Honda’s present car lineup is fairly good. The Accord appears higher than it has in years, the Civic is wonderful, and each the Odyssey and Ridgeline are perennially nice (regardless of the loss of life of the HondaVac within the former). Where issues may use some assistance is in its SUV lineup.
The CR-V is simply OK, the HR-V is bizarre wanting, the Pilot is meh and the Passport is merely nice. What Honda wants is one thing that goes into its portfolio proper in between its automobiles, that are superior, and its SUVs, that are merely ample. It wants a brand new Element.
The Honda Element debuted 20 years in the past and was in manufacturing for eight years. It offered round 325,000 items whole, which isn’t nothing, however in Honda phrases, that’s not so good, Al. Comparatively, the Civic offered roughly 263,000 examples in 2021 alone. I’d argue that the gradual (comparatively) gross sales had been as a result of Element being forward of its time and never as a result of it was a foul automotive.
The Element had loads going for it. First, it was powered by arguably one of the best four-cylinder engine ever conceived of by humankind – the Honda Okay-series. Next, it might be had with both front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, which is smart provided that Honda marketed it in the direction of energetic younger individuals. The Element’s actual trick, although, is its inside.
Let’s get this out of the best way early: you may’t hose out the Element. It sounds cool, however it’s a foul concept. Aside from that, the Element provided a rugged inside with an enormous diploma of configurability and an virtually surprising quantity of area, given the automotive’s comparatively small exterior footprint. That is smart because it’s successfully a field, however it’s arduous to seek out automobiles with this type of area now.
Hell, even Jonny Smith from The Late Brake Show purchased a JDM one, and he’s a wise man. Plus, they didn’t even promote the Element within the UK (I didn’t know they offered it exterior of America in any respect, provided that it was designed and constructed right here). Let him let you know why the Element is so superior whereas the remainder of us who know proceed to manifest Honda bringing it again.
Source: jalopnik.com