Thinking Inside the Box
By Christian Wardlaw
|
September 17, 2006
Introduction
Honda Element SC – First Drive: Honda thought way outside the box when it conceived the Element back in 2002. Based on the Honda CR-V platform but styled to serve as a “dorm room on wheels,” the new-for-2003 Element was aimed right at the hearts and minds of young men but found success with a wide range of buyers – young and old, male and female, jocks and nerds. Apparently, with a mid-cycle refresh for the jaunty little SUV, Honda has gone back to the drawing board to hone in on its target demographic, and the result is the new Element SC, which focuses more on style and handling and less on functional utility.That's not to say that the 2007 Honda Element SC isn't functional or utilitarian. It's got the same plastic hose-out cargo area with rear jump seats that collapse and store on the inside walls of the vehicle, the same roomy interior for four people, the same funky clamshell side doors, and the same nooks and crannies for carrying all manner of daily detritus. The main difference is that the Element SC is offered only with front-wheel drive because Honda doesn't think the tech-savvy, 27-year-old male urban dwellers that possess a Bachelor's Degree and enjoy design, music, and socializing want four driven wheels. Those guys are the target buyers for the Element SC – the actual buyers range from 25 to 35 years of age, are men and women in professional careers or DINK relationships, and like to shop at Target, Urban Outfitters, and Ikea.
Yep, there are people who actually get paid for this kind of “in the box” thinking. And with the new 2007 Honda Element SC, it might just pay off.
What's New?
What's New? The most significant change to the 2007 Honda Element is the inclusion of a standard side-curtain airbag system and a modified side structure which should help the SUV achieve perfect NHTSA and IIHS side-impact crash scores.
In addition to the new SC model, Honda offers the Element in LX and EX trim levels that are, by reason of the marketing hype, more about functional utility and less about style and handling. However, as part of the 2007 Honda Element's mid-cycle freshening, all models get modifications that make the little SUV more appealing than ever.
To our way of thinking, the most important update for the 2007 Honda Element is improved side-impact protection in the form of standard side-curtain airbags and what the company says is a re-engineered side structure. This is important because, though the Element is regarded to be a generally safe vehicle, the NHTSA listed a safety concern regarding the original's side-impact protection for rear seat occupants. The concern related to how the crash dummy's head impacted the Element's rear pillar during side-impact testing. Honda says that the structural modifications and inclusion of standard side-curtain airbags will eliminate that NHTSA concern.
The second most important change to the 2007 Honda Element is a bump in both power and efficiency. The Element's 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine makes 10 more horsepower and gets improved mid-range torque, and a new five-speed automatic transmission not only makes better use of the added power but also improves fuel economy. Honda has also added a standard stability control system to the updated Element.
Cosmetic modifications include a new grille on the outside, while cabins are revised with a fresh gauge cluster, a different steering wheel, new seats with integrated seatbelts, and upgraded trim and materials. The LX models continue with industrial gray exterior body panels, while EX versions are painted in a nicer looking monochrome fashion. The 2007 Honda Element LX and EX are on sale now, and prices range from $19,495 for the LX 2WD with a manual transmission to $23,705 for the EX 4WD with an automatic (including the $595 destination charge).
Element SC
Element SC In an effort to appeal to young, educated, urban-dwelling men, the 2007 Honda Element SC gets a big, fat, dose of cool thanks to styling changes inside and out, plus a stiffened and lowered suspension riding on good-looking 18 wheels.
In addition to the changes heaped upon the Honda Element LX and EX, the new Element SC gets a long list of modifications designed to resonate with those young, educated, cool dudes that the company has identified as its target demographic. Half are cosmetic, half are mechanical, and the result – as with the original Element – is likely to appeal to a much wider cross-section of the American populace than Honda expects.
Starting on the outside, the Element SC gets revised styling in the form of a unique grille as well as bumpers, side sills, and side roof garnishes that are all painted the same color as the body. Projector beam headlamps and dark chrome taillights identify the special status of the SC, but most observers will notice the gray-painted 18-inch alloy wheels before anything else. And, if you happen to see an Element painted Root Beer Metallic, it's the SC, which gets that color exclusively.
