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Friday, January 31, 2003

By Donald I. Hammonds, Post-Gazette Staff Writer

If you want to be different, the 2003 Honda Element could be your ride.

	The Bottom Line: 2003 Honda Element EX. Price: $21,310. Fuel economy: 21 city, 24 highway. Powertrain: 2.4-liter, 160-horsepower, 4-cylinder engine, 4-speed automatic.

The "crossover" style auto may look like a box on wheels, but don't let that put you off: It's so minimalist it's cool.

True, given its unusual styling and concept, the Element is not likely to be everybody's cup of tea. But Honda's to be commended for stepping outside of its safe, conservative box and giving us something with some personality for once.

The Element is aimed at the young folks -- Generation Y. But because this is such a versatile vehicle, I have a suspicion that Honda will find a far larger market for its new baby than it ever imagined.

As you open the doors, that gaping area you see in the interior is strong point No. 1.

There are no center pillars to block entrance to the Element, and it's so low to the ground that everybody should be able to enter and exit with ease. It's got infinite possibilities for carrying furniture, surfboards and the like.

You also can use this commodious space like a living room on wheels, camping or hanging out in it, particularly since the seats can fold into bedlike surfaces in a snap. You could live in this thing.

Another terrific feature is the durability of the interior. Just about everything inside of the Element is designed to be washable, with a waterproof seat fabric and a scratch-resistant, urethane-coated utility floor that can be hosed down.

The back seat can be flipped up with a section stored on each side of the car, or you can fold it down into a bed or take it out altogether.

The seats can slide back and forth 11 inches either way, and if you get the EX model, you'll get a driver's seat armrest and seat-back bungee loops on the driver's side front and rear seats.

	The interior of the Element is a mixture of retro, military style chic and space age techno-euro.

What does it look like inside? Call it a mixture of retro, military style chic and space age techno-euro.

Honda cleverly uses shapes, textures and colors -- it's a feast for the eyes. For instance, instead of just any old storage compartment overhead, you get one that has a cool, honeycomb base. There are brushed metal accents throughout. And the gauge that holds the fuel, temperature and shift quadrant readings looks like a compass.

Speaking of storage, there's tons of it. You get a low profile floor console tray between the front seats, a three bin tray above the glove box, overhead storage bin, seat back storage, six hooks for strapping down bikes and door storage compartments.

Interior room is phenomenal, given the boxy design. You can stretch out your legs front and back and still have tons of room to spare. This baby would be perfect for a long road trip.

As for driving, I took delivery of my Element in some of the worst snowy, cold weather and, thanks to all-wheel drive, felt sure-footed and secure every time. Up hills, on slopes, slick spots, whatever -- it never lost its composure.

Power for the Element comes from a 160-horsepower, i-VTEC, 4-cylinder engine. It may not be a race car, but it really gets up and goes. There's power to spare for passing, highway driving and the like. The only problem I had with the engine was that I found it to be pretty noisy on acceleration.

One annoyance was the lack of power door locks. That meant fumbling for the key and driver door lock with a lot of things in my hand. I'd get the optional power locks.

Also, you may find that the Element will feel a bit different at first because it's boxy. There aren't any curves or bulges, and you might fret a bit about that back end when you park. But really, it's no sweat, and after a few minutes or so of driving, you'll be fine.

Another drawback was its ability to seat only four. I thought the Element would be just the ticket for my brood, but with three kids, it wouldn't work for me.

That's going to be a big disappointment for comparison shoppers and a competitive disadvantage when Toyota brings out its Scion xB, another square box on wheels aimed at the young and young at heart. The Scion seats five -- and with tons of room left over. Yet it's about the same size as the Element.

If I were Honda, I'd work up a five-seat version of the Element pronto -- or watch sales go down the street to the Scion folks.

Other than that, you might find you're right in your element with Honda's new baby.

Donald I. Hammonds can be reached at dhammonds@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1538.