Honda went out on a limb with the Element. Normally a conservative company, it designed a unique vehicle, both in appearance and packaging. The Element is sort of military/utilitarian chic. Honda says Element was designed specifically for young male buyers who need a truck to haul their stuff, but want the security of an enclosed cargo area with car-like performance and economy. As it turns out, the Element appeals to a much larger audience than young men.
Element features a plain, durable, scratch-resistant interior, and that's a big part of its charm. Its seats are designed to get wet. It looks like a little truck, but is built with components from the Honda Civic so it drives more like a car than a truck-based SUV.
The Element was all-new for 2003 and returns for 2004 with minor changes. Most significantly, there's now a mid-range LX trim level between the plain DX and the premium EX; meanwhile the EX comes with more standard equipment than before.