Inside, the Element SC receives its own gauge faces with copper-colored backlighting, copper or titanium interior trim, and piano black dash appliqués. The seat and door panel fabric is unique to the Element SC, and includes copper or titanium highlights depending on what interior trim is selected. The most useful addition to the SC's interior, however, is the giant center storage console that houses an auxiliary input jack for an iPod plus a 12-volt electrical outlet. Honestly, this feature should be added to the Element EX, too, as useful and practical as it is.
Honda says the Element SC's chassis is “completely re-engineered.” Translated, that means the suspension is 25 percent new. Stiffer and lower than stock, and combined with quicker steering and meatier tires, the Element SC is made for improved handling, if not acceleration. Look for the Element SC to arrive in showrooms on September 28, starting at $23,290 with a manual transmission and commanding $24,090 with an automatic (including the $595 destination charge).
Nuts and Bolts
Nuts and Bolts Who can argue against more power, more torque, and better fuel economy? Plus, the new Honda Element SC gets a lower and stiffer suspension, as well as 18-inch wheels and tires for improved handling.
More power and more torque, when coupled with improved fuel economy, is always a winning combination, one that cannot be argued against. And so it is that the 2007 Honda Element's 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine wins the debate, because it's up 10 horsepower and displays improved mid-range torque over last year. A drive-by-wire throttle quickens response, high-flow intake and exhaust systems let the engine breathe more freely, and a new five-speed automatic manages power better while improving fuel economy. The result is an engine that makes 166 horsepower at 5,800 rpm and 161 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,000 rpm – not mind-bending figures, certainly, but the added verve is palpable.
Get a Honda Element 2WD with the automatic transmission, and your EPA fuel economy estimate is 22 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway. Choose an Element 4WD with a manual transmission, and the numbers drop to 21 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway. Yes, the automatic delivers more miles per gallon than the stick, so rowing your own gears is now a matter of saving the $800 premium for the automatic or because you like to be involved in the act of driving. But seriously, if you like to be involved in the act of driving, you're probably not shopping for a Honda Element.
The Element LX and EX continue with unchanged mechanicals, including an available Real Time 4WD system, a sophisticated MacPherson strut front and double wishbone rear suspension, variable-assist power rack-and-pinion steering, four-wheel-disc antilock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution and brake assist, and 16-inch wheels wearing 215/70 all-season tires. Stability control is a new standard feature for all Elements.
The Element SC gets all these same goodies, but with modifications that include a 1.5-inch suspension drop, stouter front and rear stabilizer bars, and a set of shocks and springs that are 30 percent stiffer than stock. The steering is a little faster, and guides 18-inch alloy wheels wearing 225/55 tires.
Design
Design With its customized appearance, the Honda Element SC goes from “cute” to “cool” but still retains its uncanny knack for blending style with function like few cars on the market today.
Few vehicles on the market today appeal to the logical left side of a human brain and the creative right side as equally as the 2007 Honda Element. This car is plain smart, but it's emotional, too. High on style and functionality, the Element is the kind of vehicle that becomes integral to daily life, a member of the family, like a pet with a nickname. Safe, efficient, utilitarian, comfortable, able to battle stormy weather, and as cute as a frisky Pug puppy, the Element is a terrific do-everything kind of car.
Of course, it's not perfect. Pug puppies might be cute, but they aren't good looking. The clamshell doors become a liability in a tight parking lot. The sunroof is placed over the cargo area rather than the front seats. And the rear seats are a pain to wrestle with when expanding cargo space. Good thing the amount of room behind the rear seats is generous, and easy to load thanks to a cube-shaped opening complete with a small tailgate for pre-game parties.
Like the rest of the SUV, the Element's interior is functional and stylish. Everything is easy to locate and use, and there's a ton of storage space – especially with the SC model's positively gigantic center console. Sure, there's plenty of hard plastic inside the Element, but this is a $20-24,000 vehicle, so whaddaya expect? At least it looks good and feels substantial, a trick some car makers can't pull off no matter how hard they try.
Over the years, the Honda Element has done nothing but improve in terms of appearance. The EX now gets painted body panels for a more cohesive look, and the SC manages to make the cute Element look tough, cool – dare we say desirable? It looks like a tasteful custom job, with just enough modification to make sure everyone knows it's special but not so much that only people under the age of 15 might want to be seen in it.
Comfort
Comfort Nobody will complain about comfort levels in the 2007 Honda Element. Visibility from the back seat, maybe, but not comfort. All four occupants get plenty of room for feet, legs, and heads.
