Honda Element test drive since 2003 minivan
Honda Element car overview
General Element (element) is an imported car that is developed and produced by Honda of America (Honda of America). It was planned for the role of Honda SUV for the middle class, filling the interval between the compact CR-V and the flagship MDX in the North American market, where SUVs completely penetrated as the main form of cars. In addition, it was planned for the role of a strategic model that attracts young men.
In America, Honda is recognized as a popular brand on which old people and youth, men and women drive. But if you compare with a layer of consumers-female women and relatively elderly, then the appeal to young men is slightly weaker. Such, as they say, is the current situation (just like in Japan a few years ago in relation to Toyota). Therefore, Honda Element received the concept of not just an SUV, but a new tool for entertainment.
A 2.4-liter in a row 4-cylinder engine is installed, as they are used to seeing on Accord, etc. At the same time, the total length (4.3 m) is shorter than that of Honda CR-V and is at the level of the Civic Hatchback model. On the other hand, the width exceeds 1.8 m, not inferior to Legend models (when operating in Japan, this width should probably be paid attention to). Such sizes, not representable from the Japanese point of view, can be safely called American.
Exterior and interior
External design resembles a rescue station (a booth for rescuers on the beach). The body is faced with plastic, resistant to damage, and inside the flat floor is covered with an uretan coating that can be completely washed. In addition, the seats were covered against water splashes, so as if a message was done: feel free to use both on the beach and for winter sports, not paying attention to the dirt.
On such a flat floor, four seats are scattered, and a similar atmosphere of the interior in a sense is peculiar. With a wheelbase 2575 mm, somewhat short for SUVs of this class, the back of the rear seats are located almost in the center of the rear axle. Such an amazing layout determines the location of the seats, so the space for the legs behind is such that adult passengers with a tall of more than 180 mm can be freely located there, like the front. Therefore, access to the rear seats is very light, and such a special laying of the body without racks with doors that open in opposite directions is very convincing. With a regular 4-door layout, you have to sit on the rear seats right on the side, and in order to make such a space in the back, you should increase the total length of the machine and the wheelbase. The height (1790 mm) is also very large, and in combination with the quadrangular body style, we can assume that the salon has an extensive space. Performance
The chassis and other main mechanisms took from CR-V, but in order to become possible a design without racks and a completely flat floor, the bottom was made almost completely according to a special project, moving the fuel tank ultimately, etc.
By the resistance of the body to the bending and twisting, the same level with CR-V has been reached, but the center of twisting falls on the center of the body, therefore, frankly, the general feeling of strength is not the same as CR-V. However, this can be said only compared to this model, and
Element itself can hardly be considered problematic. The method of drive is full with a double pump that Honda is famous for, but more than 95% of the machines will drive on the front -wheel drive, since most consumers usually use it. It is difficult to even imagine that with such a high center of gravity and short sizes, such stability is possible during the rule. Indeed, if you look from the level of previous and current SUVs and minivans, then Element for comfort when moving is in a hard class. In addition, the total pitching up and down is more than usual, but it seems that this is largely caused by a short wheel base.
However, I think that in the case of Element, the main attractiveness consists precisely in its peculiar cheerful character, allowing you to not pay attention to such trifles. The unusual space of the interior with a flat plastic floor, the suppressing a sense of freedom when opening the left and right door, a neat design with a vertical and horizontal ratio, just like the playing bone will arouse the imagination of users (let's try to use it like this, but try it like this). And in this sense, it stimulates more than Honda Mobilio Spike, who has become the predecessor of a hobby punishment.
Source: CarView.co.jp
