Should I pick the Element or CR-V?

[jackncokedoitdoit]

I'm looking for a big car to cart around the family. While I probably
need an SUV, I want a smaller, cuter one, and I'm trying to decide
between an element and a CR-V. Which is a better car for style,
reliability and good gas mileage? Here are the exact cars!

[lizzurd]

Originally Posted by jackncokedoitdoit

I'm looking for a big car to cart around the family. While I probably
need an SUV, I want a smaller, cuter one, and I'm trying to decide
between an element and a CR-V. Which is a better car for style,
reliability and good gas mileage? Here are the exact cars!

I will be honest right off. If you ever have an need to carry 5 people go CRV. I can't tell you how many people bought an Element and afterwards needed to come up with a way to carry 5 instead of 4. I wish at times now i bout the CRV over the Element. I don't need to carry more than my wife, myself and our son....but i feel the CRV makes better use of the space behind the rear seats.

[irwinje]

Originally Posted by lizzurd

I will be honest right off. If you ever have an need to carry 5 people go CRV. I can't tell you how many people bought an Element and afterwards needed to come up with a way to carry 5 instead of 4. I wish at times now i bout the CRV over the Element. I don't need to carry more than my wife, myself and our son....but i feel the CRV makes better use of the space behind the rear seats.

I have the exact opposite experience. I've only carried 5 people once or twice in the 16 months I've had my CR-V.
On the other hand, I carry an (entire) car-load of cargo at least 2 or 3 times a month. Thus, I wish I would have bought an Element for the clam shell tail gate, shorter loading platform, fold up seats and additional room . The CR-V is very nice, I just need something a little more utilitarian at this point in my life. But, I don't have any kids, for what its worth.

[08ColoCRV]

I was faced with the same choice approximately 3-1/2 months ago. In the end, I picked a CR-V over the Element because I liked the creature comforts of the CR-V.

The Element is so much more utilitarian/spartan. I found myself looking through the various online accessory websites for things like carpeted floormats and upgraded center consoles--that sort of thing.

Before my new CR-V, I owned an older 5-series BMW and a 2wd Ford Ranger pickup. The Ranger was really, REALLY bare-bones. The BMW was nice, but at 228,000 miles, it was getting to be an ongoing project ($$$). I picked the CR-V because it was sort of luxurious like the BMW and yet was utilitarian enough to haul a few things from Home Depot. I'm planning on buying a lightweight trailer and a hitch for the CR-V to haul 4 x 8 sheets of whatever since I no longer have a pickup bed.

So far I have no regrets. I like being down to 1 vehicle to maintain and the CR-V has done everything I expected it would do. Of course if money were no object, I'd have a Toyota Tundra, a BMW X5 and a BMW convertible--but in the meantime, the Honda is a fantastic compromise that I'll probably drive for 200,000+ miles before handing it over to my (now) 6 year-old niece when she turns 16!

Different strokes for different folks, but them's my thoughts...

Rod
4900 miles
60% maintenance minder

[jeprox]

crv is the way to go if you have a family.

when i found out the element can carry only 4 people, i scratched it off my list right away. up to ths day, i dont understand why they made the element only a 4 seater. element sales would probably be even with crv sales if it's got 5 seats.

[Black Pearl]

From the reviews I have read (last year when I was in the market), the CRV handles much better than the Element. The Element had problems with wind, and emergency manuevers.

The Element has greater cargo room (cubic feet) yet in total weight the vehicle can handle is 175 pounds less. I don't have clue why.

The Element has an small rear door (for the back seats) that is hinged in the rear and latches under the front door. For the rear passengers to get in or out, the front door must be opened first.

The rear seat are theater seats, some people like that and others hate it. Supposedly the rear passengers do not get a good view out the front window.

The Element is more utiltarian, it has the rubber back floor and I am pretty sure a table.

I am not sure about the ground clearance. It strikes me the Element has slightly more, but it only has 16" wheels.

The powertrain is virtually the same, but I think the suspension may be somewhat different due to the lower weight rating of the Element.

The front seat comfort has been criticized in some of the reviews I read.

I don't actually favor the CR-V over the Element. Both my wife and I loved the Element except for that rear door latching under the front. My wife is claustrophobic and she has to ride in the back at times. The rear door killed it for us. But we both think it is a really cool vehicle. I love my V, but I have to admit when I see an Element I feel my vehicle heart strings pulling tight.

We have member, Carvingbarn, who bought a V last summer and hated it. His wife kept the V and he bought an Element and he loves it.

I think the CR-V gets a little better MPG, because of better aerodynamics. I might be wrong on that though.

Go to EOC (Element Owners Club), another T-Mac production, and pose same question over there. I think you will get some interesting responses.

EDIT: He did go to the EOC. Here is the thread

Picking between Element and CR-V - Page 2 - Honda Element Owners Club Forum

[jeprox]

if i'm single, i would probably get the element. i believe you can dress it up more than the crv - more aftermarket parts for it than the crv.

[lizzurd]

My E was perfect when i was single. Even after i got married it wasn't a problem and it makes a great dog taxi. I used to keep my mountain bike in the back year round standing up. Crosswinds are tough on the E. Another reason i am thinking of trading for a CRV. I don't have any regrets buying the E. But if the current CRv had been out when i bought this one in 2006 it would have been a no-brainer.

[Carvingbarn]

We have both a 07 CRV and a 08 E. The CRV gets better mileage. My wife’s CRV gets 21 to 22 city. We have only been on some short trips with it. Our lowest road mpg was 27 and her best was 30. I get 18 to 20 mpg in town depending on how I drive. I Average about 25 on the road in the E. The CRV drives better on the road, it has less problems with wind than the E.
If we did not have both I would choose the E. It is just the more versatile of the two. For what I need in a vehicle it is great. I am more comfortable in the E. For me the seating offers more leg room and the seats fit me better. I am not comfortable in the CRV on a long drive. I am in the E. I can tell you that my wife would not agree with choosing the E first. She loves her CRV.

[Serj22]

The element looks like a lame transformer. Crv wins.