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.
I was gonna go Element due to my over exposure to CR-V’s so wanted to go out of my “Element” since I’ve heard such good things about them…but gotta go CR-V for the stick; plus they really are great vehicles. My wife currently has one, and has had one before. My Dad still has his 1st gen w/ the table and has no plans to get rid of it
I looked into these for my son. He’s 6′-7″ and I’m 6′-2″. Both of us can drive the CR-V, neither of us can drive the Element. We don’t even fit in the passenger seat of the Element.
Buy a set of LT 225 70 r16 tires, a Weathertech rubber mat for the back, and while the Element is quirkier, the CR-V is more usable.
Really? I am 6’6″ and drove an Element for about 8 years. There was more headroom than any other car I’ve driven. We now have a CRV and it’s one of the only vehicles I’ve driven with a sunroof that I fit in, but my head is very close to the headliner, less than an inch.
I owned and loved a 2002 CRV with the manual. I managed to break the timing chain at 150,000 miles and didn’t have the $$ to replace the engine. Wish I did.
I voted Element since it’s a bit more interesting, but I ALMOST voted for the CR-V. If those prices were in Canadian dollars, it would be a slam-dunk for either one.
I read nothing about these particular vehicles and voted for the Element. If I’m buying an aging crossover, I’m buying one that is at least interesting and doesn’t look like every other crossover.
The CR-V will go places it looks like it has no business going. Not so much the Element. Add the stick and table for picnics once up that fire road. This is an easy win for the CR-V.
If the Element had a manual that would have been a no-brainer. I went CR-V for the 3rd pedal and the nicer overall condition and lower price
Team Element here, not just for utility and easy resale but also because I’d much rather go to Seattle than K Falls. (Though fun fact, the same Amtrak line serves both cities.)
No I-5 gridlock in K Falls, and the area around that miserable little burg is beautiful. Get in, get car, get out quickly and enjoy the drive around Crater Lake!
I’ll say this for the Element- the utility in these is insane. We got a delivery from a printer for a trade show. We had rented an Escalade to carry all the stuff we needed. The printer drove up in an Element, opened the back doors and the long roll of material fit inside his wee trucklet just fine, with all 4 seats still functional. It didn’t fit in the escalade without sitting on top of the seats and onto the dashboard.
Both are cool. For the money though, CRV all the way. Plus it’s a private seller and it’s a manual trans. And a swing out tailgate and hidden picnic table. which I would totally use.
The Elements were cool for their time and about the funkiest that Honda ever got with a car. Almost $7k just feels a little too rich.
CRV for me. To me, the Element is just a less useful CRV. And the slushbox in the Element seals the deal for the CRV for me.
We have an ’04 Element, almost just like this one. Wouldn’t trade it for anything. Also, there’s far more leg room in an Element than a CRV. The waterproof fabric on the seats have durability problems, though…most older Elements have driver’s seat bolsters that look like that.
Anytime I see a swing out door on an older CR-V or RAV4, I get a little smile. The lift gate is probably more practical, but way less cool. For this choice, the manual swings me harder toward the CR-V.
A friend of mine had one of those CRV’s. She loved the space inside for hauling camping gear and her dog, but she HATED the swing carrier because with her bike rack on she could only open the door about a foot, if that. And her camping trips were also all mountain biking trips, so that was always a downer.
CR-V, I like elements, but a K series v-tech, with a 5spd? 200k is just getting it broken in. That thing will still be running when its tan interior comes back in style.
There’s definitely some appeal to the Element, but the CRV is in better shape for less money. I think the CRV being a stick would make it more fun overall.
Tough call today. I am a fan of the Element and at first thought it was going to get my vote, but I think I’m pulling a u-turn and going for the manual CR-V.
Elements are quirky cool so I didn’t think I’d pick the CR-V but here I am, thanks to the 5 speed and picnic table. The 5 speed makes all the difference between being a penalty box and something that’s sorta fun to drive. Same story with my 2009 Corolla.
And my son would love that table for his mobile detailing business.
Least ruined (seat) AND the legendary picnic table: Easy choice!
This is a tough choice. That CR-V looks like a solid choice. Working in its favor: it’s not at a dealership and it’s got a 5-speed manual.
But I still gotta go Element, although I wish it was the green or orange that they came in. I don’t think you can beat the practicality, and it also looks to be in decent shape, despite the worn out upholstery up front. Throw on a quality set of seat covers and you’re good to go. It’s a shame Ursa Minor stopped taking orders for the ECamper conversion last year, because it would add a whole other element to this equation.
So. The CR-V is a stick. Alright. It also has a picnic table which is…well if I’m having a yard sale, okay, but otherwise whatever. It’s also cheaper.
But the Element has funk and personality. My brother also had one until there were too many kids. I’ll ignore the slushbox and vote for it today.
Since Spring seems to have finally arrived this year, I voted for the stick-shift and the picnic table.
There’s only one Honda owner on my street, and it’s identical to this comparison Element, so at least there wouldn’t be two of them.
Tough choice today. I’m definitely in camp Element, but I can’t turn down a better condition, manual, AWD CR-V for less money. This is not the Element I’m looking for.
My 2008 Element was the most practical vehicle I ever owned. With the seats completely removed, people were amazed at the size of the PA system I could fit in there. Two 18″ subs, four 15″ two-way cabs and two 12″ two-way cabs. Plus stands, road case with mixer, cables — all the necessary equipment.
If you have square/rectangular things, a square car is the answer, always.
I even took it mildly off-road in Maine, through logging roads, etc.
When I replaced it after 13 years and a lot of rust with a VW Atlas, I had a bigger car with less useful interior volume because of its shape. I don’t need to lay plywood flat. I need to carry a PA system.
I just wish Elements had less cabin noise. By the time I replaced it, interior noise was as big a reason as rust.
We NEED more box shaped vehicles!
I like square butts and I cannot lie.
Yes, and as much as range takes a hit, I’d really like a EV version. I drive an EV now – I dumped the Atlas while it still had value – it was a VR6.
I figure an EV minivan that is more practical than luxurious. I need to cart around family more often than I cart around equipment these days, but I want to do both (not at the same time.)
If I could depend on a Pacifica and it was more EV-leaning than PHEV…if only…
Lifted pickup trucks have entered the chat. Do you want six or eight headlights with that flat front end and slab hood?
I should have have typed crossovers/suvs because the slopped backs kill any cargo space. And the giant pickups are not that box shaped as the bros that drive them would not put a topper/cap on them to make them more box shaped they need the pick up truck look to feel complete.
Astro is your answer.
Honda 2.4 + manual with a non-wrecked driver seat means the CR-V gets my vote. That gen CR-V is packaged well.
I don’t understand the infatuation with the Element. It’s slow, thirsty, and plasticky. It’s too low to be much good off pavement. I don’t like the suicide door format either here or in the FJ Cruiser. People are ga-ga over these and I guess I just don’t fit the use case. The auto kills all the fun and you’re going to get like 21mpg combined. Yuck.
Tough call, I prefer the form factor of the element, they were such a cool idea and I wish Honda still made something fun like that, but my Dad had a CRV with a manual transmission and it was a pretty fun car to drive, and pretty practical to boot. I still like CRVs with the externally mounted spare tire, but the new ones are a little too mundane for my taste. Make mine the CRV today, and I will be picnicking this weekend!
I will also note the manual CRV has one of the best handbrake integrations I have seen, and leather bolsters with cloth inserts are peak interior design!