2011 Honda Element Provides Rugged Versatility Inside and Out

I've heard from a pretty reliable source that Honda is seriously considering taking the Element off the market, which would mean no redesign....
The 2011 Honda Element SUV stands ready for adventure with its wide-opening side cargo doors, a wipe-down utility floor and a multitude of seating configurations that range from lounge mode to maximum cargo mode.

The purposeful interior offers a low load-in floor with flat surfaces along with a tall interior ideal for hauling many types of gear. The interior provides seating for four people along with a cargo area that quickly adapts to large items with its flip-up rear seats that fold flat, fold up and to the side, or can be removed altogether (64-plus seating arrangements). Cargo space measures an impressive 74.6 cu-ft. with the rear seats removed. The Element has a water-resistant, urethane-coated utility floor that quickly wipes down and seat fabric that resists moisture.

Element models for 2011 include the rugged and simple Element LX and the more refined Element EX. All Element models are powered by a 2.4-liter i-VTEC® 4-cylinder engine with a five-speed automatic transmission. Available Real Time 4WD™ enhances all-weather traction. EPA city/highway/combined fuel-economy ratings1 are 20/25/22 miles per gallon for two-wheel-drive models and 19/24/21 miles per gallon for Real Time 4WD models.

The Element LX comes standard with a 4-speaker AM/FM audio system with a CD player, air conditioning, cruise control, power windows and remote entry. The Element EX adds a 270-watt high-output audio system, XM® Radio, CD player-based MP3/WMA™2 capability, an auxiliary audio input for MP3 players or other audio devices, steering wheel-mounted audio controls, and seven speakers including a 6.5-inch subwoofer.

All models include numerous storage bins and beverage holders for items such as mobile phones, audio players and drinks. Storage areas include: a large, three-bin tray above the glove box; a modular three-compartment overhead storage bin (EX); seat back storage (EX); six hooks for strapping down bikes or other bulky gear; and door storage pockets on all four doors. The Element EX exclusively has a convertible center console with a removable cooler/storage box.

The Element's fully independent suspension uses a front MacPherson strut and a rear compact double wishbone designs for responsive handling and a comfortable ride. A 101.4-inch wheelbase contributes to a compact exterior size. An ultra-tight turning diameter of 34.9-feet provides for excellent maneuverability in tight quarters. Element LX and EX models are equipped with 16-inch wheels (steel on LX, alloy on EX) with all-season P215/70R16 tires. Additional LX and EX standard features include power rack-and-pinion steering and front and rear stabilizer bars.

The all-aluminum Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC) engine produces 166-maximum horsepower at 5800 RPM and 161 lb-ft. of maximum torque at 4000 RPM. The Element's i-VTEC variable valve timing system enhances low RPM torque while also delivering high RPM horsepower. The standard five-speed automatic transmission features Grade Logic Control to minimize "gear hunting" on hilly roads. The available Real Time 4WD system enhance all-weather and light-duty off-road capabilities when driving in rain, snow, dirt roads and sandy conditions by sending power to the rear wheels when the front drive wheels experience a traction loss during acceleration.

Standard safety equipment includes: Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®); a pedestrian injury mitigation design in the front of the vehicle; dual-stage, multiple-threshold front airbags; side-curtain airbags with a rollover sensor; front side airbags with a passenger-side Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS); active front seat head restraints; an anti-lock braking system (ABS) with Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist; a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS); and active front-seat head restraints.

1 The Element is assembled in Ohio at the Honda of America Mfg., Inc., East Liberty Auto Plant using domestic and globally sourced parts.

2 Based on 2011 EPA mileage estimates. Use for comparison purposes only. Do not compare to models before 2008. Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.Windows Media® Audio is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation.

Source;
http://www.hondanews.com/channels/corporate-headlines/releases/2011-honda-element-provides-rugged-versatility-inside-and-out

Tested: 2010 Honda Element, Dog-Friendly Package

We've always thought of the Honda Element as one of the best vehicles for dog owners. Thanks to its tall cabin, easy-clean cargo floor, and versatile seating arrangement, it's long been a favorite among active folks with dogs.

