Honda Element keeps things simple

2009 Honda Element

For many, the Honda Element offers a flexibility not found in many other crossover vehicles. It can seat four or you can remove the seats entirely to just haul stuff.

And, with the rubber floors, you can (carefully) hose it out when it gets dirty.

Men, especially, love that kind of stuff.

First available in 2003, the Element has kept to its roots and remains a quirky cube on wheels, especially popular among young people with a penchant for the outdoors.

For 2009, the Element receives a Pilot-like grille, some of the black plastic exterior accents are gone and the rear skylight has been discontinued. There’s also a voice-activated navigation system with a back-up camera on EX and SC models that can be added on as an option. All Elements now have USB port connectivity.

Elements have four doors, two of which are mini “suicide” doors for rear entry. The door situation can be good and bad.

It was good for getting the stroller into the back seat area when the trunk was full of groceries; bad for getting the baby into her backseat carseat.

I basically had to climb back there myself, every time she rode in the car, since the rear doors severely hindered full access to the back seat,

You also have to remember to shut the doors in the right order – back door first, then front door – or they won’t close at all.

With the rear seats removed, the Element can accommodate an impressive 75 cubic feet of gear.

All Elements are equipped with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine rated at 166 horsepower and 161 pound-feet of torque.

A five-speed manual transmission is standard, but there’s a five-speed automatic option.

Front-wheel drive is standard, but all-wheel drive is available on the LX and EX models.

The Element drives like a truck. It’s not quiet or smooth.

The theme of the Element seems to be, utilitarian, and the ride is just that: it gets the job done, with little frills. The Element has a solid, reliable-feeling ride.

Gas mileage isn’t stellar. It ranges from 20 mpg city/25 mpg highway and 22 mpg combined for automatic-equipped two-wheel-drive models. Other crossover vehicles like the Toyota RAV4 and the Scion xD offer get higher numbers.

I got about 20 mpg the week I drove my test vehicle, a two-wheel drive EX with navigation system.

The 2009 Honda Element is available in three trim levels: LX, EX and SC.

The Element LX and EX are available in both front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive configurations, while the sport-tuned SC is front-wheel-drive only.

Things that come standard in the LX include the a urethane utility floor, moisture-resistant seats, folding/removable rear seats, a height-adjustable driver seat, air-conditioning and full power accessories.

The EX model I test drove also had things like an overhead console, a center console with a removable cooler/storage box and bigger wheels.

The most-expensive SC trim features a sport suspension, 18-inch wheels, a custom grille, monochromatic body-color bumpers and roof sections, passenger-area carpeting and upgraded center console and interior finishes.

The base price of my test vehicle, EX with navigation, was $24.085.