2006 Honda Element EX AWD from North America - Comments

Nada.

I've had my Honda Element EX AWD for about 6 months now and have already amassed approximately 10,000 miles on it. Save for the gas mileage being a little lower than I anticipated and a few minor irritants, this vehicle has met or exceeded all my other expectations.

The handling is crisp and feels more like a car than an SUV. The suspension is tight and has very little body roll.

The turning radius is incredible. Easily makes the tightest turns of any vehicle I've ever driven. Parking in tight spots is a breeze.

Can you believe it's nearly 5 inches shorter (in length) than a Civic Coupe? Look it up if you think I'm fibbing. I fit a 8 piece dinette set in the back with the seats folded up without a problem. For such a tiny vehicle the amount of usable space is incredible.

The seats are incredibly comfy, although they might not look it at first glance. There is a ton of room for both the driver and all passengers.

Acceleration is acceptable. My opinion may be a little biased however being as the last few cars I've owned have been relatively quick. (Super-charged Riviera, RX-7, and a 76' Corvette)

Quiet. I've heard some people complain of high wind noise at highway speeds, which I expected a TON of due to the boxy design; but I've found it quieter than most vehicles I've driven in.

I have the upgraded sound system and it's great. All of the new vehicles I test drove though I must say really impressed me compared with the cars of just a few years ago.

The car is a breeze to clean with no carpets and water-resistant fabric for the seats. The plastic floor and interior panels do scratch very easily if that's something that concerns you. I'm not gentle with them though. I throw stuff in and go.

I love the look of this vehicle, but I can definitely see that it's not for everyone. You either love it or you hate it. I haven't found many people to be in-between.

The steering mounted stereo controls I don't particularly like. I don't see a way to 'seek' or 'scan' through either regular broadcast signals or XM signals. You can only cycle through your presets.

No arm rest on LX model. This should be standard on all models. And if you are thinking an armrest isn't a big deal, it's not until you don't have one.

The suicide doors are a blessing and a curse. They are awesome for getting large things in and out that would otherwise not be possible with a regular door configuration. Due to there being no vertical support in-between both doors there is nothing obstructing you. However, in tight spots where the doors cannot be opened much it's really tough to get in and out of. The parking spaces at my apartment complex are extremely narrow and if I have rear passengers I have to let them out before I pull into the parking space. One more little annoyance is that I must open my driver door for them to exit, the rear doors only open when the front ones are also open.

When I click the 'lock' button on the key remote, it will only lock the doors if they are closed. If they are open it will not lock them.

I've found the gas mileage to be less than what was advertised. However if you look closely at the vehicle label it does state that 'actual mileage may vary' and I do fall within that broader range. When I first got the vehicle I was getting about 16mpg during the 'break in period'. Now, I have almost 10,000 miles on the vehicle and I've only seen my mileage improve to about 19mpg on average with a high of 20mpg on occasion and a low of 17mpg now and again as driving conditions do change. I have yet to reach the 21mpg city and haven't come close to the 25mpg highway that the label states.

Overall I'd give this vehicle an "A-" rating. I plan on owning it for a long time to come and don't expect any major problems. Honda has a long history of building reliable autos and I have been given no reason to believe otherwise.

All Honda's have to be locked after all doors are closed... I have 2 Accord's and a CR-V and it is one of those annoying things... especially because I have kids and am always waiting at the front door for them to close their car doors before I can engage the lock... Other than that, my family loves Honda's-- they are affordable to own, have wonderful resale value-- just love em!