2006 Honda Element LX

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Honda is known for conservative, economical mass-market vehicles, but every so often the company goes off the deep end and offers up something quirky or wild, like the S2000 sports roadster or the brick-shaped, category-busting Element. What can you do with a vehicle like the Honda Element? Well, pretty much anything.

This round-edged box probably won't set the fashion world on fire, but it can tackle just about anything else. And best of all, there are perfectly ordinary Honda mechanicals under that unusual exterior.

Conceived by active-lifestyle types within Honda, the Element arrived ready to play, and it hit the target that the Pontiac Aztek missed so spectacularly. The Element is designed to carry cargo large or small, clean or dirty, to carry up to five passengers comfortably, to offer confident, carlike handling and to be exciting enough to woo younger buyers. The uncarpeted interior and water-resistant upholstery can be sprayed down with a hose, and the rear seats are removable, just like minvan seats. It's an unlikely combination of economy car, minivan and sport-utility vehicle, with a comfortable dash of first-apartment thrown in.

The Element's design hasn't changed since its introduction. The new-for '06 EX-P model gives Element buyers the option of having the gray fenders and bumpers painted body color. In our opinion the Element's looks are improved tremendously by this treatment. The tall, short shape is inherently awkward, and the awful styling of the Aztek came largely from designers' efforts to hide this fact. The Element wears its right angles with pride. New colors for 2006 include striking green Kiwi and orange Tangerine metallic hues that show off the Element's boxy shape. Especially now that Scion's xB has shown that some drivers are down with the box, the Element doesn't have to disguise its silhouette. The rear doors are hinged at the rear to open up the interior to the, ah, elements, and access to the rear seats is a snap. At the rear, the Element features a split tailgate that's perfect for tailgate parties or loading large and small cargo.

The Element's interior can't be properly called a "cockpit." It's more of a "command center." Flat surfaces and object storage abound, from the floor to the ceiling. The gauges have non-reflective bezels and are easy to read, with sportswatch-style decoration on the faces. Visibility to the corners is hampered by the blocky front pillars and squared-off shape, though the driving position is confidently tall. We loved the Element's seats; they're broad, flat chairs that don't offer much in the way of cornering support but are just right for long drives. And, of course, the seats fold flat into a bed, should you feel the need to camp in your Element. A dealer-installed tent is even available. The Spartan interior features hose-off rubber floors and water-resistant upholstery is available as well. A sunroof over the rear seats is available, as is a subwoofer-equipped audio system and satellite radio. MP3 player jacks are also included with the premium sound system.

The drive is pure Honda--quiet and sewing-machine smooth. The big 2.4 liter four-cylinder engine is rev-happy and makes good power high in the rev range thanks to Honda's familiar i-VTEC variable valve timing. i-VTEC allows the engine to adjust for higher speeds and prevents the it from getting that wound-up, powerless feeling that many four-cylinders exhibit at high revs. The blocky body shape might lead one to assume there's a big SUV-like V6 or V8 under the hood, but the Element does just fine with Honda's eager four-cylinder. Even though the 156 horsepower means the Element is working with less than other big vehicles, the Element is carrying less weight than it appears to have--3371 pounds for two-wheel drive models--and acceleration is surprisingly good with the five-speed manual transmission. The big box will get up and go with sufficient authority to run ahead of the crowd at traffic lights, if need be. The five-speed manual transmission is standard; the optional four-speed automatic adds convenience but robs a bit of power. The enthusiast in us prefers the five-speed manual, of course. All-wheel drive is available as well. Honda's Real Time 4WD isn't an off-roading system; it's for getting the Element through sticky weather conditions rather than rock-crawling.

On the freeway the Element feels more like an SUV than a car. The suspension consists of MacPherson struts up front and a compact double wishbone rear. Handling and steering are direct and decent around town, but the Element starts to get wobbly-kneed around 75mph or so. It corners a bit better than you'd expect, thanks to a low-ish center of gravity. Overall the handling is predictable, but not particularly entertaining. Then again, this isn't the sort of vehicle one buys for its entertaining handlig. Anti-lock brakes are standard, but the Element still feels bulky in emergency maneuvers.

The Element is an eager do-all, versatile and friendly. It's a layer of quirk atop a reliable Honda platform. Pricing for the LX starts at $17,750, making it a reasonable consideration as a first or only vehicle.

Specifications:

All specs are for the 2006 Honda Element LX.
Length: 169.3 in.
Width: 71.5 in.
Height: 70.4 in.
Wheelbase: 101.4 in.
Curb weight: 3371 lb.
Cargo space: 25.1 cu.ft. (seats up); 74.6 cu.ft. (seats folded)
Base price: $17,750
Price as tested: $18,300
Engine: 2.4 liter DOHC 16-valve four-cylinder
Drivetrain: five-speed manual transmission, front-wheel drive
Horsepower: 156 @ 5500
Torque: 160 @ 4500
Fuel capacity: 15.9 gal.
Est. mileage: 21/25


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