Honda Element To Cease Production

[Scratch]

Honda Element To Cease Production [AutoGuide Exclusive] | AutoGuide.com News

"Autoguide has learned that Honda will announce on Friday that production of their Element compact SUV will cease. No official reasons were given, but one can suspect that slow sales of the vehicle, combined with strong sales of the Honda CR-V, led to the decision. Stay tuned for more as we await official word from Honda on the fate of the Element."

[mikemcm]

It should never had made production.

[sblvro]

what's next? the crosstour! they should have just keep producing the S2000 than carry on with element and now the crosstour.

[gopilot]

To be honest I was never a fan of the Element nor would I ever test drive one.

Pilot/CRV just stole the show

Still sad to see one of our own cease

[oejeffrey]

if the element is the one I am thinking of it looked like a mini hummer to me. I know Honda can be more original if they want to.

[samc]

Me neither the element was kind of a bastard child. I'm not a big fan of the crosstour either. But I agree that the s2000 should have lived on. But who knows they'll bring it back one day just like the CRX--- CRz thing. (I know not exactly the samething but still)

[AcuraDude]

I liked the Element, but thought it was just underpowered.

[colorider]

Originally Posted by sblvro

what's next? the crosstour! they should have just keep producing the S2000 than carry on with element and now the crosstour.

Totally agree on the S2000. I owned two of them and still kick myself for ever straying away. I'm finally content again with the Mustang, but there is nothing quite like the "S" and VTEC!!!!! They are the closest thing to a sport-bike on 4 wheels.



Oh yes, I never was that impressed with the Element. Riding in the back seat is terrible. Poor visibility, access and just general dis-comfort. Front seat is not much better, IMHO.

[rocky]

I shed no tear for the Element. Its student in tatty jeans look didn't do anything for me. Since then its shed the multi colored look and looks best in Black. What I thought could have been a replacement, the Crossroad, was killed off earlier this year after just three years.

Sadly with the Crosstour reaching 10% of Accord sales, its probably with us for a while.
God that's ugly.

Sadder still the RDX, Acura's contribution to ugliness is going to be with us for a long time. Its only selling 15,000 a year and will have to be produced for a long time to cover its costs of development.

[beer4799]

I like the Crosstour. I currently don't need the size of my Pilot like I used to require. Crosstour can carry a fair amount of gear and have still have decent sedan handling. Good size, heavy; what's not to like? Style may not be for all, I get that part. I would get a base model and use a portable nav to save a few bucks. My Pilot is owned outright though, and that keeps me standing pat for now.

[cwa107]

Never quite understood the point of the Element (although the hose-out interior is kind of neat for people with pets/kids, etc). I certainly won't miss it, always thought they were sinfully ugly.

Honda needs a new design team badly. I'm sure I'm not alone in that I'd prefer the traditional Honda 'conservative and inoffensive' over the designs of late.

[AppGap]

Odd thing is that the Element was the first Honda vehicle to have this type of odd dash we all live with now in any new Honda product. Prior to its delivery Honda was all about simple dash shapes and few pieces....then came the Element with its odd shifter placement and porthole type look. Now look at all of our dashboards...................Somehow that designer has moved up through Honda Motors ranks....

[jl_ss]

Originally Posted by AppGap

Odd thing is that the Element was the first Honda vehicle to have this type of odd dash we all live with now in any new Honda product. Prior to its delivery Honda was all about simple dash shapes and few pieces....then came the Element with its odd shifter placement and porthole type look. Now look at all of our dashboards...................Somehow that designer has moved up through Honda Motors ranks....

He sits right next to the guy that uglifies all the Acura/Honda grills......

[mapzoid]

I like Car Talk's description of the Element. They said the name was appropriate if the element was "Uglium".

[edawg]

OK, there's always one in a crowd... I have 2 Honda Pilots now, but back in the day... I proudly bought an Element new in '07 and found it to be a great, though admittedly flawed vehicle...

The styling is polarizing for sure, but I loved the interior space and that Honda took risks to do something so different and practical. If the Element had been a 4-door, we'd still own it. Good utility, generally impervious to dog and kid disasters, good price point, more fuel efficient than a Pilot and did I mention how LARGE it is inside? The suicide door is simply not practical though and the near vertical windshield collected rocks chips within 6 months of ownership. I have fond memories of a roadtrip from Atlanta to Dallas and back (via Nashville, TN) with wife, 2 kids and travel gear though that attest to the fact that it's a capable, comfortable machine for a family.

I'd ask Honda to avenge the Element with "The Molecule". Stretch it, add the hybrid system from the Insight with the peppier V-TEC 4cyl and add 2 real doors with a panoramic roof with a manual slide cover inside. It would be the new VW van of our age and Honda could price it in the mid-upper $20K range easily. The key here is to compete with the Flex and similar vehicles on utility and price and let the CRV & Pilot be the "traditional" SUVs...

Rest in peace oh so misunderstood Element!!