Honda Element | |
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Overview | |
Manufacturer | Honda |
Production | December 2002–April 2011 Chassis Y1, H1 |
Assembly | East Liberty, Ohio, U.S. (ELAP) |
Body and chassis | |
Class | Compact crossover |
Body style | 4-door crossover |
Layout | Front engine, front-wheel drive / four-wheel drive |
Related |
Honda Civic Honda CR-V Acura RSX |
Powertrain | |
Engine | 2.4 L I4: K24A4 2003–2006, K24A8 2007+ |
Transmission | 5-speed manual 4-speed automatic 5-speed automatic |
Dimensions | |
Wheelbase | 101.4 in (2575 mm) |
Length | 2003-08: 180 in (4,572 mm) 2003-08: 180 in (4,572 mm) (EX-P) 2003-08: 180 in (4,572 mm) (EX) 2003-08: 180 in (4,572 mm) (SC) 2009-: 200 in (5,080 mm) 2009- SC: 200 in (5,080 mm) |
Width | 2003-08: 72 in (1,829 mm) |
Height | 70.4 in (1,788 mm) 69.5 in (1,765 mm) (SC) |
Chronology | |
Successor | Honda HR-V (for US) |
The Honda Element is a compact crossover based on a modified CR-V platform, manufactured in East Liberty, Ohio and offered in front-wheel and all-wheel drive formats in the United States and Canada from model years 2003 through 2011.
The Element followed a concept vehicle called Model X, developed by a core group of Honda R&D engineers in 1998 and debuted at the 2001 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The Model X was designed to be an activity-oriented vehicle combining features of a pickup truck and a sport utility vehicle.
The 4-seat Element is optimized to carry large volume loads, limited by total passenger and cargo weight not exceeding 675 lbs. The floor is made of easily cleanable TPO coated textured urethane; the fabric is stain resistant; the individual rear seats recline, fold up, and are removable. The rear clamshell tailgate arrangement is large, and the vehicle is tall, allowing tall loads.
The rear side doors open outward from the front but are not referred to as suicide doors: they cannot be opened if the conventional front doors are not open. To accommodate elimination of the B-pillars, which provides unobstructed access for side loading through the 2006 model year, limited by the front seat design from 2007 onward, the Element features a chassis with reinforced joints, strengthened lower side sills, larger cross members, enlarged rocker panels, and five bulkheads per side.
The compact SUV features a 2.4 Litre K Engine, an i-VTEC four-cylinder engine producing 166 hp (124 kW) at 5500 rpm and 160 lb·ft (217 N·m) of torque at 4500 rpm and front-wheel drive or an optional all-wheel drive system — a hydraulically actuated system that operates only when front wheel slippage occurs, marketed as "Real Time" all wheel drive. The Element has a towing capacity of 680 kg, or 1500 lbs.