Honda Element roomy cabin gives everyone enough

With its versatile seating the 2011 Honda Element is certainly one of the crossover choices for consumers. The rear seating is removable for those who wish to turn it into a cargo area and roomy cabin gives everyone enough elbow room for the trip. There is also what is known as a Dog Friendly Package which is a plus for canine companions everywhere.

The Dog Friendly Package provides existing crates and accessories for the traveling four legged companion and is only available as an option. Despite this innovative feature, the 2011 Honda Element will be the final signature. Honda does not plan on releasing a 2012 Element or beyond. For those who like everything to be user friendly and like efficient use of space the Honda Element is one of the top picks for consideration.

As a crossover the Honda Element lacks in the seating arrangements many people expect for today. The four person seating is a rarity in the crossover and SUV race but for the element it seems to work. The swing out doors make getting everyone into the vehicle easier, regardless of whether it’s the kids or Fido. The rear seating is able to be moved completely from the vehicle or can be flipped up and out of the way in a pinch. This is a nice feature for carting home some of those unplanned purchases.

The Honda Element is a little slow on the acceleration due to the 2.4 liter 4 cylinder engine with 166 horsepower and 161 pounds of torque. The 5 speed automatic transmission is standard, as is front wheel drive. It is possible to upgrade to the all wheel drive model. It took a full 10 seconds to get going from a stand still to 60 miles per hour, which is certainly a far cry from the crossovers that can jump out of the starting gate. Fuel efficiency ranks at about 20 city miles to the gallon and about 25 highway miles to the gallon on the 2 wheel drive version. For the all wheel drive enthusiast the gas mileage drops to 19 miles per gallon in the city and 24 on the highway.

Stability control and antilock disc brakes are standard on the 2011 Honda Element. The brake assist feature, active front head restraining system, and full length side curtain airbags have been standard equipment before and will remain so throughout the termination of production. The Honda Element was given 5 stars on the 2010 government crash test rating scale but it has not completed the more vigorous and demanding 2011 crash test as of yet.

Taking out the rear seats opens up the Honda Element for a large amount of cargo. The 75 cubic feet of cargo carrying potential wins over many other crossover owners. The theatre seating provides the passengers with additional comfort and thanks to the swing out doors, removal of the seating is much less difficult.

The Honda Element is a crossover that can be at home in an urban setting just as comfortably as it is at home in a rural setting. If you’ve ever considered one of these original and innovative vehicles then now would be the time to buy.

 

 

 

The Honda CRV is complete SUV for family

The Honda CRV was actually the first on the scene when it came to the SUV crossover. As a smaller version of an SUV it offered the additional cargo space with better fuel efficiency and a more family oriented feel. Its original popularity prompted other car companies to follow suit, and thus the crossover was born. For the 2011 Honda CRV there are many pros and a few cons, and depending on what is important to you there could potentially be a very good match for family on the go with a load of extra gear.

Some of the features are strictly for comfort while others are for utility purposes. Either way, this is a comfortable way to transport the kids and lots of bulky or hefty items from one place to another surrounded by creature comforts.

The 2011 Honda CRV includes heated seats. The rear seating not only slides but also reclines for back seat comfort. The MP3 connectivity and the navigation system help get you where you’re going while enjoying the already responsive ride even more. Overall, the attention to detail is pretty good in order to make everyone feel more comfortable and relaxed while maintaining the ability to haul items.

With the standard 5 speed automatic transmission and the front wheel drive you’ll find the 2.4 liter 4 cylinder engine churning out about 180 horsepower and 161 pounds of torque. While the get up go factor might be a little anemic (0 to 60 in about 10 seconds) the overall performance is reasonably good. With 21 miles per gallon through the city and 28 miles per gallon along the highway the 2011 Honda CRV offers average fuel consumption.

The Honda CRV sports standard 17 inch steel wheels, telescoping steering column, tilt steering, keyless entry, driver seat power height adjustment, a center tray table in the front that can be easily retracted, cruise control and air conditioning. Naturally, the standard equipment will vary on different models, but the base model offers enough to keep you comfortable. The four speaker sound system offers the full range of audio options from stereo to MP3 player plug in. The addition of a mirror made strictly for parents to keep an eye on the activities of the rear seating is a unique plus.

With the rear seating intact the 2011 Honda CRV offers 35.7 cubic feet of storage. The simple fold away rear seats open up the cargo area to an impressively industrious 73 cubic feet.

Safety features include stability control and the front airbags with side airbag curtains. Front and side impact tests proved to be good. The one weak area in the safety test proved an obvious need for roof strengthening, as the roof received only a rating of marginal.

Overall, the 2011 Honda CRV is a classic that keeps getting better through innovation and design. The family comfort coupled with the hauling ability makes it one of the better choices for those who are looking for a crossover that can really work.