For 2010, Honda finally took advantage of the Element's usefulness—or pawtential, we've said—by introducing a new Dog Friendly Element. Our own pooch, Owen, is usually a willing adventurer, if a little anxious as a passenger, so it seemed like a no-brainer for us to hop in a Dog-Friendly Element, test out its creature comforts, and head for a hiking trail.

The Dog Friendly package includes a host of additional accessories, which Owen and I put through the paces on the way to and from our hike. Special second-row seat covers allowed Owen to be belted in with his harness (you should never let a dog ride shotgun, or be loose in the vehicle) in a special dog pattern, as well as rubbery bone-pattern floor mats.

The centerpiece of the Dog Friendly package is a soft-sided car kennel, made by the safety supplier Takata, of seatbelt-grade vinyl webbing. Owen fit into it perfectly, the floor is soft, and it includes a ventilation fan and water dish. All that said, it was a little too claustrophobic for him, especially when we zipped up the screen; but plenty of dogs dig that.

The package also includes an extendable (five foot or so) ramp that stows under the kennel floor in a separate compartment. It would surely be handy for the smaller or arthritic pups, but my hound just didn't get the need for this either.

As we've reported about other Honda Element models in the past, including the 2010 Element, this utility vehicle is hard to beat for people who often have one or two people plus gear to carry.

The Element's suicide-type door setup (back doors are hinged at the rear) allows a very wide opening for loading, and the back seats fold down easily, with the tall, boxy body enabling more useful cargo capability than in most other utility vehicles.

Only when you try to fit adult passengers in back do you run into the tradeoffs: flat, short cushions back there that aren't very comfortable for longer trips, as well as a door arrangement that requires back doors to be closed before the front ones.

The Element's 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine doesn't have awesome thrust, but it's quick enough, and the five-speed automatic shifts smoothly most of the time (except when rolling back onto the throttle out of a tight turn, when it would often hesitate between gears for a moment). The most surprising thing about the Element, for those who've never driven one, is that it doesn't at all feel tipsy, and even with some crosswinds on the highway it still tracks straight. At lower speeds especially, the Element feels confident and nimble—credit underpinnings that are shared with Honda's small cars.

And it's frugal: Over a week, I covered about 250 miles in all, with and without Owen, and averaged about 25 mpg—beating the 4WD test vehicle's 19 mpg city, 24 highway EPA rating.

The Dog Friendly package costs just $995, which brought the price of our top-of-the-line 2010 Honda Element EX (with navigation) up to $27,365. I'm pretty convinced that's a good value, but Owen is still hinting that it could buy the mother lode of kibs.

Source;
http://www.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1048529_tested-2010-honda-element-dog-friendly-package

Honda Greenlights a 2nd Generation Element

In spite of being functionally outstanding, Honda's odd looking Element crossover has never lived up to sales expectations. The funky box never approached the initial sales target of 75,000 units a year, and this year it's on track for barely more than 15,000 sales. Despite its relative commercial failure, Honda has reportedly given the green light to a second generation model. Despite a couple of modest freshenings, the Element is already seven years into its life cycle – considerably longer than typical for a Japanese branded model.

Given the slow sales, why would Honda bother with a new iteration? Honda's executive vice-president, John Mendel, has informed Automotive News that virtually all Element sales are incremental. The Element shares its platform with the much higher volume CR-V, but apparently almost no buyers cross-shop the two vehicles – Element buyers have no interest in the CR-V and vice-versa. If Honda does proceed with a new model, perhaps unique features like the recently introduced dog friendly package will be the key to increased differentiation and success.