There's lots of space inside the 2007 Honda Element, even if it only holds four people. Thanks to comfortable seats front and rear, a nicely padded center console lid that is unexpected in a car at this price, plenty of leg room for everyone, and enough headroom to wear that cheesy sombrero you picked up in Tijuana, nobody is going to complain about comfort. Rear passengers might complain about the limited view out, and not just because of your oversized Mexican trinket, but they'll be comfortable while doing so.
Note that the Element's new integrated front seatbelts really help entry into and exit from the rear seat. Before, front seat occupants needed to bother with unclipping and re-fastening their seatbelts every time a third or fourth passenger was added or subtracted. Not anymore, thanks to seatbelts that feed from the front seats. Also note that there's no rear sunroof in the SC model, which comes standard on the EX. Not that it's useful for much, anyway.
Driving Impressions
Driving Impressions Most people are going to prefer the softer suspension tuning on the Element LX and EX, because the Element SC is stiff and best used on smooth pavement. However, in its element, the Element SC is plenty fun to drive.
That our first test drive of the 2007 Honda Element SC took place in suburban Detroit is irrelevant, because this is not a vehicle designed for canyon carving no matter how much emphasis the company places on the suspension and wheel/tire upgrades. The Element SC is, after all, designed for guys who live in urban areas. Young guys who aren't worried that the 30-percent stiffer shocks and springs will fuse their lower vertebrae as the Element pounds over frost heaves and potholes. Frost heaves and potholes similar to those that coat suburban Detroit like a festering rash.
Besides, the seats don't offer enough lateral support to take full advantage of the Element SC's handling abilities, as I learned while cackling deliriously and tossing the SUV through the cones on an autocross Honda set up on the parking lot of our hotel. The Element screamed around the course surprisingly well with the traction and stability control systems shut down, the front wheels spinning out of every turn. If the Element starts to push, which happens frequently on front-drive vehicles that are driven hard and fast, it's easy to tuck the nose in by letting off the throttle mid-turn. But as car-like as the Element might be, it's got a higher center of gravity than a typical car. That means it leans more, which means the driver gets tossed around more, which means the lack of side bolsters on the seats is more noticeable because you feel like you're gonna tumble right out of the Element's clamshell doors.
On real-world roads, especially the winter-ravaged pavement of Detroit, the Element felt almost too stiff. On sweeping cloverleaf freeway ramps riddled with frost heaves, the Element bounced fore and aft on its short wheelbase. By contrast, a quick spin in an Element EX showed that the standard suspension is much more compliant over the rough stuff. The standard setup still gives the driver a feel for what's happening at the road surface, but softens the blows better. Of course, the EX didn't handle better than the SC, but for most people most of the time, the standard suspension is the better setup.
Any 2007 Element feels spunkier thanks to the powertrain improvements. If you're of a juvenile mindset, it's easy to spin the wheels in first gear, and you can squawk ‘em in second – not that any Element owner would actually drive like this. The 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine is refined, emits a pleasing growl at higher revs, and doesn't complain when maximizing power at the upper end. The clutch and five-speed manual gearbox are wonderful pieces of engineering; not sporting, but easy to use in traffic. A test drive of the five-speed automatic showed an improvement over the old four-speed transmission, but most people aren't gonna notice the difference. One thing is for sure, though, the stick makes the Element feel livelier, and might be worth the penalty at the pump.
