Crossover SUVs have taken over the automotive landscape, and let’s face it, a lot of them aren’t much fun. But that wasn’t always the case. Twenty or so years ago, there were some genuinely fun and interesting offerings with some cool features. Honda offered two crossovers that were mostly the same underneath, but had very different designs and characters.
Yesterday we saluted the GMT800 truck chassis in all its forms, and the consensus seems to be that the Chevy Suburban is the way to go. The Sierra pickup’s scruffy condition didn’t help its case, but the Suburban’s practicality and only slightly higher price made it a shoo-in for the win. And is that really a nine-passenger vehicle? I didn’t realize the third row held three. Learn something new every day, I guess.
For my choice between these two, I have to take into account that we already have a long-bed GMT400 pickup and a SWB GMT800 Yukon, and the combination of the two makes for a pretty formidable fleet. The Suburban could technically replace both, if we really wanted to, though it has slightly higher mileage than either of our trucks. And I have no real use for a short-bed crew-cab pickup. So, yeah, Suburban for me, but I’m not about to give up our two trucks anytime soon.
The term “sport-utility vehicle” is meant to conjure up images of fun road trips to cool places that are off the beaten path far enough to require four-wheel-drive. They’re marketed with images of surfboards and skis and whatnot, parked rakishly on a beach or a mountaintop. But we all know that most of them end up hauling the kids to daycare, or making Costco runs, or just plain old commuting. Hardly the carefree lifestyle shown in the brochure. But all the stuff is there, and you could go skiing or surfing or hiking, if you so chose. Honda’s crossover SUVs of the early 2000s did a good job of selling the lifestyle, and gave you two distinct flavors to choose from. Let’s check out one of each.
2002 Honda CR-V LX – $5,300
Engine/drivetrain: 2.4-liter DOHC inline 4, five-speed manual, AWD
Location: Klamath Falls, OR
Odometer reading: 200,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
Honda and little 4WD wagons go way back. As far back as 1985, the Honda Civic Wagovan, with a taller roofline than other Civics, was available with part-time four-wheel-drive. The Wagovan lasted for two generations, but it was dropped after 1992. It wasn’t until 1995 that a successor appeared, in the form of the CR-V. This is a second-generation CR-V, with a little more power and a little more refinement.
The CR-V has a lot of Civic DNA underneath, but uses a larger engine, a 2.4 liter four-cylinder from the Accord. This one has a five-speed manual transmission and Honda’s “Real Time 4WD” system, which is front-wheel-drive most of the time, but can kick in the rear wheels when needed. The seller has only owned this one for a year, but speaks highly of it. Unfortunately, that short ownership period means they’re unlikely to be able to tell you anything about its history. Best assume it needs everything in terms of maintenance, just to be safe.
It’s in really good condition inside, especially for 200,000 miles. Even the side bolster on the seat looks good. Unfortunately, the seller doesn’t say anything about the functional condition of anything inside, so it’s up to a potential buyer to try stuff and ask questions. But it does still have the CR-V’s coolest interior feature:
Yes, that’s a folding picnic table. It stows in the floor of the cargo compartment. I’ve heard more than one CR-V owner say they had no idea it was there. The outside of this CR-V looks pretty good. I see a few dings and scrapes, but nothing worth worrying about. And since it’s an Oregon car, it’s unlikely to have any rust problems.
2004 Honda Element EX – $6,900
Engine/drivetrain: 2.4-liter DOHC inline 4, four-speed automatic, AWD
Location: Seattle, WA
Odometer reading: 179,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
The CR-V is a cool little car, but if you’re looking for something a little less conventional, Honda has you covered. The Element, introduced for the 2003 model year, is mechanically more or less the same as the CR-V, but it’s in a class all its own. With its gray plastic fenders and pillarless “suicide” rear doors, the Element is an acquired taste, but the folks who have acquired that taste seem to really love it.
The Element uses a similar 2.4-liter four-cylinder and Real Time 4WD system, but this one has a four-speed automatic transmission. The seller says it runs well and has been well-maintained, but it’s being sold by a dealer, so I don’t know how they know that. Maybe it comes with all the records, but dealerships don’t typically hold on to that stuff. Again, you’re better off checking it out yourself, but really, you should do that with any used car.
The interior of the Element is unique: it features rubber floors and spill-proof fabric. The rear seats in most small SUVs fold down for more storage, but in the Element, they fold up and to the side, and stow along the sides of the cargo compartment. This creates some enormous blind spots, but makes for a nice, big open floor in the back. Most of the interior of this one is really nice, but the bolster on the driver’s seat is worn through.
With the exception of a dent above the right rear wheel, the outside looks pretty good. There shouldn’t be any rust on this one either, but it’s never a bad idea to take a look. Elements came in some really cool colors, but sadly, this isn’t one of them. It’s hard to make one of these look bland, but this dark silver color is sure trying its best.
You can’t really go wrong with either of these; they’re Hondas, after all. It’s more about which flavor you want. Do you prefer a manual transmission, or weird and unique styling? Do you want a picnic table, or the perfect place to put your dog? I’ll leave it up to you.