Source;
http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/14/report-honda-finally-approves-a-second-act-for-the-element/

Autoblog: LA Auto Show 2009, 2010 Dog Friendly Honda Element

Honda certainly can't be accused of running a dog and pony show here at the LA Auto Show, because there were no ponies. They did, however, have the adorable Luna and Toby on hand to demonstrate their clever Dog Friendly system on this Honda Element. It's essentially a collapsible ramp and pup tent (couldn't resist) with tethers that keeps dogs secure in back while protecting the interior of your vehicle from stains and pet hair.

We've shown you this Dog Friendly setup before, but couldn't resist snapping a few pics of the system in action, especially now that it's available. The Dog Friendly package is available on any 2010 Honda Element model for an extra $995. besides the nylon kennel and ramp, the system includes a cushioned bed, a spill-proof water dish, a small 12-volt ventilation fan, seat covers for the second row, and rubber floor mats with a bone motif. Seems like a reasonable price for keeping one's pets safe and secure, especially considering it's a custom fit package from the people who actually build the vehicle itself.

Source;
http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/03/2010-honda-element-dog-friendly-los-angeles-2009/

Honda Dog Friendly Element from the NY Auto Show

Here's something that a few people have asked me about. "Fall 2009" sale date.

Honda Dog Friendly Element reveal from the Ny Auto Show
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72% say that the Honda Element is getting Stale

Well the results are in, and it appears that the majority of the readers think that the Honda Element is getting stale. I for one would be excited to see a 2nd generation Honda Element, especially with the clones coming out (Nissan Cube, HHR, Scion....).

Dog-friendly Honda Element Concept Transforms SUV into Pet-hauling Champ

New dog transportation features turn Element into the alpha dog of pet travel

TORRANCE, Calif., U.S.A., April 8, 2009 - New dog-friendly transportation concepts designed for the Honda Element add canine-specific enhancements to one of the most dog-friendly vehicles available, American Honda Motor Co., Inc., announced at the New York International Auto Show.

Developed specifically for the Element, the Dog Friendly™ components demonstrate the potential for a dedicated pet restraint system designed to meet the needs of dog owners. A finalized version of the Dog Friendly Element is scheduled to debut this fall. Major components will likely include:

·a cushioned pet bed in the cargo area with an elevated platform;
·second row and cargo area pet restraint systems;
·an extendable cargo area load-in ramp;
·a 12V DC rear ventilation fan;
·second-row seat covers with a dog pattern design (matches the bed fabric);
·all-season rubber floor mats with a toy bone pattern;
·a spill-resistant water bowl; and
·Dog Friendly exterior emblems.

"In an interesting turn of events, cars are now chasing dogs," said John Mendel, executive vice president of American Honda. "Factory integration of a cushioned pet bed, restraint systems and other components is intended to transform the Element into the ultimate dog car."

The Dog Friendly equipment, engineered specifically for the Element, is designed to accommodate the transportation of dogs in the second-row passenger seats or in the cargo area. The restraint system concepts were designed and fabricated by Takata Corporation, one of the world's leading automotive safety systems suppliers, exclusively for display on the Dog Friendly Honda Element concept vehicle. The restraint concepts are intended to complement the potential of the vehicle's existing restraint systems by helping to protect the dog and helping to prevent injuries to other vehicle occupants due to an unrestrained dog impacting them in a collision. For convenience, a ramp is included to help dogs access the rear cargo area. The ramp stores underneath the bed platform and can be conveniently accessed when the rear tailgate is down.

"In-vehicle pet restraints should be part of every dog owner's safe travel practices," said Wayne Pacelle, President and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States. "The expanded availability of manufacturer-based restraints and features can help elevate pet comfort and convenience for owners. Good ventilation and access to water on longer trips should also be primary concerns."

The Element has long been recognized for its dog-friendly interior with an easy-to-clean urethane floor and expansive, flat cargo area (up to 74.6 cu-ft. with rear seats removed), wide-opening side cargo doors, low lift-in height, and accommodating dimensions for tall items. The consumer pet travel advice Web site, Dogcars.com, honored the 2007 Honda Element with its first-ever "Dog Car of the Year" award.

