8/31/2023 0 Comments 2007 honda element sc![]() No doubt steep inclines or extra passengers could tip the balance.ĭespite its wind-catching shape, the Element stays planted on the highway. Driving solo, I had adequate power to merge onto the expressways near our Chicago offices. The engine revs high and drones loudly, but the car never seems dangerously slow. Onramp acceleration can best be characterized as leisurely. Hard acceleration can produce a touch of wheelspin and even some torque steer - tendencies probably absent from the all-wheel-drive Element, as its increased traction and extra weight are sure to limit the slippage. Even with a full load of passengers, I had sufficient oomph starting from dead stops. The Element has some of this effect, though its engine - one of the smoother four-cylinders on the market - keeps it from feeling like a complete turkey. When you floor it, though, you might find that there’s not as much additional power as you expect. This can make comparatively low-powered cars act adequately around town. Drive-by-wire allows the gas pedal to produce acceleration electronically rather than through a mechanical linkage, meaning it can open the throttle a lot in the first inch or so you step on the accelerator. This could be a result of drive-by-wire throttle, which the Element now has. The gas pedal is quite touchy, something I’ve experienced in other four-cylinder cars. Some of the transitions can seem abrupt, but the payoff comes in peppier low-speed acceleration. In normal driving, it consistently holds gears a few moments long, allowing drivers to wring out a bit more power than they could with an early-shifting transmission. I drove the automatic, which pairs nicely with the four-cylinder. The automatic is new for 2007, replacing a four-speed unit from 2006.The engine now offers 10 horsepower more than its predecessor. My tester came in a sinister-looking - if not especially sinister- sounding - paint color: Root Beer Metallic.Īll Elements are powered by Honda’s familiar 2.4-liter four-cylinder, with either a five-speed manual or five-speed automatic transmission. We’re talking menacing headlights, a darkened grille, 18-inch wheels, monochromatic ground effects and a sport-tuned suspension. ![]() The SC has an entirely new face, and it looks like a tuner shop had its way with things. Last year’s EX-P trim is gone.Ĭhanges to the LX and EX include new headlights and a twin-bar grille. It comes only with front-wheel drive all-wheel drive is optional on the LX and EX trim levels. New to the Element lineup is a sport-tuned SC variant (“Street Custom,” Honda says), which I tested. More important, it gains new safety features like side curtain airbags and an electronic stability system - both sorely needed, and just enough for me to give this oddball Honda an unequivocal thumbs-up. It’s the Element’s everyday usability that gives it a level of distinction: My test car offered a wealth of storage provisions, a versatile cargo area, comfortable accommodations and gas mileage in the mid-20s.įor 2007, the four-seat Element receives slightly updated styling and a beefier drivetrain. Its nutty appeal hides what is a fairly basic car - no sleeper engine or luxury furnishings here. Honda’s beatnik Element SUV has been an intriguing choice ever since it debuted in late 2002. ![]()
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