Honda Element SC – First Drive: Honda thought way outside the box when it conceived the Element back in 2002. Based on the Honda CR-V platform but styled to serve as a “dorm room on wheels,” the new-for-2003 Element was aimed right at the hearts and minds of young men but found success with a wide range of buyers – young and old, male and female, jocks and nerds. Apparently, with a mid-cycle refresh for the jaunty little SUV, Honda has gone back to the drawing board to hone in on its target demographic, and the result is the new Element SC, which focuses more on style and handling and less on functional utility.
That's not to say that the 2007 Honda Element SC isn't functional or utilitarian. It's got the same plastic hose-out cargo area with rear jump seats that collapse and store on the inside walls of the vehicle, the same roomy interior for four people, the same funky clamshell side doors, and the same nooks and crannies for carrying all manner of daily detritus. The main difference is that the Element SC is offered only with front-wheel drive because Honda doesn't think the tech-savvy, 27-year-old male urban dwellers that possess a Bachelor's Degree and enjoy design, music, and socializing want four driven wheels. Those guys are the target buyers for the Element SC – the actual buyers range from 25 to 35 years of age, are men and women in professional careers or DINK relationships, and like to shop at Target, Urban Outfitters, and Ikea.
Yep, there are people who actually get paid for this kind of “in the box” thinking. And with the new 2007 Honda Element SC, it might just pay off.
In addition to the new SC model, Honda offers the Element in LX and EX trim levels that are, by reason of the marketing hype, more about functional utility and less about style and handling. However, as part of the 2007 Honda Element's mid-cycle freshening, all models get modifications that make the little SUV more appealing than ever.
To our way of thinking, the most important update for the 2007 Honda Element is improved side-impact protection in the form of standard side-curtain airbags and what the company says is a re-engineered side structure. This is important because, though the Element is regarded to be a generally safe vehicle, the NHTSA listed a safety concern regarding the original's side-impact protection for rear seat occupants. The concern related to how the crash dummy's head impacted the Element's rear pillar during side-impact testing. Honda says that the structural modifications and inclusion of standard side-curtain airbags will eliminate that NHTSA concern.
The second most important change to the 2007 Honda Element is a bump in both power and efficiency. The Element's 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine makes 10 more horsepower and gets improved mid-range torque, and a new five-speed automatic transmission not only makes better use of the added power but also improves fuel economy. Honda has also added a standard stability control system to the updated Element.
Cosmetic modifications include a new grille on the outside, while cabins are revised with a fresh gauge cluster, a different steering wheel, new seats with integrated seatbelts, and upgraded trim and materials. The LX models continue with industrial gray exterior body panels, while EX versions are painted in a nicer looking monochrome fashion. The 2007 Honda Element LX and EX are on sale now, and prices range from $19,495 for the LX 2WD with a manual transmission to $23,705 for the EX 4WD with an automatic (including the $595 destination charge).