According to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association, Inc., 39 percent of all households own at least one dog with an estimated total U.S. dog population of 74.8 million. All pet purchases and related products and services comprise an estimated total market value of more than $43 billion (2008 est.).

Substantially restyled for the 2009 model year and available with new features, the Honda Element builds on its spacious and versatile SUV character with a more chiseled exterior appearance and a refreshed interior design. Three unique Element styles are available that range from the rugged and simple Element LX, to the more refined Element EX, to the sporty Element SC.

Powered by a 2.4-liter i-VTEC® 4-cylinder engine, the Element is available with either a 5-speed manual transmission (standard) or an available 5-speed automatic transmission. Available Real Time 4WD™ can enhance all-weather traction. The interior provides seating for up to four people along with a cargo area that adapts to large items with its flip-up rear seats that fold flat, fold up and to the side, or can be removed altogether (64-plus seating arrangements). The Element EX has a water resistant urethane-coated utility floor that wipes down for ease-of-cleaning and seat fabric that resists moisture.

For 2009, all Elements incorporate significant exterior styling changes that include new front grille and bumper designs, restyled front fenders (now metal, previously composite material), a new hood design, squared wheel arches, and new headlight and taillight configurations. Interior enhancements include revised dashboard color combinations with titanium-look side linings, new fabric patterns, and enhanced switchgear designs and instrument panel meter graphics. The Element EX exclusively adds a new convertible center console with a removable cooler/storage box.

Source;

http://world.honda.com/news/2009/4090408Dog-friendly-Honda-Element-Concept/

Honda unveils “dog-friendly” Element

Torrance, California - Honda has introduced several new dog-friendly transportation concepts designed for the Honda Element at the New York International Auto Show, adding to one of the most pet-friendly vehicles available.

Developed specifically for the Element, the Dog Friendly components demonstrate the potential for a dedicated pet restraint system designed to meet the needs of dog owners. A finalized version of the Dog Friendly Element is scheduled to debut this fall, and will likely include a cushioned pet bed in the cargo area, second-row and cargo area pet restraint systems, extendable load-in ramp, rear ventilation fan, second-row seat covers with dog pattern design, all-season rubber floor mats with toy bone pattern, spill-resistant water bowl, and Dog Friendly exterior emblems.

“In an interesting turn of events, cars are now chasing dogs,” said John Mendel, executive vice-president of American Honda. “Factory integration of a cushioned pet bed, restraint systems and other components are intended to transform the Element into the ultimate dog car.”
According to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association, 39 per cent of all U.S. households have at least one dog, with an estimated total dog population of 74.8 million across the country.
I am guessing that the Element add's will be more accomodating then this backseat.

Source;

http://www.canadiandriver.com/2009/04/08/honda-unveils-dog-friendly-element.htm

IIHS adds new rating for roof strength

Above are some pic's I picked up from Autoblog.com on the same test, the last one is of the poor Kia. Yikes!

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) created a roof strength rating system to help customers assess a vehicle's safeness. Roof strength is critical to keeping passengers alive and in the car in the event of a rollover accident, according to a press release issued by the IIHS. The stronger the roof, the less likely it will deform.

More than 10,000 people die in rollover-related accidents. While any vehicle can roll in a crash, SUVs are three times as likely to roll in an accident than a passenger car.
To earn a good rating, the vehicle must have a roof that is more than twice as strong as minimum federal safety standards requirement.

IIHS evaluated 12 2008-2009 SUV models, and found that the Volkswagen Tiguan, Subaru Forester, Honda Element, and Jeep Patriot earn good ratings--the institute's highest rating. Earning an "acceptable" rating were the Suzuki Grand Vitara, Chevrolet Equinox, Toyota RAV4, Nissan Rogue, and Mitsubishi Outlander. However, the Honda CR-V and Ford Escape--two of the most popular crossover SUV--roofs rated "marginal," and the Kia Sportage earned a "poor" rating.

Source;

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13746_7-10203701-48.html