Specifications
Specifications The 2007 Honda Element's primary competitors include the Chevrolet HHR, Chrysler PT Cruiser, Dodge Caliber, Jeep Compass, Jeep Patriot, Pontiac Vibe, Scion xB, Subaru Outback Sport, and Toyota Matrix
Test Vehicle: 2007 Honda Element SC
Price of Test Vehicle: $23,290 (including a $595 destination charge)
Engine Size and Type: 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder
Engine Horsepower: 166 at 5,800 rpm
Engine Torque: 161 at 4,000 rpm
Transmission: Five-speed manual
Curb weight, lbs.: 3,529
EPA Fuel Economy (city/highway): 21/25 mpg
Length: 170.8 inches
Width: 71.5 inches
Wheelbase: 101.4 inches
Height: 69.5 inches
Leg room (front/rear): 41/39.1 inches
Head room (front/rear): 43.3/38 inches
Max. Seating Capacity: Four
Max. Cargo Volume: 70.1 cu.-ft. (rear seats stowed); 74.6 cu.-ft. (rear seats removed)
Max. Towing Capacity: 1,500 pounds
Min. Ground Clearance: 6.2 inches
Competitors: Chevrolet HHR, Chrysler PT Cruiser, Dodge Caliber, Ford Escape, Hyundai Tucson, Jeep Compass, Jeep Patriot, Kia Sportage, Mazda Tribute, Mercury Mariner, Mitsubishi Outlander, Pontiac Vibe, Scion xB, Subaru Forester, Subaru Outback Sport, Toyota Matrix, Toyota RAV4
What's New? The most significant change to the 2007 Honda Element is the inclusion of a standard side-curtain airbag system and a modified side structure which should help the SUV achieve perfect NHTSA and IIHS side-impact crash scores.
In addition to the new SC model, Honda offers the Element in LX and EX trim levels that are, by reason of the marketing hype, more about functional utility and less about style and handling. However, as part of the 2007 Honda Element's mid-cycle freshening, all models get modifications that make the little SUV more appealing than ever.
To our way of thinking, the most important update for the 2007 Honda Element is improved side-impact protection in the form of standard side-curtain airbags and what the company says is a re-engineered side structure. This is important because, though the Element is regarded to be a generally safe vehicle, the NHTSA listed a safety concern regarding the original's side-impact protection for rear seat occupants. The concern related to how the crash dummy's head impacted the Element's rear pillar during side-impact testing. Honda says that the structural modifications and inclusion of standard side-curtain airbags will eliminate that NHTSA concern.
The second most important change to the 2007 Honda Element is a bump in both power and efficiency. The Element's 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine makes 10 more horsepower and gets improved mid-range torque, and a new five-speed automatic transmission not only makes better use of the added power but also improves fuel economy. Honda has also added a standard stability control system to the updated Element.
Cosmetic modifications include a new grille on the outside, while cabins are revised with a fresh gauge cluster, a different steering wheel, new seats with integrated seatbelts, and upgraded trim and materials. The LX models continue with industrial gray exterior body panels, while EX versions are painted in a nicer looking monochrome fashion. The 2007 Honda Element LX and EX are on sale now, and prices range from $19,495 for the LX 2WD with a manual transmission to $23,705 for the EX 4WD with an automatic (including the $595 destination charge).
Element SC
Element SC In an effort to appeal to young, educated, urban-dwelling men, the 2007 Honda Element SC gets a big, fat, dose of cool thanks to styling changes inside and out, plus a stiffened and lowered suspension riding on good-looking 18 wheels.
In addition to the changes heaped upon the Honda Element LX and EX, the new Element SC gets a long list of modifications designed to resonate with those young, educated, cool dudes that the company has identified as its target demographic. Half are cosmetic, half are mechanical, and the result – as with the original Element – is likely to appeal to a much wider cross-section of the American populace than Honda expects.
Starting on the outside, the Element SC gets revised styling in the form of a unique grille as well as bumpers, side sills, and side roof garnishes that are all painted the same color as the body. Projector beam headlamps and dark chrome taillights identify the special status of the SC, but most observers will notice the gray-painted 18-inch alloy wheels before anything else. And, if you happen to see an Element painted Root Beer Metallic, it's the SC, which gets that color exclusively.
Inside, the Element SC receives its own gauge faces with copper-colored backlighting, copper or titanium interior trim, and piano black dash appliqués. The seat and door panel fabric is unique to the Element SC, and includes copper or titanium highlights depending on what interior trim is selected. The most useful addition to the SC's interior, however, is the giant center storage console that houses an auxiliary input jack for an iPod plus a 12-volt electrical outlet. Honestly, this feature should be added to the Element EX, too, as useful and practical as it is.
Honda says the Element SC's chassis is “completely re-engineered.” Translated, that means the suspension is 25 percent new. Stiffer and lower than stock, and combined with quicker steering and meatier tires, the Element SC is made for improved handling, if not acceleration. Look for the Element SC to arrive in showrooms on September 28, starting at $23,290 with a manual transmission and commanding $24,090 with an automatic (including the $595 destination charge).
