2008 Honda Element: Tester's Comments
2008 Honda Element 2WD LX Manual
2008 Honda Element ▼
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- MSRP: $18,980 -$23,575
- Invoice: $17,662 -$21,923
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Find out what the Consumer Guide Automotive testers had to say about the 2008 Honda Element. See if the 2008 Honda Element is right for you.
Vehicle Evaluated
| Make/Model: | Honda Element |
|---|---|
| Trim Level: | EX |
| Arrival Date: | 02/14/2008 |
| Engine: | dohc I4 |
| Bodystyle | 4-door wagon |
| Transmission: | 5-speed automatic |
| 4WD/AWD: | Yes |
| Base Price: | 23,190 |
| Price as Tested: | 23,825 |
| Mileage at Beginning of Test: | 4004 |
| Mileage at End of Test: | 4671 |
| Total Measured Miles: | 667 |
| Total Fuel Used: | 31.98 gals. |
| Consumer Guide Fuel Economy: | 20.86 mpg (what's this?) |
| Problems During Test: | None |
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From the Back Seat
Damon Bell
If your lifestyle is full of mountain biking, surfing, kayaking, camping, and the like, the utilitarian Element may be just what you're looking for. For less-outdoorsy shoppers, there are plenty of more-conventional compact SUVs that are better choices for everyday use.
Ed Piotrowski
Honda makes a lot of great vehicles. Element isn't one of them. It tries to do too much in attempting to appeal to a wide audience, thus making it a mediocre product overall. Outdoorsy types would be better served with buying a real SUV such as a Suzuki Grand Vitara or Nissan Xterra. Honda lately has been advertising Element in video game magazines, hoping to appeal to a geekier crowd who might utilize Element's cargo capacity to carry gaming gear. Problem is the vehicle rides too stiffly and doesn't have a carpeted cargo area, thus risking damage to expensive equipment. A Fit is a much better choice for geeks on the go. All in all, Element is old, cranky, unrefined, and way too expensive for what it offers.
Jennifer Geiger
My one big gripe with Element is that between the awkward-opening rear doors and seating for just two in the back, it's not very people friendly. Element does have a lot of useful cargo room (it's practically van-like inside), but it doesn't have a whole lot of great or usable small items storage space. Element only seats four and there's not much of a center console for my "active lifestyle stuff." I get where Honda is going with Element, but if I'm buying a larger vehicle, I want to be able to carry more people than I could in a compact car AND all my gear.
Rick Cotta
Slightly quirky and remarkably roomy, the Element has its strengths. But the rear door arrangement is awkward in parking lots, the rear-seat area's flat floor and slick rubber covering mean anything put back there slides around, and the rear seat itself accommodates only two passengers. For virtually the same price, I'd look across the showroom to the CR-V.
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