid back and forth a few times during cornering. The soft plastic is a really, really serious problem and I wouldn't be surprised at all to soon see one of those "hidden warranties" issued to cover the damage. In just two weeks, of NORMAL HOUSEHOLD USE, the floor is gouged and the insides are scratched all over. I've already decided that I've got to get the floor mats, cargo tray, etc., just to protect the car from bags of groceries that may contain canned goods, fer chrissake! Other than that... it's a pretty good car.

It's a good vehicle but quaint, and it does have some glaring flaws: 1. The soft plastic in the interior will become scratched and gouged in a just a short time. 2. Why don't the rear seats slide back and forth, so that you can make the cargo area larger? 3. The sub-woofer should be optional. I'm into hi-fi stereos and do not appreciate booming with my music. I'd rather have the storage space than the sub-woofer. 4. The road noise is mostly from the engine, which should be controllable with better sound insulation.

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I looked very hard at the Subaru Forester and I still LOVE those cars. My decision for the Element was based on lifestyle -- with all the crap I carry these days, I'd ruin the interior of a Subaru in no time. That's why I'm so disappointed with the soft plastic in the Honda. I thought it would be much tougher.

Likeable vehicle Stadium seating in the rear Rear leg room

Steering wheel blocks view of speedometer Would have liked a beefier engine choice No manual override of 4WD

Let's face it...we all started looking at a number of cars and ended up here with an Element. It wasn't my first choice, but was my final. I am a single guy with a need of versatility in my vehicle. I had spent the last nine years with a Ford F150 short bed with a fiberglass cap. The truck worked great for me. I needed the ability to control the climate in the rear of the vehicle however, with three dogs either freezing or roasting without heat or air conditioning. Four wheel drive was also something I desired, but could likely live without. After many road tests, I narrowed my choices to the Toyota Tacoma and the Honda Element. The extended cab with the Toyota TRD package was fantastic to drive and the bed offered me the cargo space I had grown so used to. Unfortunately, the dogs would suffer the same lack of climate control. The Element offered me so much flexibility short of a cargo space for yard waste and the like. I still have a flat bed trailer that, with a little dilegence and common sense, can be pulled by the Element. And of course the price was a big difference. Unfortunately I was not able to purchase the vehicle from the same source the Toyota would have come from. The dealer and my family are long time associates and I would have been much more comfortable with them. The Honda dealership has lauded it's service as second to none with four president's awards. I guess we'll see if that really means anything to the consumer now! As in any vehicle purchase...ask me five years from now how good the choice really was.

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Honda products Valkyrie Tourer VTX 1800C ST1300ABS

Space, unique look, robust body, visibility, stability. All around fun, great for summer!

Headlights flicker (dealer says due to alternator problem) We want to replace the goodyear tires that came with the car to improve stability and road noise. These are not good for snow and traction

We were attracted to this vehicle first because of it's very European style. Being from Europe, I was excited to try it out and after the first test drive we knew this was what we wanted. It is very powerful and has a nice ride for a 4 cylinder. Offers a lot of comfort and space. Fits both tall and small great. Amazing sound system. We like that all for chairs are reclineable and the skylight is awesome. We had some bad luck with having an accident where the front driverside bumper was damaged along with the front wheel.With all those parts having mostly plastic along with the strength of the car, our car had only torn-up plastic with no real body damage. If we get the chance in a couple of years we'd like to get the EX 4WD automatic. We're enjoying being able to add onto our DX awd automatic with extras from the dealers. HOnda was a BIG upgrade for us and we are very happy so far!

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94 Chevy S10 Blazer, pontiac grandam 91 Neither of which even deserve a review

Versatility, cargo volumn, relatively low price, Honda reliability and performance from both the drive train and 4 wheel disc brakes..

The lower rad, condenser is fairly exposed to debris, rocks etc and in my opinion should be better protected. Some owners have addressed this by installing grill protection such as one from Cloud Rider. You can notice strong cross winds but no more than in a Chryler or Ford van, both of which I have owned.

This is a follow up to my posting of August 2003. I am still very impressed with this vehicle and have now been through a very cold Canadian winter. The Element never failed to start in the cold but on occasion in the early cold mornings the remote would not unlock the doors and I had to use the key. This was addressed by my dealer at a regular service interval however I don`t know if the fix was effective as the weather was milder by then. The heater provided ample warmth during the cold spells. Stock all season tires are only adequate in the snow and should be replaced with dedicated winter tires if you really have to venture out. We have two other cars with winter tires so this wasn`t really an issue.I continue to be impressed with the size of cargo it can carry, the latest being some 8 foot rough oak planks I had to transport for finishing.I simply put the front passenger seat and one rear seat into the horizontal position, covered them with a blanket and layed in the wood across the seats.After the winter it was great to simply mop the salt and dirt off the floor and not have to worry about damage to carpet (which this vehicle does not have).I now have about 15,000km on it and have had no problems.

