By accessing this website, you acknowledge that Edmunds and its third party business partners may use cookies, pixels, and similar technologies to collect information about you and your interactions with the website as described in our
Privacy Statement, and you agree that your use of the website is subject to our
Visitor Agreement.
Comments
Went to local autoshow. Hummer H2 has carpet. YEEECH! I see it got Aztec interior parts. Well I looked at the Aztec again and I admit I like aspects of the interior but I'll never buy another Pontiac ever again. Go figure that the Pontiac Vibe cannot sell anywhere near the Toyota Matrix numbers and they are the same car?
You did fine, forget about the unpleasant buying process and enjoy your car...van, um, trucklet.
IMO you do not need an alarm. The thing attracts so much attention it's already an alarm on wheels. Thieves would be nuts to steal something that attracts so much attention.
For #3, again, no, the wipe-clean interior is to me one of the biggest advantages of the Element.
JM2C.
-juice
Maybe some au natural fertilizer too. Get home and hose it all off
Maybe if you park on a steep incline so the water runs out the back quickly.
You can use wet sponges or maybe a mop though.
I got $800 lopped off list price and 3.34% financing for 5 years (with $5K down).
I have only filled the tank once after reception so I can’t give definite mpg, but it seems around 23-25 mpg. I’ll post the exact figure upon my next fill up.
Rather than listing all the great things about my mini-hummer, it’ll be more productive to talk about the silly gotchas Honda missed. First, I have to tell you my previous car, that I loved, was a Volkswagen Passat 1999 Sportwagon. I sold it just because I wanted a change (had it 4 years). Anyway, the electrical harness and logic on that car was marvelous. The Element, by contrast, is a bit dim-witted. For instance, for a vehicle supposed to be all ‘lifestyle’ and all, you can’t use audio, power connectors or anything without putting key in ignition on position I. But if the driver’s door is open, then it chimes incessantly! So, you can’t have the big lifestyle doors open on left side of vehicle while enjoying tunes?!?! How dumb is that?
The tailgate light, in middle position, doesn’t turn off when gate is open even ever! If someone wanted it on, no matter what, it should be it ‘on’ position. The Passat was far smarter about these things. It kinds knew what you wanted, and if it ever guessed wrong, then you could still override.
Also, I just ordered then missing keyless entry at HandA.com. It wouldn’t be such a necessity if Honda allowed the key in the driver’s door to unlock all doors, just like it does allow to lock all doors. What kind of silly thinking is that?
Anyway, it is indeed one cool car.
My wife wanted a small SUV, but it will be the "family car" on the weekends, so I will be driving it too. Basically the only thing I would consider is a Honda, a Toyota and maybe the Mazda.
The RAV4 and CRV just look too small and "girly". I will be driving this car too, and I don't want to look gay. I guess this is where I have to throw in the obligatory "not that there is anything wrong with that", but there is. I'm not gay and don't want to look gay, sorry, it's a guy thing.
Now I did consider the Highlander, which sells in the low 20's for front wheel drive. And it's pretty roomy. But our friends just bought one and my wife doesn't want to be perceived as a "biter". It's a girl thing.
The Tribute looks a bit manlier due to the larger tires, which are not offered on a CRV. But it rides more like a truck.
So, thankfully my wife liked the Element. It drives nice, it looks cool (some may disagree), It has gobs of room to get a child in and out and can function as a larger SUV with the rear seats folded up. And the price is nice.
We are going to lease a 4WD EX. When leasing, it almost always pays to go top-of-the-line. You end up with all the options for only a small increase in the monthly payment. BTW the sales manager is a friend of mine, he says you really should go with 4WD. They are always more in demand. So the residual on a lease is higher-meaning you're payemnt is lower. You only save a few bucks a month for purchasing a 2 wheel drive which costs thousands less.
Anyway, just to check up on him, what are people seeing on price? I've seen here quotes of $500, and $800 off MSRP. Is that the norm or are most dealers still at MSRP? A couple months ago, they were at sticker, but he said he would probably throw me in remote entry, splash gaurds, carpeted mats, bungees and driver side armest for free-probably $700 worth opf options.
Thanks for any input.
Steve, Host
I'm just waiting to find my GG EX 5-Spd.
I'm interested to see side impact scores, given the suicide doors.
-juice
I have Aztek drivers wave to me. Like we have something in common. LOL
CarsDirect for your zip shows $18992. Out here (SF, CA), the best quote I have is $18510 including destination fees (I'm buying on Saturday). Use the auto-pricing sites and see what dealers offer.
It's a toaster on wheels. The Element has alot of cool features that I wish my Aztek had (hey, look... a compliment) but it looks like someone cobbled it together from a bunch of mis-matched vehicles. What's up with all the different colored panels? Is it a clown car?
If it was such an awful, ugly vehicle why are there so many vehicles out there that have blatantly taken their styling cues from it?
Which vehicles?
How about:
Mitsubishi Outlander
Acura MDX
Nissan Murano
Izusu Axiom
Lexus RX
What it comes down to is that the automotive press hates Pontiac worse than Earnhardt fans hate Jeff Gordon. And people shopping for vehicles READ the automotive press and believe it.
Add on the myth that Japanese vehicles are of better quality despite the fact that they are STILL built here in the U.S. and you can see the difference between Honda's ugliest vehicle and Pontiac's.
Want a perfect example?
Toyota Matrix routinely outsells the Pontiac Vibe. Why? They are made in the same factory by the same American workers. It's all false perceptions. People think buying Japanese means getting some kind of magical quality spell put on the vehicle.
