Ok, so the car/truck/suv whatever you want to call it is funky looking. However, it is very pratical for the outdoorsy type and it isn't as ugly as the Pontiac Asstek. I am not in the market for an SUV nor will I ever be but my friend let me drive his Element 5-speed because I was talking about how rough the MS6 clutch was when I test drove it the other day. So here's my quick review of the vehicle...
Exterior...
Pratical. Thule sells a OEM-fit roof rack for it and Honda also has an over priced version available. There are openings in the frame if you want to run a CB or HAM radio antenna wire to the roof. The ground clearance is adequate for forest access roads and moderate off road duty. ABS and AWD help with the winter traction. The plastic body panels prevent scratches from bushes and other foliage found on trails.
Interior...
Umm pratical again. There are tons of nooks and crannies to put things including a decent sized shelf that runs along the entire dash. The seats were upright and there was plenty of leg room and head room for me (I'm 6'3"). The rubber floor means you can toss anything in without worrying about staining the carpet. There is an aux input for an ipod right on the dash. The stereo comes with a subwoofer mounted below the shifter and sounds adequate for a stock system. I told my friend we should gut it and throw in a decent 8" subwoofer. The spare tire cover can be converted into a table just like on the CRV but you have to pay extra to get the legs for it.
Driving...
Smooth and responsive. I wasn't expecting to be thrown back in the seat due to the weight of the car but it had plenty of pickup. The clutch was like butter and had a very short travel, further confirming the awkwardness of the MS6 clutch. The shifter also had a very short throw and it was easy to find the gears. I thought the shifter on the dash up high would be weird but it was actually very convenient and it kept me from resting my hand on it. 1st gear was very short but we guessed that was to help with towing or heavy loads. It didn't take long to rev up to 6,000 rpms with just two of us in the car and nothing but skis and boots in the back. Shifting to 2nd was flawless. My friend complained of a slight notchiness but it was nothing compared to the P5. The rest of the shifts were also smooth but 5th gear seemed very far away for me because I was essentially reaching all the way across the dash. At 70mph the RPMs were just above 4000 RPMs I think. It was a higher RPM than the P5 but the engine was very quiet and I didn't notice any wind or road noise. I'll bet the rubber floor helps with some of that. Downshifting required no rev-matching to get a smooth transition and I could idle around parking lots in 1st and 2nd gear without the car bucking like a bronco (a la P5).
Overall...
I think Honda did their research on this car. It fits a very tight market niche but they did an excellent job putting the whole package together. The smooth drivetrain was a pleasure to drive and even a beginner at driving stick could get comfortable with the clutch in a few minutes. There is plenty of cargo space and the folding seats are a nice option when you need to quickly throw a bunch of gear in the back. Its a great alternative to a full-size SUV and although I would never buy one, I'll admit that many will enjoy the features this vehicle has to offer.
Exterior...
Pratical. Thule sells a OEM-fit roof rack for it and Honda also has an over priced version available. There are openings in the frame if you want to run a CB or HAM radio antenna wire to the roof. The ground clearance is adequate for forest access roads and moderate off road duty. ABS and AWD help with the winter traction. The plastic body panels prevent scratches from bushes and other foliage found on trails.
Interior...
Umm pratical again. There are tons of nooks and crannies to put things including a decent sized shelf that runs along the entire dash. The seats were upright and there was plenty of leg room and head room for me (I'm 6'3"). The rubber floor means you can toss anything in without worrying about staining the carpet. There is an aux input for an ipod right on the dash. The stereo comes with a subwoofer mounted below the shifter and sounds adequate for a stock system. I told my friend we should gut it and throw in a decent 8" subwoofer. The spare tire cover can be converted into a table just like on the CRV but you have to pay extra to get the legs for it.
Driving...
Smooth and responsive. I wasn't expecting to be thrown back in the seat due to the weight of the car but it had plenty of pickup. The clutch was like butter and had a very short travel, further confirming the awkwardness of the MS6 clutch. The shifter also had a very short throw and it was easy to find the gears. I thought the shifter on the dash up high would be weird but it was actually very convenient and it kept me from resting my hand on it. 1st gear was very short but we guessed that was to help with towing or heavy loads. It didn't take long to rev up to 6,000 rpms with just two of us in the car and nothing but skis and boots in the back. Shifting to 2nd was flawless. My friend complained of a slight notchiness but it was nothing compared to the P5. The rest of the shifts were also smooth but 5th gear seemed very far away for me because I was essentially reaching all the way across the dash. At 70mph the RPMs were just above 4000 RPMs I think. It was a higher RPM than the P5 but the engine was very quiet and I didn't notice any wind or road noise. I'll bet the rubber floor helps with some of that. Downshifting required no rev-matching to get a smooth transition and I could idle around parking lots in 1st and 2nd gear without the car bucking like a bronco (a la P5).
Overall...
I think Honda did their research on this car. It fits a very tight market niche but they did an excellent job putting the whole package together. The smooth drivetrain was a pleasure to drive and even a beginner at driving stick could get comfortable with the clutch in a few minutes. There is plenty of cargo space and the folding seats are a nice option when you need to quickly throw a bunch of gear in the back. Its a great alternative to a full-size SUV and although I would never buy one, I'll admit that many will enjoy the features this vehicle has to offer.
