The Model X, which made its Detroit debut at the 2001 North American International Auto Show and was designed by a core group of Honda R&D engineers in 1998, served as the inspiration for the Element. The Model X’s style was influenced by a lifeguard station, with its roofline arched to resemble the curve of a surfboard. It was created as an activity-oriented vehicle with elements from a pickup truck and a sport utility vehicle[6].
The Element’s structure, which is distinguished by its four bi-parting side doors that open to offer a clear aperture of 55.5 inches[7], does away with B-pillars by strengthening and extending the side sills, floor and roof cross elements, and adding five bulkheads per side. When the rear door is closed, a hook and catch mechanism connects the reinforced vertical beam of the door structure to the body side sill, thereby forming a B-pillar. Only after the front doors can the rear-hinged side doors open. [7]
The production Element made its premiere at the 2002 New York International Auto Show[8] with an interior that had independently reclining and detachable back seats that stow. It also had stain-resistant fabric and TPO-coated textured urethane flooring.
For the model years 2007 through 2011, the four-cylinderi-VTEC2.4 Litre K Engine generates 166 horsepower (124 kW) at 5800 rpm and 162 lb-ft (220 Nm) of torque at 4000 rpm, and for the model years 2003 through 2006, it generates 160 horsepower (119 kW) at 5500 rpm and 160 lb-ft (217 Nm) of torque at 4500 rpm.
[9]
[10] Drive is available as front-wheel drive or, alternatively, all-wheel drive using a “Real Time 4WD” hydraulically activated on demand system that activates with front wheel slippage. The Element has a gross weight of 4450 pounds and a towing capacity of 680 kg, or 1500 lbs (2018 kg). [11]
The Element was expected to sell 50,000 in its first year,[14] however it ended up selling 67,478 units in the US.
[15] Just over 14,000 were sold in 2010. [5]
In This Article...
Has the Honda Element four-wheel drive?
The 2.4-liter, four-cylinder Honda i-VTEC engine powers the Element. It has a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission option for $800. All models are offered with either Honda’s Real Time 4-Wheel Drive or front-wheel drive (2WD) (4WD).
The Honda Element has four wheels or all four.
The Honda Element is available with either a four-speed automatic or five-speed manual transmission and may be had with either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.
How does the Honda Element’s all-wheel drive function?
A rear differential is added after a front-wheel-drive vehicle is built. Your Honda uses a multi-plate clutch mechanism to engage the rear differential when it detects that it is losing traction. The car is now driven by both the front and rear wheels, making it all-wheel drive. The Intelligent Control System, though, is another story. What’s the deal with that? When traction is less than ideal, a conventional all-wheel-drive system engages the back wheels mechanically. Real Time AWD’s Intelligent Control System is smooth and practically instantaneous in contrast to other AWD systems, which frequently have a significant lag before they go into action. When necessary, an electric motor on the transmission quickly and flawlessly engages the back wheels. You most likely won’t even realize anything has happened because it is so seamless. Real Time AWD is disengaged almost as rapidly, requiring less effort to move your Honda. Your Honda is more effective than other cars with mechanical AWD since it has Real Time AWD.
Can the Honda Element handle snow?
Surprisingly, the Element handles snow well. Its weight and form aid in maintaining the vehicle’s stability. This car’s front-wheel drive and traction control both help it avoid wheelspinning in slick situations. Use of the Element during the winter is secure and dependable.
What makes four-wheel drive superior to all-wheel drive?
AWD reduces some of the drama associated with driving on snow and ice. When dealing with severe snow and ice, 4WD is the way to go. Without a doubt, 4WD is superior if you also want to venture off the beaten path into the wilderness. Additionally, 4WD vehicles often have a far higher towing capacity than AWD vehicles.
Why were Honda Elements no longer produced?
The first Honda Element made its appearance in 2003, distinguished from previous Honda models by a peculiar boxy frame. In order to compete with pick-up trucks and larger SUVs, it was designed to draw a younger, more adventurous demographic.
Fans noticed the interior’s complete customizability right away. Access to seats that can either be made into a bed or put against the sides for greater cargo room is made possible by the fold-out tailgate and the rear access doors.
The Honda Element eventually got more sporty modifications, like a better suspension and 18 wheels for off-roading. With the addition of a dog bed in the back and a fan plug to keep your adventurous pet cool, it also became more dog-friendly.
But there was one significant issue. The Honda Element was too pricey for its intended market of young adults (about 21). The fact that this SUV is ideal for moving, camping, and other activities was insufficient to persuade younger people to take out sizable loans for it.
So, regrettably, when the Honda Element was withdrawn in 2011, we believed we were saying goodbye to it forever.
Is Honda Element a reliable vehicle?
Honda Parts: Are They Reliable? The reliability rating for the Honda Element was excellent. The model received a reliability rating from RepairPal of 4.0 out of 5, placing it first among the 32 cars in its class.