I really like this vehicle, but about the only thing that concerns me is the low-hanging gas tank. Having a plastic gas tank be the first thing that scrapes is not good.
OTOH, has anyone seen any aftermarket skid plate for the gas tank ? Looks like it would be an easy bolt-on, with the OEM protector rail running around the tank.
-Karl
As for the styling copies on your list, I cannot agree. I see a few vehicles with angular looks, but nothing that resembles the Aztek's mismatched proportions, harsh creases, and unusual placement of lights.
The RX300 was released about 2 years earlier than the Aztek. How do you copy something that didn't exist, yet? In fact, the styling of the Murano and the RX300 are both dominated by long lines and sweeping curves. This has nothing in common with the Aztek's short, choppy, and angular facade.
The MDX was released in the same year, which is too late to make changes of that nature. Also, the angular looks of the MDX are completely consistent with the front ends used on the TL and CL from the Acura lineup. Again, I see no resemblance at all.
I can understand the grill on the Outlander. That does resemble the new over-sized Pontiac smile. But I don't see anything else.
The Axiom is all about vertical and horizontal lines with blocky proportions. The Aztek is all diagonals and points.
You've asembled a list of cars that do have "different" styling. However, aside from the use of hard edges, none of them resemble the Aztek. The "Art and Science" appearance of recent Caddys is about the closest thing out there. Even that's a stretch.
There are other vehicles better suited.
Don't see it.
Only thing the Aztek has in common with either the RX or the MDX is that they all have 2 headlights, 4 wheels, and 4 doors. Otherwise it's like comparing Cindy Crawford to Joan Rivers. One is pretty and one is pretty ugly and plasticky.
Still don't see it.
When I was shopping the Element in Chicago area, I was quoted 17,999 for the same exact vehicle you're looking for (sticker 19,110). Shop around - I got four quotes ranging from this low one to sticker.
* it draws huge crowds
* those people might buy other Hondas even if they don't like the Element
* sales confirm its popularity
* they priced it right
-juice
At work I get comments like "cool" to "milk truck" and "too bad about the looks" but one things for sure once they see the interior I get a thumbs up.
The Aztec looks like a bloated whale with undersized wheels. No matter how capable the thing is, most people wouldn't be caught dead in one.
Honda made the Element stand out, but it seems to be attracting people like a light brings the bugs. People want the utility and space but don't feel like spending 30k. And then there's those who just like the attention, albeit not all positive.
They also showed the Studio E concept. Saw that up close, interesting but they made it very single-purpose.
Acura was right next door (clever IMO) and I liked the TSX and the TL concept. Both are styled aggressively and attracted crowds, more so than the RSX did last year.
-juice
The Element is heavier, so extra HP at high rpm won't have as dramatic an effect on overall performance. You need torque to move weight. Shorter gearing would help, but that increases noise and you lose fuel efficiency.
Still, I think Acura should get either a version of the Element or the CR-V. That model could get the 200hp engine, along with more sound insulation. If it's the CR-V make it like the Open Air concept, if it's the Element give it a front moonroof.
-juice
The extra 40 horses will indeed help the Element hustle along the road, but you'll have to wind it up to make it boogie. If you consider the E fun to drive above 5,000 rpms, then this engine would give you another 2,000 rpms to play with.
That's wild, varmint, they mentioned the Honda engine for the Vue at the NY show. Should be a good performer. I don't like Saturn's interior at all, though, the seats in particular just don't fit me.
I wonder what kind of towing and payload numbers we'll see. Do you know what tranny it's getting? Probably auto only. A CVT would be interesting.
Honda might wait and see how the high-po niche goes, if there is demand I bet we'll see something from them.
-juice
Full Test: 2004 Scion xB
Steve, Host
First, it's much, much smaller than the Element. Passenger room is great, and technically it seats five, though width is tight so they won't be comfortable. Cargo space is tight unless you remove the seat. Families with baby seats in place won't have much room for more than a stroller.
108hp is sort of weak, but it's a feather weight so the numbers look adequate. 10hp from an intake? Sounds optimistic, but 0-60 in 9s is not bad. It's also FWD, not AWD.
I disagree with the review about the interior - it does look cheap. What you'd expect from Kia. I may be durable but it ain't pretty. The speedo in the center is the dumbest idea ever. Your eyes wander way, way off the road to see it. This alone would prevent me from considering one.
Pros? Price is amazing, $14k for a 5 speed with ABS and CD. Skip the auto 'cause that would be too slow anyway.
I left thinking it would have been a decent ride for a new college grad that wanted cheap wheels with *lots* of space for the money, no more no less.
Interestingly, I do think it will be cross-shopped with the Element, because of the boxy styling and the fact that both are very price competitive.
-juice
That's quite impressive for the price they are asking. Apparently the traction control doesn't work all that well during full-throttle acceleration, but in real life that's a bonus. Add to that Stability Control and you've got a real bargain.
I was expecting something with a much more cramped interior. That obviously isn't the case. Cargo capacity is fairly small, but not so bad that I wouldn't consider it. I don't like the center-mounted dash layout, but the rest of the cabin looks pretty good.
There's very little there that I don't like. The engine sounds underwhelming, but with a curb weight that low, it should be fairly peppy. Handling, braking, and steering all sound great.
I prefer the Element's styling and greater utility, but I think Toyota hit the nail better than Honda with the youth market.
More talk in the 2004 Scion xB discussion.
Steve, Host