Yamaha Home Theater
CNET editors' review
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CNET editors' rating:
stars
Good
Detailed editors' rating
- Reviewed on: 10/27/2006
Styling, delivered
We've had a couple of years to get used to the mini-UPS delivery-truck styling of the Honda Element, so when our 2006 Element EX-P all-wheel-drive tester arrived it wasn't too much of a shock to see it up close. The P stands for paint, which Honda will now apply to the front and rear fenders of an Element for an extra $500 (for the 2007 model year, the painted panels will be standard on all EX's). Inside, the 2006 Element is all but unchanged from the 2005 model: all-round plastic fixtures and fittings suggest the primacy of practicality over comfort. Forward and rear visibility are as good as one would expect for a mobile greenhouse, although with the rear seats folded up toward the sides of the cargo area, three-quarter visibility is severely impeded.
One of the Element's surprises is the presence of only two rear seats: for a car with such a surfeit of interior space, the ability to carry only four passengers is disappointing. Another gripe we have is the operation of the rear doors, which have no separate door handles and which can only be opened outward in suicide fashion when the front doors are open. This is a pain for independently minded rear passengers who want to come and go as they please, or when tightly squeezed in a parking space. And, in a serious design flaw, the front seat belts are attached to the rear doors, so the driver or front passenger must unlatch their seat belts when rear passengers exit.
Stereo for the 21st Century
The Element's central stack consists of a basically designed stereo head unit, three simple HVAC controls, and a shifter that looks like it belongs on a toy called "My First Car." The stereo comprises a standard double-DIN, single-disc stereo head unit that plays MP3s, WMAs, and regular CDs. The presence of a dedicated XM button shows that the car is wired for satellite radio; new Elements come with free activation and a free 3-month subscription. Both XM information (channel name, genre, song title, and artist name) and ID3 tag information can be accessed via the DISP button: a feature that we like.
As we saw on the 2005 model, the 2006 Element also has a very conspicuous AUX button set into a recess above the glove compartment next to a 12-volt power supply. All audio sources play back via the Element's 270-watt, seven-speaker audio system. Sound quality for XM channels and CDs is good (if a little bass heavy) up to mid-volume, after which acoustics become buzzy and distorted. With EQ controls for bass, treble, and subwoofer set to their default levels, the arrangement of the speakers ensures that the audio system is directed mainly at the front passengers rather than the rear seats.
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"On my 2nd Element. Excellent utility vehicle for outdoor recreation."
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