Will Honda Make the Element Again

Every at present then we expect back on the past and come to realize nosotros've fabricated a regrettable mistake. Many who failed to invest in Bitcoin early may exist holding their heads as it nears its highest price ever. Others assumed rolls upon rolls of toilet paper would come in handy during the pandemic. And then there'southward Honda, the Japanese automaker that's surely looking back on the Element wondering why it discontinued such a blissful SUV just every bit the market for take chances vehicles was set to explode.

Earlier indigestible, meaty SUVs such as the Kia Soul and Scion xB entered the marketplace, there was the Element. A concept get-go designed in 1998 and later unveiled as the Model X (sorry, Elon), it represented an effort on Honda'south part to reach young, agile drivers. Its squarish styling was inspired by a lifeguard station, its roofline curved to evoke the shape of a surfboard and the lack of aerodynamics stood in contrast to SUVs of the era, tempting youth that dared to be different.

Beyond the bi-parting front end and rear doors, Honda's guiding principles of a spirited, adventurous vibe extended to the Chemical element's almost undervalued traits. In that location was the plastic flooring paired with stain-resistant seats, allowing you to wipe down every inch of its interior after a day of fun. The rear seats, meanwhile, could be removed in minutes to offer 75-cubic-feet of storage space for bikes, boards and gear. And passengers could even lay the front and rear seats flat, creating a suitable platform for a bed.

Honda Model Ten Concept

Honda

2003 Honda Chemical element

Honda

Earlier models of the Element featured quirks that appear unthinkable by today's conservative automotive standards. The start model twelvemonth featured a manual, removable sunroof over the cargo area where slender gear could poke out of the top. And then there was the ECamper, an aftermarket upgrade that replaced the original roof with a sleeping platform, non unlike a classic Volkswagen Westfalia. In more ways than ane, the Element delivered a suite of functionality that fabricated it original so and iconic today. But all the quirkiness and peculiarity wasn't meant to be.

You see, the Element was the right SUV at the incorrect time. It rolled off the mill floor in 2002, when sedans still reigned supreme, simply to be discontinued by 2011. Honda refreshed the design every so often, calculation and subtracting trim levels that went and then far every bit to embrace all-wheel bulldoze. But over its lifespan, Honda sold a mere 325,000 Elements. By comparing, the Toyota RAV4 sold more units over three years during the same timeframe.

To make matters worse, the Element wasn't falling into the hands of those immature, active whippersnappers similar Honda intended. Instead, its master audition consisted of adults that were buying the Element for their dogs, grocery trips and civilized weekend getaways. Information technology didn't help that the compact SUV was also competing with the bigger CR-V, one of many popular SUVs of the era that had better fuel economy and room for one more passenger.

And yet, for all the lackluster results of its production run, the Chemical element has become something of a cult classic in recent years. Dog owners still praise its easy-to-make clean interior, which won the auto an laurels for its canine friendliness dorsum in the solar day (Honda even rolled out an Element with a dog-friendly parcel to gloat the achievement). Vanlifers outfit their interiors with beds and shelving to create a suitable home on wheels. Meanwhile others have added elevator kits for only a few hundred dollars that, when paired with a gear up of grippy tires, assist the Element explore merely about anywhere.

Can your brand new SUV practice this?

Honda

Pricing trends also propose it'southward growing in popularity: a 2003 Element, the original model, volition set you dorsum nearly $vii,000 today on average. And the machine itself is becoming harder to find. Every bit it turns out, drivers love the easy handling, compact size, spacious interior and basic features that position the Chemical element as a capable take chances vehicle.

Not long ago, rumors began circulating throughout the automotive world that suggested the prematurely canceled vehicle would return. A suspicious article tempted readers with the thought of a new Element that looked enticingly similar to the outgoing model, indicating that information technology would get on auction in the second half of 2020. As I'thou certain you know by at present, that never happened.

But that's not to say it can't. If Honda however has any soul left in its corporate bones, the automaker will rectify its mistake and bring back the Chemical element. As the market for big, burly SUVs continues to slap-up, brands are going all-in with off-road packages, extra seats and luxury features galore. But past and large, most of us don't really demand all that nonsense. All we want is a fun, capable and even peculiar SUV that's like shooting fish in a barrel to love.

All nosotros desire is the Honda Element.

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Source: https://www.insidehook.com/article/vehicles/honda-element-discounted-too-soon

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