the sheer utility of the thing; stereo system; lack of carpet; front compartment areas; drivability; room for stuff; tall people friendly; short people friendly; LATCH car seat system

glove box could be a bit bigger; only seats four; there's no 'lock all the doors' button on the passenger side door; must educate passengers to shut the back doors first (front doors dependent on back doors to shut)

I've only had my Element for two weeks, but I have been extremely satisfied so far. I have already hauled a full-size dresser with a mirror along with three plants and other sundry items in one trip alone. Last weekend I got to experience the versatility combined with the easy-clean interior when I had to load my two cats and their paraphenalia into the Element during an absolute downpour. I just popped open the back hatch, chunked the kitties in the cargo area, then I let my rain-soaked self into the driver's side and made my way to the back of the vehicle to bring the kitties to the back seats to secure them. The inside of the Element was dry in about 30 minutes, leaving no stains or 'wet people' odors. Driving is great fun; you get used to the roomy front very quickly. Now when I hop back in my company truck I feel claustorphobic. The Element has great get-up-and-go; it never feels sluggish. I also never have any trouble locating my Element in a parking lot. No more wondering around lost in parking decks for me! Some people think it's ugly; I just call it post-modern. The back seats are very easy to move about into the hanging position. This is fantastic for me; I am a genuine weakling so I get an ego boost when I effortlessly lift up that seat. So far, so good; I am loving my Elliott!

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none yet but the in-laws just bought a CR-V; I'll be able to make comparisons later

great front visability; superb sound system; dashboard within easy reach; a lot of leg room for people in back seat; seats can be removed or flipped up for easy hauling; peppy engine; great value for money compared to other SUV's

road noise probably because of no carpet; windy days tend to move it around a little

This is my first Honda and so far I love it. I call it my "Mini Hummer." It's so ugly that it's cute! Every 4 cylinder car I've had the engine has been sluggish. That's why I got the 5 speed manual transmission. The clutch is hard to reach, however, if you're a short person like me. It's got a lot of pep and it's fun to drive. My husband even enjoys driving it. With no carpet it's easy to keep clean especially when hauling my dog to the vet.

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Test drove Hyundai Santa Fe but resale is not as good as the Honda

space. 24 mpg. stereo. agility. two adults and a dog and sleep inside: kind of a "micro" RV

reactive awd: does not prevent traction slippage

wow. fun funkwagon with great hauling space for a compact suv. 5spd handles great and accelerates well: 0 to 60 mph in 8.1 seconds.

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wrangler

ride,drive,brakes,dependability,room,versitility,good mpg,fun,4wd,solidness and looks! Sound system is also nice!

could use seat wamers and side mirror defrosters, 40 mpg! Hybird cometh?

Wow, I have read an lot of information concering demographics and why people just love or hate this vehicle so I decide to add my opinion to all the rest. We all know what opinions are like! I fall into the upper end of the demographic profile. I'm a 52 year old ex hippie/vet/soon to be grandpa that likes to enjoy his time playing guitar, camping and fishing and I don't give a rat's ass whether or not someboby doesn't like what I have chosen to drive. I now own a vechile that meets my needs. It is the best all around package for me. It's a blast to drive, doesn't suck up too much petrol, doesn't keep me at the dealership getting repaired and can haul almost everything I will ever need to haul.(they have rentals for everything else!) This car makes sense for me. It does all things well and will get me to and fro during our New England winters. It may not impress everybody in the neighborhood or my friends but It sure impresses me! I guess that part of what comes with growing older besides the extra aches and pains. You learn to appreciate the freedom to choose without a second thought about what another person thinks. This car is great and would meet or exceed the needs of anybody in any generation without the need to haul more than 3 humans plus yourself at any given time. The only option that is required is an independent mind!

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Honda CR-V, Chevy Pickup, Big bad Buick Wagon!

Easy to clean, fun to drive, flip up or take out seats, 4WD that drives like a car, suicide doors, and it's a Honda! And so much fun! People stop me in parking lots and ask to see it. Definitely will get you a lot of attention!!!

If I could make any changes, I would want the sunroof in the front instead of the back of the vehicle, and a larger gas tank would really fit the bill. But these are marginal weaknesses.

The Honda Element is unlike any other car, truck, or SUV on the road. It is the most user friendly vehicle that I've ever owned! The suicide doors, although I wasn't sure about them at first, make loading and unloading a breeze (kids and cargo!). The Element is so easy to clean, inside and out, and stays clean thanks to no carpet and fuss-free seats. Mud and dust are a snap to clean up; you don't even need floor mats! I just wipe out the floor with a wet towel and it's clean! There is very little sway, even with the height. And it is very manuverable to park, even more so than my Accord. The back tailgate and lift up hatch are a nice touch too, as this makes unloading cargo a breeze. It's like Honda built a truck just for me - a horse owner and mom who needed the utility of a truck with the feel of a car!

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Nothing similar on the market in my opinion!