2003 Honda Element Review Summary

What reviewers liked most about the 2003 Honda Element:

  • The innovation comes in the form of an auxiliary input jack that allows things like an Apple iPod or other MP3 player to seamlessly pump its tunes through the Element’s seven speakers.- The Car Connection
  • Wide-swinging suicide-style doors on either side of the vehicle and a clamshell rear hatch make for impressively unobstructed access to the inside of the box.- AutoWeek
  • A totally flat, washable floor and cleverly stowable rear seats?they fold up flat against the walls for 70.1 cubic feet of space, 74.6 cubic feet when taken completely out -- give the Element the best and most convenient cargo hold of any small vehicle we can think of.- AutoWeek
  • We like the Element's optional full-time four-wheel drive, too, as it gives the Element a solid, stable on-road feel.- AutoWeek
  • The steering is excellent, the four-wheel ABS disc brakes effective, the ride motions poised, and the cornering limits relatively high.- The Car Connection
  • Versatility is the key word in the design of the Honda Element's interior. Honda spent a lot of time designing features with flexible utility first and foremost in mind.- New Car Test Drive

What reviewers liked least about the 2003 Honda Element:

  • Its 2.4-liter dual-cam four turns out enough power to keep up with traffic, but with just 160 hp at 5500 rpm and 161 lb-ft at 4500 rpm of peak output, it's hardly a thrilling motor, even in full VTEC mode.- AutoWeek
  • And the engine revs at a high 3500 rpm at 70 mph, which makes you want to reach for a sixth gear.- Carpoint.com

2003 Honda Element Comparisons:

  • On the road, this is probably the best-handling SUV-like vehicle on the market with a sticker price below $35,000 -- better even than Honda?s own Pilot.- The Car Connection
  • The 166.5-inch-long Element sits on a wheelbase that, at 101.4 inches in length, is 1.7-inches shorter than the CR-V?s.- AutoWeek
  • But the Element is more functional than the CR-V, combining features of a sport-ute and pickup truck while delivering a car's performance and fuel economy.- Carpoint.com

Best one-liners about the 2003 Honda Element:

  • Honda can only hope it will strike a sweet spot with American Gen Yers because no automaker knows for sure what that age group really wants.- Carpoint.com
  • The Honda Element is one of those vehicles that elicits that great question: What's that?- New Car Test Drive
  • Pretty? Uh, no. Interesting? Hmmm, yeah okay, it's interesting.- The Car Connection

2003 Honda Element Introduction

The Honda Element is one of those vehicles that elicits that great question: What's that? Some people hate the thought of driving a car that's the center of attention, but others find that's part of the thrill of owning a car that's different from other vehicles on the road.

Honda is known for conservative styling, which is not a bad thing for the majority of people who are only looking for reliable and functional transportation. However, pizzazz and style are important ingredients if you're one of those looking for something different.

Honda has really gone out on a limb with the Element. It is a very different looking vehicle aimed at young male buyers who need a truck to haul their stuff but want the security of an enclosed cargo area and the performance of a car.

2003 Honda Element Walkaround

The new Honda Element is one funky looking car. Or is it a van?

When it was first shown as a concept car in 2001 nobody dreamed Honda would be brave enough to bring it into production so quickly and certainly no one thought it would be sold in the U.S. Honda stuck with its radical concept, however, even down to the center-opening doors, an increasingly popular feature on full-size extended-cab pickup trucks.

What the suicide doors offer is great access to the rear of the vehicle from the sides with no B-pillars to get in the way. For safety reasons, the rear side doors cannot be opened unless the front door has already been opened first. Likewise they have to be closed before the front side doors can be closed. Moreover, front-seat occupants have to unbuckle their seatbelts before the rear doors can be opened as the front seatbelts are attached to the front edge of the closed rear doors.

From the front, the vehicle has a cheeky chunky look accentuated by rectangular headlights and the unusual design of the bumper. The side of the vehicle has a distinct shape unlike any other vehicle on American roads. The hood line is fairly low and leads to a vertical windshield that curves up to a roofline that sweeps back to an almost vertical rear tailgate.

The rear tailgate is split horizontally so that the lower half can be used as a seating surface for tailgate parties. From the rear the corners are nicely curved so that the Element does not look as chunky from behind. Large 16-inch wheels help ensure the Element doesn't look like a minivan. Plastic cladding runs along the lower half of the body to add character and protection from flying gravel.

2003 Honda Element Interior Features

Versatility is the key word in the design of the Honda Element's interior. Honda spent a lot of time designing features with flexible utility first and foremost in mind.

That does not mean it scrimped on comfort or safety. On the contrary, the Element has many of the safety features one would expect in a modern car. Side air curtains are an option. Honda designed the Element to offer excellent crash protection.

The two rear seats are raised off the floor a couple of inches higher than the front seats so that rear seat passengers can actually look over the front seats for better visibility.

The center opening doors allow easy loading of bulky objects and once inside there is plenty of room for them. The rear seats fold down easily and for greater space they can be hooked up to the side leaving an uninterrupted flat floor space. The front passenger seat back can also be folded forward to make room for a 10-foot surfboard. (That would leave room for the driver and one passenger behind the driver.) The driver's seat as well as all the other seats can be folded back making for a large if uncomfortable double bed. When parked, the Element can be set up to serve as a giant locker for surfboards and other large items.

The floor is covered in a urethane-coated material that resists water, dirt and scratches. It is easily cleaned. The seats (on all but the DX) are coated in a waterproof material designed for easy cleaning.

Storage areas abound, including large storage pockets on the backs of the front seats. Cupholders can be found on the backs of folded seats.

The dashboard reflects the simple design elements of the Element. The gauges are contained in three deep pods. The climate and radio controls are well placed. An innovative option is an auxiliary jack for plugging in an MP3 player so the stored music can be played back directly through the Element's sound system. The system included with the EX is pretty decent and includes a large sub woofer beneath the dashboard.

2003 Honda Element Driving Impressions

The Honda Element is basically a rebodied CR-V, so it is not surprising to find that it drives like one. Like the CR-V, the Element is built on the same platform as the Honda Civic. Because it is based on a car, the Honda Element rides much better and handles more predictably than sport-utilities that are based on trucks.

The Element is wider than the CR-V and it has bigger 16-inch wheels, which helps it handle the curves better than one expects of such a tall vehicle.

The Element's ground clearance and ride height are sufficient to drive off the highway, but this is not an off-road vehicle by any stretch of the imagination nor is it supposed to be.

The new 2.4-liter four-cylinder is as sweet as any Honda engine, which means it revs freely and has good low-end torque. This is a front-wheel-drive car so there is a touch of torque steer, that tugging of the steering wheel under hard acceleration, but nothing of real concern. As long as you shift gears at a decent rpm the engine provides plenty of power with a manual transmission, which is delightful to use as the gearshift lever is mounted up in the dashboard in the same place one would find in a modern rally car. We found the available automatic transmission to be less fun as it almost spoils the funky feel of the Element.

2003 Honda Element Final Word

The Honda Element is an attractive proposition for someone who wants a genuine utility vehicle that behaves like a car. There's no denying the utility of its versatile interior. And, in terms of driving dynamics, cars behave much better than trucks. Although archaic EPA rules say the Element is a truck, it's really a modern station wagon masquerading as a hip looking van. Looks are part of the attraction here. You'll either like the Element or hate it. We found it appeals to people of all ages.