For some doggone good travel, hop into the 2010 Honda Element with the Dog Friendly package. This Element includes many extras to make travel as easy and safe as possible for you and your four-legged friend.
The four-passenger (plus pets!) Element is available in several trims: 2WD LX, 4WD LX, 2WD EX and 4WD EX. The base 2WD LX starts at $20,525 and the 4WD EX starts at $23,885. All have a 2.4-Liter, 16-Valve DOHC i-VTEC Engine with 166 horsepower, a five-speed automatic transmission and 1,500 lbs of towing capacity.
The Honda Element was already a favorite of pet lovers because of its washable floor. Now Honda goes a step further with the Dog Friendly Honda Element Package. It includes a rear kennel, kennel organizer, pet bed, stowable ramp so your dog can easily climb in, dog-pattern seat covers, floor mats with a dog bone pattern, spill-resistant water bowl, electric fan that mounts in the cargo bay, tote bag, a leash, color and dog tag and dog friendly paw-print emblems on the vehicle that let everyone know you’re driving with man’s best friend! The Dog Friendly special accessory package retails for $999. Note: the package is not intended for dogs larger than 80 pounds.
The Honda Element drives, well, like a Honda, with a can-do attitude. I didn’t feel the urge to drive aggressively with my dog in tow, but there was plenty of zip off the line, and more than enough power for cruising at freeway speeds, even when traveling uphill. Steering is responsive, and the ride is smooth and quiet. The 4WD models are nice to have in the Pacific Northwest with our varied terrain and weather.
The boxy Honda element may have a look only your dog could love. But it is a very functional vehicle. Honda says it has 64 seating configurations and 74.6 cubic feet of cargo space with the back seats down. Cargo volume is 25 cubic feet with the back seat up.
Hauling pets or stuff is easy in the element, thanks to the clamshell tailgate and side cargo doors. Honda says the tailgate is sturdy enough to hold an extra-large ice chest or a couple of 220-pound buddies (Honda doesn’t say if these buddies are of the two- or four-legged variety!). The opposing wide-opening cargo doors make it easy to load man or beast, or whatever cargo you’re taking along. The center console includes a removable cooler. And the handy overhead storage console makes it easy to stash small items out of Fido’s reach.
Getting your dog in and out of the rear crate in the Element is easy, thanks to a sturdy, integrated, non-skid ramp. The ramp is stored underneath the kennel bed, and is easy to unfold and hook to the rear tailgate. At first, my dog, Maui (a standard poodle), was a little unsure about making her way up the ramp. But she quickly got the hang of it. Once inside the crate, your dog will ride on a padded cushion. There’s a built-in ventilation fan so your dog will stay cool, and also a built-in water bowl that makes for minimal spilling. The kennel was designed by Takata Corporation, one of the world's leading suppliers of automotive safety systems.
No need to worry about dirt, mud, sand, spills, pet hair or even pet messes. The Element has a scratch-resistant rubber floor (complete with a cute dog biscuit pattern!) and tough, water-resistant fabric on the seats, so you can easily wipe up and vacuum up whatever you and your pets leave behind.
High tech touches on my EX tester include the Honda Satellite-linked navigation system with voice recognition, a USB audio interface, and a rearview camera.
Mileage estimates for the 2WD models are 20 mpg city/25 mpg highway, and 19/24 for the 4WD models. The Element takes regular fuel.
The Element is named a 2010 Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Numerous safety features are standard on every Element, including dual-stage, multiple-threshold front airbags, front side airbags with passenger-side occupant position detection system, side curtain airbags with rollover sensor, side-impact door beams, anti-lock braking system with Brake Assist, Vehicle Stability Assist with Traction Control, daytime running lights and a tire pressure monitoring system. In government crash tests, the Element receives five out of five stars for frontal crashes, five out of five stars for side crashes, and three out of five stars for rollover crashes.
My tester starts at $25,585. Destination fee is $710, bringing the grand total to $26,295.
This is the perfect vehicle for anyone with animals. The Honda Element has gone to the dogs, and pet lovers couldn’t be happier. For tail-waggin’ travel, you and your pooch will love this ride.
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