2003 Honda Element Reviews, Pricing & Specs

The style of this cool, roomy suv is unlike any other. Unfortunately, the metal underneath is so very thin, many northern owners that drive their Elements during the wintertime on salted roads end up losing their Elements prematurely before their time due to extreme unrepairable rust issues and complete deterioration to the unibody, which ends up being a great loss for the owner, something Honda should not have skimped on at the factory! The car itself is a great model idea, and could be perfected if brought back with a thicker stronger longer lasting undercarriage, like other models, so that it too could withstand the winter Elements appropriately. My best assessment from personal experience with these Elements is, as long as their not subjected to salt in any way, Id surmise otherwise youd get many years out of it and love it.Sep 30, 2021

Ive always admired this car. Similar to the CRV but with more utility I know people who sometimes have to sleep in their car, so suggested this as the seats recline into beds. The lower maint floor, 4wd, functional dent resistant corners the way the doors open to create a large opening, and cool accessories like tent additions. I hope the new Element keeps the same spirit. - like a small RV in a way. Aug 06, 2020

I've had many cars and been happy with most, but this car is the car of my life. For background: I purchased a 2003 EX AWD Element in 2014, so it was over a decade old, it had some wear and tear and was definitely not a new vehicle. I paid cash for it and planned to use and abuse it on trips to the greenhouse, home improvement store, etc. I wanted something with all wheel drive for the winters and something that had a ton of storage and that I wouldn't feel terrible if I scratched or dinged up. I found this Element about 4 hours away and scooted off to get it. After the first week at home, I realized how very much in love I am with this car. It's my main ride now. At 10 years old, it runs and drives like a brand new vehicle and, although it has 160K on it, you'd never be able to tell that this Element was more than a year old. It's a blast to drive, it handles so perfectly and the interior space is really unmatched. Although the gas mileage is lame, I drive this everywhere. My little boy is obsessed with the moon roof that's directly over this seat and I've fit a TON of stuff in this baby, with the removable and fold-away seats. I love the rubber mats - I don't feel terrible throwing in bags of pea gravel into the back. I love the rear doors - being able to just open the window to throw in groceries, or having a tail gate to sit on to watch fireworks. I love opening all of the doors and the tailgate and laying in it when we're out in the country. It's like having a gazebo with a radio built in, especially since the front and rear sets form a queen size bed when down. Overall, I could not be happier with my Element. In fact, my partner and I will probably buy a second (2011) Element next year, just to have the last version they made (and hopefully find one with super low miles. We are sold. These cars are fantastic.Aug 06, 2014

I was reluctant to buy this in 2003 but Kim really wanted it. Now, I'm such a fan of the toaster we are seeking a 2nd one. This thing has 156K miles on it and has been incredibly reliable. Only Honda's ready-to-warp rotors are a pain. We switched to drilled and slotted ones and are happy. The driver's seat cushion wears out too quickly and that's a problem on many older E's. We have had tremendous luck with this little SUV under all driving conditions. It always makes it up the steep driveway in winter under conditions that leave the Civic at the bottom until I run the snowblower. We have enough room in the back to sleep side-by-side on a full size air mattress. Great vehicle. Honda should never have ended it's life. Jul 01, 2014

I am one of the original owners of an Element (2003)-mine just turned 185,000 and is going strong. This car has been my workhorse, traveling the country with my dogs. I am looking for another when I'm ready to replace Ellie. Just to update, at 180,000 miles, had a problem with shifting. Was just a spring that broke in the clutch, but decided to go ahead and replace the entire clutch, and with some new sparkplugs, she drives like a new car! Another 180,000 miles? Honda, bring back the Element, please!Feb 01, 2014

I have had the vehicle since new. As of 3/2013 it has 225k miles and going strong. It did suffer from issues common to the Element such as cracked factory windshield, driver door component issues(handle, lock, window parts). Other than that it has put up with wear and tear better than I expected. The cost of ownership has been very reasonable. I would recommend the Honda Element to anyone that has to tote around people, pets and family cargo.Mar 22, 2013

Performance (-) No Pickup on acceleration (+) Very good handling and braking (+) 4 wheel drive was especially good in the freak winters Build Quality (+) Good Quality Appearance (-) Looks interior and exterior are purely utilitarian Cost of Ownership (+) Maintenence is easy no problems with the car (-) gas cost for a 4WD is more costly (+) takes regular gas Fun Factor This car has actually been fun to drive, extremely utilitarian, and helped out a lot during moving and helping people move. Jan 02, 2012

My car runs awesome, it is cute and it is super roomy. The back seats can be folded up and latched onto the side or they can be completely removed, that is Awesome! And...It has a tailgate in the back! Negatives: This year model does not have an armrest on the passenger side, it only has 4 seats (which is usually more than enough), the floors are rubber and must be scrubbed to be cleaned and I now have high mileage!!! Ready for a new one! Other than that, we love it and it is super fun to drive. I would definitely recommend this vehicle to anyone. Mar 13, 2009

I love this car and it was so hard to find. I rated it ugly because it's not meant to be a pretty car but that's what I love about it. It's reliable and the one time there was something wrong the little lights told me exactly what the trouble was. It's fast too and I actually got a speeding ticket within the first month I got it. It's also so roomy and perfect for camping or long trips. We always have a cooler packed with all our goodies for road trips and the adjusting seats mean you can load anything and everything. The pictures and advertisements about this vehicle don't like and don't do it justice. It's like a cute lil pick-up with more room and a cover. It's also large enogh to be an SUV but compact enough to fit in any parking space. Everyone is always surprised at how roomy it is. Sep 29, 2008

Although a bit pricy off the lot, these vehicles were built for cruising the road! It handles like a dream! It seems velcro'ed to the road in the corners. The amount of leg room in this thing rivals the outdoors. With the built-in subwoofer and AUX input, you can cruise with your iPod from one coast to the other. On the autobahn, it handles very good! I was impressed with its reliability! At higher speeds you will notice some wind noise because of the clamshell doors, but its not that bad. The only thing that I would change is push button 4WD selector. The whole water proof interior is an especially nice addition. This car is just plain fun to drive! It has an awsome turning radius and I have had a number of comments on it by the local germans. They seem to just love the design!Aug 04, 2008

Still love my Honda Element. It had one problem last year when a couple fan fuses? that cooled the engine caused the engine to overhead. Thankfully I realized what was happening and turned off the a/c. Turned on the heater and I was right by the dealership. $200+ bucks. Love the room in the car. It's a solid comfortable and safe car. Gas mileage is average around 20 mph The windshield has been the greatest problem. It's been changed 4xs. There was a lawsuit against Honda so now I have a windshield that doesn't break easily from rocks on the freeway. It does whistle and it's noisy in the car when on the freeway.Jul 31, 2008