2003 Honda Element EX: A Quirky, Versatile Ride With a Dorm-Room Vibe

Honda's 2003 Element EX blends rugged SUV looks with compact-car agility, offering a surprisingly fun drive and a cabin that can double as a mobile hangout.

Based on the CR-V but shorter, taller, and with a lower floor, the Element features a reinforced chassis with no visible B-pillars, which Honda says boosts rigidity and enables a five-star side-impact rating. 4-liter four-cylinder making 160 horsepower, paired with a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic.

78 g on the skidpad, matching a BMW 330i. The ride is firm but composed, with quick steering and minimal body roll, making back roads enjoyable. The tall, boxy shape gives a video-game-like view from the driver's seat, with a low seating position and large windshield.

The cabin offers flexible seating and cargo options: rear seats fold flat against the walls, the floor is flat and washable, and front seats are waterproof. Two six-footers can sleep inside with the seats folded. The pillarless doors open wide, 78 degrees up front and 90 degrees in back, but the front seatbelts are anchored in the rear doors, which must be latched first, making quick passenger pickups tricky.

The base DX starts at $16,560 and skips air conditioning, anti-lock brakes, and a radio. The tested EX, at $19,110, adds those features plus alloy wheels and a 270-watt stereo with subwoofer and MP3 jack. Automatic transmission adds $800, and four-wheel drive adds $1,400.

Some staffers found the styling cartoonish and attention-grabbing in a bemusing way, and noted cheap-feeling interior materials like plastic flooring. But the utility, price, and driving dynamics won praise. One editor called it a possible live-in vehicle, while another liked the space for a drum set and mountain bike.

Honda targeted young, active buyers, and the Element's mix of function and fun made it a compelling option, even if its looks weren't for everyone.

Fuel economy is rated at 21 mpg city and 23 mpg highway, and observed testing showed 22 mpg. The Element's unique character and practicality left testers impressed, despite its unconventional appearance.