Will Honda Ever Make the Element Again
Every now and and then nosotros look back on the past and come to realize we've made 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 newspaper would come up in handy during the pandemic. And then in that location'due south Honda, the Japanese automaker that's surely looking back on the Element wondering why it discontinued such a blissful SUV but as the market for take chances vehicles was set up to explode.
Earlier boxy, compact SUVs such as the Kia Soul and Scion xB entered the market place, there was the Element. A concept starting time designed in 1998 and subsequently unveiled as the Model Ten (pitiful, Elon), it represented an effort on Honda'south part to reach young, active 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 exist different.
Beyond the bi-departing forepart and rear doors, Honda's guiding principles of a spirited, adventurous vibe extended to the Element's near undervalued traits. There was the plastic floor paired with stain-resistant seats, allowing you to wipe downwards every inch of its interior after a day of fun. The rear seats, meanwhile, could exist removed in minutes to offering 75-cubic-feet of storage space for bikes, boards and gear. And passengers could fifty-fifty lay the front and rear seats flat, creating a suitable platform for a bed.
Honda Model X Concept
Honda
2003 Honda Element
Honda
Before models of the Element featured quirks that appear unthinkable past today'south conservative automotive standards. The first model year featured a manual, removable sunroof over the cargo expanse where slender gear could poke out of the top. And so there was the ECamper, an aftermarket upgrade that replaced the original roof with a sleeping platform, not dissimilar a classic Volkswagen Westfalia. In more ways than one, the Element delivered a suite of functionality that fabricated it original then and iconic today. But all the quirkiness and peculiarity wasn't meant to be.
You see, the Element was the correct SUV at the incorrect time. It rolled off the factory flooring in 2002, when sedans still reigned supreme, but to be discontinued by 2011. Honda refreshed the blueprint every and then often, adding and subtracting trim levels that went so far as to embrace all-bike drive. But over its lifespan, Honda sold a mere 325,000 Elements. By comparing, the Toyota RAV4 sold more units over iii years during the same timeframe.
To make matters worse, the Element wasn't falling into the hands of those young, active whippersnappers like Honda intended. Instead, its main audience consisted of adults that were buying the Element for their dogs, grocery trips and civilized weekend getaways. It didn't help that the compact SUV was also competing with the bigger CR-5, i of many popular SUVs of the era that had better fuel economy and room for one more passenger.
And notwithstanding, for all the lackluster results of its production run, the Element has become something of a cult classic in recent years. Domestic dog owners nevertheless praise its easy-to-clean interior, which won the car an laurels for its canine friendliness back in the day (Honda fifty-fifty 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 domicile on wheels. Meanwhile others have added elevator kits for only a few hundred dollars that, when paired with a set of grippy tires, help the Element explore just about anywhere.
Can your make new SUV do this?
Honda
Pricing trends also advise it'due south growing in popularity: a 2003 Element, the original model, will set yous back nearly $vii,000 today on average. And the machine itself is becoming harder to find. As it turns out, drivers love the easy handling, compact size, spacious interior and bones features that position the Element as a capable adventure 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 idea of a new Element that looked enticingly similar to the outgoing model, indicating that it would get on sale in the second half of 2020. Equally I'm sure you know by at present, that never happened.
But that'due south not to say it can't. If Honda still has whatsoever soul left in its corporate bones, the automaker will rectify its fault and bring back the Element. As the market for large, burly SUVs continues to swell, brands are going all-in with off-road packages, extra seats and luxury features galore. Just mostly, near of u.s.a. don't actually need all that nonsense. All we want is a fun, capable and even peculiar SUV that's easy to dearest.
All we want is the Honda Element.
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Source: https://www.insidehook.com/article/vehicles/honda-element-discounted-too-soon
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