Nuts and Bolts
Nuts and Bolts Who can argue against more power, more torque, and better fuel economy? Plus, the new Honda Element SC gets a lower and stiffer suspension, as well as 18-inch wheels and tires for improved handling.
More power and more torque, when coupled with improved fuel economy, is always a winning combination, one that cannot be argued against. And so it is that the 2007 Honda Element's 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine wins the debate, because it's up 10 horsepower and displays improved mid-range torque over last year. A drive-by-wire throttle quickens response, high-flow intake and exhaust systems let the engine breathe more freely, and a new five-speed automatic manages power better while improving fuel economy. The result is an engine that makes 166 horsepower at 5,800 rpm and 161 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,000 rpm – not mind-bending figures, certainly, but the added verve is palpable.
Get a Honda Element 2WD with the automatic transmission, and your EPA fuel economy estimate is 22 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway. Choose an Element 4WD with a manual transmission, and the numbers drop to 21 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway. Yes, the automatic delivers more miles per gallon than the stick, so rowing your own gears is now a matter of saving the $800 premium for the automatic or because you like to be involved in the act of driving. But seriously, if you like to be involved in the act of driving, you're probably not shopping for a Honda Element.
The Element LX and EX continue with unchanged mechanicals, including an available Real Time 4WD system, a sophisticated MacPherson strut front and double wishbone rear suspension, variable-assist power rack-and-pinion steering, four-wheel-disc antilock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution and brake assist, and 16-inch wheels wearing 215/70 all-season tires. Stability control is a new standard feature for all Elements.
The Element SC gets all these same goodies, but with modifications that include a 1.5-inch suspension drop, stouter front and rear stabilizer bars, and a set of shocks and springs that are 30 percent stiffer than stock. The steering is a little faster, and guides 18-inch alloy wheels wearing 225/55 tires.
Design
Design With its customized appearance, the Honda Element SC goes from “cute” to “cool” but still retains its uncanny knack for blending style with function like few cars on the market today.
Few vehicles on the market today appeal to the logical left side of a human brain and the creative right side as equally as the 2007 Honda Element. This car is plain smart, but it's emotional, too. High on style and functionality, the Element is the kind of vehicle that becomes integral to daily life, a member of the family, like a pet with a nickname. Safe, efficient, utilitarian, comfortable, able to battle stormy weather, and as cute as a frisky Pug puppy, the Element is a terrific do-everything kind of car.
Of course, it's not perfect. Pug puppies might be cute, but they aren't good looking. The clamshell doors become a liability in a tight parking lot. The sunroof is placed over the cargo area rather than the front seats. And the rear seats are a pain to wrestle with when expanding cargo space. Good thing the amount of room behind the rear seats is generous, and easy to load thanks to a cube-shaped opening complete with a small tailgate for pre-game parties.
Like the rest of the SUV, the Element's interior is functional and stylish. Everything is easy to locate and use, and there's a ton of storage space – especially with the SC model's positively gigantic center console. Sure, there's plenty of hard plastic inside the Element, but this is a $20-24,000 vehicle, so whaddaya expect? At least it looks good and feels substantial, a trick some car makers can't pull off no matter how hard they try.
Over the years, the Honda Element has done nothing but improve in terms of appearance. The EX now gets painted body panels for a more cohesive look, and the SC manages to make the cute Element look tough, cool – dare we say desirable? It looks like a tasteful custom job, with just enough modification to make sure everyone knows it's special but not so much that only people under the age of 15 might want to be seen in it.
Comfort
Comfort Nobody will complain about comfort levels in the 2007 Honda Element. Visibility from the back seat, maybe, but not comfort. All four occupants get plenty of room for feet, legs, and heads.
There's lots of space inside the 2007 Honda Element, even if it only holds four people. Thanks to comfortable seats front and rear, a nicely padded center console lid that is unexpected in a car at this price, plenty of leg room for everyone, and enough headroom to wear that cheesy sombrero you picked up in Tijuana, nobody is going to complain about comfort. Rear passengers might complain about the limited view out, and not just because of your oversized Mexican trinket, but they'll be comfortable while doing so.
Note that the Element's new integrated front seatbelts really help entry into and exit from the rear seat. Before, front seat occupants needed to bother with unclipping and re-fastening their seatbelts every time a third or fourth passenger was added or subtracted. Not anymore, thanks to seatbelts that feed from the front seats. Also note that there's no rear sunroof in the SC model, which comes standard on the EX. Not that it's useful for much, anyway.
