Quick Spin
What Is It?
The Honda Element, a dream car for fans of cubism, with Honda’s new Dog Friendly accessory package. The Dog Friendly setup comes with a tent-like kennel with a pet bed that fits in the cargo compartment, a ramp that allows the dog to climb easily into the back, a water bowl, a small electric fan to cool your friend in the cargo area, dog-bone-themed rubber mats, dog-patterned rear-seat covers, and a couple of unique exterior badges. Otherwise, our tester was a regular EX-grade Honda Element with all-wheel drive and an automatic transmission.
How Does It Drive?
Aside from the dog accessory package, this is pretty much the same Element that Honda has been selling since 2003 and that we last tested in 2006, when it finished fourth in a four-way comparison test of boxy mini-haulers. Since then, the Element got a 10-hp bump and a slight aesthetic freshening in 2007. The 166-hp, 2.4-liter four-cylinder remains a bit noisy and, mated to our tester’s five-speed automatic gearbox, is unwilling to accelerate the Element with much gusto—dare we say it’s a bit of a dog? The center of gravity is noticeably high, and the huge flat sides make it especially sensitive to crosswinds. Wind noise around the upright windshield and a healthy dose of tire and road howl probably won’t turn off those who consider the Element a van. But we’ve always thought of the Element as a small SUV with funky bodywork, and in that light, it’s beginning to feel a bit old and unrefined.
How Does It Stack Up?
The canine-inspired Element has no natural competition, as it’s the only vehicle setup on the market designed especially to cater to man’s best friend. Our canine tester—an ex-stray beagle mix named Grady—however, didn’t seem to notice the Element’s dog-themed appearance despite our attempts to point it out to him; he seemed far more interested in a brace of ducks that were strutting nearby. When we did get his attention and asked him what he thought of the dog-bone rubber mats and the dog pattern adorning the rear seats, he looked at us with a blank stare followed by some minor whimpering. We set up the two-piece aluminum ramp that stows neatly under the kennel in the cargo compartment and tried to coax Grady to walk up the ramp. But having never used a ramp and being wholly unfamiliar with the intricacies and physics behind the inclined plane, Grady flatly refused to use it. We resorted to picking up his handsome 42-pound body and placing him inside. Once ensconced in the kennel, Grady did seem to appreciate the softness of the bed that fits neatly into the kennel, although he did jump out before we could zip him in. Grady’s nervous demeanor made it clear to us that his first choice for traveling by car remains the front-passenger footwell.
What’s the Cost?
Our test Element EX AWD wore a $24,595 base price and is currently on sale at Honda dealerships. The Dog Friendly package can be tacked onto any EX model at a cost of $995, or roughly 10 times what Grady cost in 2003. If Grady had been more willing to use the Element’s many dog-themed features, we’d say it would be worth it. Grady, however, didn’t seem interested or satisfied enough to justify the extra cost, meaning that just about any hatchback, wagon, or crossover would satisfy his needs. Then again, given Grady’s primary interests of smelling other dogs’ waste, eating, and going on walks—in that order—he might not be the most reliable or credible judge of car accessories. Start training your pup to use the Element as a young ’un, though, and he or she may be more apt to embrace the package. Maybe.