Honda Element off-road capability
The Honda Element doesn’t have a lot of aftermarket assistance when it comes to getting a lift, unlike many Jeeps and trucks. But a few businesses do produce lift kits in the form of spacers that go on top of the strut assemblies and essentially lift the chassis. Additionally, many Jeep and truck applications used this technique, but it’s not the best course of action, particularly if you want to engage in significant off-roading.
The available kits should be suitable for light overlanding, while the Honda Element isn’t designed to do any severe rock crawling. The two most popular producers of one, two, and three-inch raise kits for the 2003–2011 Honda Element are Aerogenics and HRG Engineering. It is advised to hire a professional installer to install either lift kit because it is a labor-intensive process that necessitates cutting and changing various suspension parts.
What was the Honda Element’s successor?
Toyota Fit. Another Honda vehicle that incorporates the Element into a more streamlined form is the Honda Fit. For those who adore Honda but don’t want to hold on to the boxy form, this is a great option.
When did Honda Element production end?
We occasionally reflect on the past and discover that we made a regrettable error. As Bitcoin approaches its all-time high price, many people who chose not to invest in it early may be shaking their heads. Others believed that having endless rolls of toilet paper would be useful during the pandemic. And then there’s Honda, the Japanese automaker that undoubtedly regrets discontinuing the Element at a time when the market for off-road vehicles was about to take off.
The Element existed before boxy, small SUVs like the Kia Soul and Scion xB hit the market. Honda tried to appeal to young, energetic drivers with the Model X, a concept that was first conceived in 1998 and later unveiled (sorry, Elon). Its angular design was modeled after a lifeguard station, its roofline was curled to resemble a surfboard, and its lack of aerodynamics set it apart from SUVs of the time, luring young people who dared to be different.
Honda’s guiding principles of a lively, adventurous mood extended to the Element’s most underappreciated features in addition to the bi-parting front and rear doors. After a day of fun, you could wipe clean the entire interior thanks to the plastic flooring and stain-resistant seating. In contrast, the rear seats could be quickly and easily removed to provide 75 cubic feet of storage space for bikes, boards, and other items. Additionally, travelers could lay the front and back seats flat to make a platform for a bed.
Early Element models had peculiarities that, by today’s conservative automotive standards, seem unimaginable. The cargo space included a manual, detachable sunroof in the initial model year, allowing thin cargo to protrude from the top. Then there was the ECamper, an aftermarket addition that had a sleeping platform installed in place of the original roof, much like a vintage Volkswagen Westfalia. The Element provided a range of functionality that made it unique back then and still iconic now. All of the eccentricity, though, was not intended.
The Element, you see, was the ideal SUV in the incorrect circumstance. When sedans still ruled the automotive world, it rolled off the assembly line in 2002 but was decommissioned by 2011. Every so often, Honda updated the design, adding and removing trim levels, even embracing all-wheel drive. But during the course of its existence, Honda only sold 325,000 Elements. Comparatively, throughout a three-year period, the Toyota RAV4 sold more units.
What does the Honda Element’s SC stand for?
Variants of the Honda Element are available in LX, EX, and SC (for “Street Custom”) trim levels. While the SC only has front-wheel drive, the LX and EX both have front- and all-wheel drive.
Safer, More Secure on Slippery Surfaces
All four tires transmitting the engine’s power to the road increases safety and security when driving on slick terrain, such as snowy highways, because even if the front tires slide, the rear tires can move the car forward.
By creating a light, compact system, Honda has attained the stability of powering all four tires as well as great fuel efficiency.
Smart, Real Time AWD
Real Time AWD makes driving safe, secure, and fuel-efficient by using its computer to intelligently assess if and how much power is needed to drive the back tires.
Cruising
It is not necessary to apply power to the rear tires while driving at a constant speed. The computer abruptly reduces power to the back tires when it detects a continuous cruising speed.
Uphill
Tires can squeak easily. To keep the front tires from slipping, the engine sends the most power to the rear tires based on how far down the accelerator pedal is depressed and the angle of ascent.
How and When the Rear Tires are Powered
Honda vehicles with Real Time AWD typically only drive the front tires; they only drive the rear tires when absolutely essential.
Under typical driving circumstances, just the front tires are powered, which enhances fuel efficiency.
How fuel-efficient is a Honda Element?
For instance, the 2004 4 Cyl. SUV 4D EX 2WD gets a combined gas mileage of 23.5 miles per gallon, whereas the 2009 4 Cyl. SUV 4D EX 4WD trim model has a combined gas mileage of 20.5 miles per gallon (10.1 liters per 100 km) (11.6 liters per 100 km).
Depending on the trim and model year, the Honda Element’s city fuel economy ranges from 11.2 miles per gallon (11.2 liters per 100 kilometers) to 13.1 miles per gallon (13.1 liters per 100 kilometers) and its highway fuel economy ranges from 23 miles per gallon (9.0 liters per 100 kilometers) to 26 miles per gallon (10.2 liters per 100 kilometers).
For hybrid automobiles, the gas mileage displayed is the miles per gallon equivalent.