Driving Impressions
Driving Impressions Most people are going to prefer the softer suspension tuning on the Element LX and EX, because the Element SC is stiff and best used on smooth pavement. However, in its element, the Element SC is plenty fun to drive.
That our first test drive of the 2007 Honda Element SC took place in suburban Detroit is irrelevant, because this is not a vehicle designed for canyon carving no matter how much emphasis the company places on the suspension and wheel/tire upgrades. The Element SC is, after all, designed for guys who live in urban areas. Young guys who aren't worried that the 30-percent stiffer shocks and springs will fuse their lower vertebrae as the Element pounds over frost heaves and potholes. Frost heaves and potholes similar to those that coat suburban Detroit like a festering rash.
Besides, the seats don't offer enough lateral support to take full advantage of the Element SC's handling abilities, as I learned while cackling deliriously and tossing the SUV through the cones on an autocross Honda set up on the parking lot of our hotel. The Element screamed around the course surprisingly well with the traction and stability control systems shut down, the front wheels spinning out of every turn. If the Element starts to push, which happens frequently on front-drive vehicles that are driven hard and fast, it's easy to tuck the nose in by letting off the throttle mid-turn. But as car-like as the Element might be, it's got a higher center of gravity than a typical car. That means it leans more, which means the driver gets tossed around more, which means the lack of side bolsters on the seats is more noticeable because you feel like you're gonna tumble right out of the Element's clamshell doors.
On real-world roads, especially the winter-ravaged pavement of Detroit, the Element felt almost too stiff. On sweeping cloverleaf freeway ramps riddled with frost heaves, the Element bounced fore and aft on its short wheelbase. By contrast, a quick spin in an Element EX showed that the standard suspension is much more compliant over the rough stuff. The standard setup still gives the driver a feel for what's happening at the road surface, but softens the blows better. Of course, the EX didn't handle better than the SC, but for most people most of the time, the standard suspension is the better setup.
Any 2007 Element feels spunkier thanks to the powertrain improvements. If you're of a juvenile mindset, it's easy to spin the wheels in first gear, and you can squawk ‘em in second – not that any Element owner would actually drive like this. The 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine is refined, emits a pleasing growl at higher revs, and doesn't complain when maximizing power at the upper end. The clutch and five-speed manual gearbox are wonderful pieces of engineering; not sporting, but easy to use in traffic. A test drive of the five-speed automatic showed an improvement over the old four-speed transmission, but most people aren't gonna notice the difference. One thing is for sure, though, the stick makes the Element feel livelier, and might be worth the penalty at the pump.
Specifications
Specifications The 2007 Honda Element's primary competitors include the Chevrolet HHR, Chrysler PT Cruiser, Dodge Caliber, Jeep Compass, Jeep Patriot, Pontiac Vibe, Scion xB, Subaru Outback Sport, and Toyota Matrix
Test Vehicle: 2007 Honda Element SC
Price of Test Vehicle: $23,290 (including a $595 destination charge)
Engine Size and Type: 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder
Engine Horsepower: 166 at 5,800 rpm
Engine Torque: 161 at 4,000 rpm
Transmission: Five-speed manual
Curb weight, lbs.: 3,529
EPA Fuel Economy (city/highway): 21/25 mpg
Length: 170.8 inches
Width: 71.5 inches
Wheelbase: 101.4 inches
Height: 69.5 inches
Leg room (front/rear): 41/39.1 inches
Head room (front/rear): 43.3/38 inches
Max. Seating Capacity: Four
Max. Cargo Volume: 70.1 cu.-ft. (rear seats stowed); 74.6 cu.-ft. (rear seats removed)
Max. Towing Capacity: 1,500 pounds
Min. Ground Clearance: 6.2 inches
Competitors: Chevrolet HHR, Chrysler PT Cruiser, Dodge Caliber, Ford Escape, Hyundai Tucson, Jeep Compass, Jeep Patriot, Kia Sportage, Mazda Tribute, Mercury Mariner, Mitsubishi Outlander, Pontiac Vibe, Scion xB, Subaru Forester, Subaru Outback Sport, Toyota Matrix, Toyota RAV4
Photos courtesy of Christian J. Wardlaw and Honda