Honda's Element appeals to young and old, but has room for improvement

The Honda Element began life as the Model X, a concept vehicle that made the auto-show rounds in 2001 to a generally warm reception.

So warm, in fact, that Honda rushed it into production for the 2003 model year, renaming it the Element. It went on sale in December 2002, less than two years after the Model X debuted.

With the Element, Honda management just knew it had a vehicle that would appeal to the youth market.

When Honda showed the production-ready Element at the New York Auto Show in April 2002, executives called it a "mobile dorm room."

The Element had rough, dark-gray body panels around the wheel wells, because they looked rugged and industrial, like the original Pontiac Aztek and Chevrolet Avalanche did.

And though the Element did find a market with some young, active-lifestylers, it sold much better than Honda thought it would to older customers, who liked that it was comparatively cheap and hauled a lot of stuff.

Now, it's 2006, and aside from those pleasingly painted fenders, not a lot has changed. We spent a week in a front-wheel-drive Element EX-P, with a manual five-speed transmission.

The EX, whether "P" or not, is nicely appointed, with air conditioning, a good stereo with XM satellite radio, power windows and locks, cruise control and handsome alloy wheels.

Excluding the $595 shipping charge, the test Element EX-P was $20,125. Get the automatic transmission, and that rises to $21,520. Add all-wheel drive, and the price is $22,920.

Though the rear seat is not particularly comfy and it's less convenient to access than a conventional four-door would be, the Element can hold four adults with no problem, and there's a lot of room behind that rear seat.

The boxy design makes the interior feel much bigger than it is. Front seats are reasonably comfortable, but there's not much lateral support. On tight turns, the Element seats allow you to kind of rock back and forth, buslike, and its stiff suspension doesn't much like bumps.

Although the five-speed manual transmission shifts smoothly, and the shifter is mounted up under the radio where it's out of the way, I was wishing for the automatic transmission because the manual transmission makes the Element feel even more truckish than it is.

With 156 horsepower, acceleration from the 2.4-liter four-cylinder was certainly adequate, but I was also wishing for a small V-6.

One of the changes for 2007 is another 10 horsepower from this four-cylinder, and that certainly won't hurt.

I like the Element, but — as I said in my original review in September 2002 — I like the Honda CR-V better.

The CR-V is quieter, rides better and has carpet on the floors.