$1600 less, manual, and a picnic table? Easy-peasy win for the CR-V.
Definitely the Element. My ex-gf had one and a friend had one before I met her. I almost bought one back in the day myself, the doors and storage space were really nice. I loved the practical rubber floors to sweep crap out.
Tough choice. I’m not an everything must be a manual kind of guy, but ultimately picked the manual CR-V because of the drivers seat bolster on the Element. Truthfully, either would be welcome additions to the fleet.
The Element because I know for a fact it will ingest 2 dirty mountain bikes without much effort. Even with the wrong transmission it would fit my lifestyle better.
I would normally go Element without a lot of thought, they are cult favorites, I like the clamshell doors and clean out interior setup. but the CRV is a manual and awd. The table is also a cult following item, so I guess The doodoo brown CRV for the win today, price is better as well.
I honestly didn’t even know the CR-V was offered with a manual in this generation. But I still love me some Element.
The people I know who own or have owned elements loved them, they are just so utilitarian. I am going with the element.
Both. But voted for the CRV because manual. Would love to cross breed these, if that were possible.
All things being equal, the element is going to win any SBSD, but….nothing here is equal. That CRV is an absolute gem. Manual and squeaky clean for the miles! Not a whole lot will compete with that, even a neat and appropriately-worn Element.
A lotta’ nickels for vehicles with ages measured in decades and many laps around the equator. But since I’m spending internet dollars, I’ll go with the discontinued Element because I’m quirky like that.
CR-V. I have almost purchased an Element a few times, but each time I stymied by the fact that it is just too small for my family – I need to seat three in the back.
Came in expecting to go for the Element, but the CRV is just the better of the two!
Both have fantastic forum support and are going to basically keep working as long as you are willing to keep fixing them up…
All set to vote for the Element but it’s rough on the inside, and cursed with the automatic.
CRV gets my nobel peace price, today.
I voted CR-V, for the obvious reason already mentioned in other comments (that rare manual). Like that green on the Element, too, though. Here’s my other reason I voted CR-V – number of seats. I’ve looked at the Element a bunch of times online, and those rear seats only allow two, right? So the car seats four total. The CR-V will seat five, so one better.
If the Element were a cool color and the upholstery wasn’t shot (there’s a seam rip on the passenger side seat as well) it would be a shoo-in. As it stands, that little CR-V is an honest, sorta-fun ride for weekend-y stuff. CR-V today.
I voted for the Element. It is ugly and awkward looking, but its versatility and utility outweigh the aesthetic deficiencies. You can fit a lot of stuff in these things despite their small footprint. Plus, it is probably the smallest vehicle I could sleep comfortably in. If nothing else, it is interesting. The CR-V is probably the better transportation appliance (and I like that it has the correct number of pedals), but I have always been willing to sacrifice some practicality to drive a more interesting vehicle.
CR-V — prettier color, prettier design, 5-speed, and furniture. Cheaper too, though not hose-outtable. Oh well.
Elements aren’t meant to be hosed-out, either.
But all that rubber just begs for it.
Indeed, but it’s made to be wiped out. There are few vehicles that can take a hose to the interior, and AFAIK they all have drains in the floor.
We’ve loved our Element but the CRV is the better buy of these two for sure.
The Element is my first choice, but the stick shift wins the day.
I’ll go for the CR-V. AWD+MT+free picnic table seals the deal.
Always liked the early CR-V. Before the bloat set in, they were useful little rides, and nice to drive.
On the other hand, the Element is a rolling mud fence. I know some are charmed by the looks, but never understood why.
Can’t really go wrong with either, but I’ll save a few bucks and shift for myself.
This one is really tough. I prefer the Element with it’s chunky, psudo off-road style and suicide doors over the conventional CR-V, but the latter with a 5-speed is a rarity and makes the driving experience quite different than the usual version.
I think I would have to lean Element on this one just because I like the form factor more and it’s probably more useful generally. Also more useful as a spare car, which is what this would end up being, with the auto since not everyone can use the stick.
Manual, AWD, has a picnic table, AND it’s cheaper? CR-V, easy.
The Element has fun, but extremely useful, party tricks. Folding the seats out of the way gives A TON of room to haul stuff. It was especially great for my coworker after we pulled a 944 transmission at the Pick-N-Pull yard (and he didn’t have to worry about any grease or ATF messing up his interior). Plus the K24 is bulletproof and 4WD is the icing on the cake.
I have an 1994 CR-V on this side of the pond. 2.0L 5MT, with ~152k miles. I bought it for £1,100 (~$1,300), with a full service history. US prices seem bonkers at the moment
But I do love it. Great dog hauler, well-suited to the countryside.
US used vehicle prices can be higher because of lack of inspections.
Counter-intuitively, because lower-quality and questionably-safe vehicles can be driven longer and cost far less to maintain (because, honestly, they can be held together with hope, prayers and structural rust, and still be considered ‘roadworthy’).