When the Honda Element first debuted, it stood out for its unique design, versatility, and practicality. It had the appeal of a compact SUV while offering features that made it highly functional for various lifestyles.
While Honda discontinued the Element in 2011, there remains a demand for vehicles with similar characteristics—boxy, spacious, and flexible interiors designed for both adventure and everyday use.
This blog will take a deep dive into the top cars on the market today that offer similar traits to the beloved Honda Element, including their design features, performance, and practicality, giving you a well-rounded look at your options.
1. Kia Soul
The Kia Soul is one of the closest modern alternatives to the Honda Element. Known for its quirky and boxy design, the Soul captures the fun, compact feel of the Element while offering a roomy interior for both passengers and cargo.
The design gives it a unique aesthetic appeal that resonates with drivers looking for something different.
Key Features:
- Design and Space: The Soul’s upright design provides ample headroom and cargo space, comparable to the Element.
- Technology: It includes features like a touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, giving it a tech-forward advantage.
- Fuel Efficiency: The Kia Soul offers better fuel economy than the Element, making it a practical option for daily commutes.
- Versatility: Folding rear seats allow for expanded cargo space, making it adaptable for camping trips or transporting larger items.
With its blend of practicality and style, the Kia Soul continues to be a top pick for those seeking a compact vehicle that’s both fun and functional.
2. Subaru Forester
If you’re looking for something that combines ruggedness with practicality, the Subaru Forester is an excellent choice. While it’s not as boxy as the Honda Element, it offers similar qualities when it comes to adventure-readiness and interior space.
The Forester is known for its durability, all-wheel drive, and off-road capability, making it perfect for those who enjoy outdoor activities.
Key Features:
- All-Wheel Drive: Subaru’s signature all-wheel drive system gives the Forester a performance edge in various weather and road conditions, particularly for outdoor enthusiasts.
- Spacious Interior: With plenty of room for passengers and cargo, the Forester is ideal for those who need to transport equipment or pets.
- Safety Features: Subaru is known for its safety, and the Forester comes equipped with advanced driver-assist features like adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist.
- Versatility: The Forester’s flat-folding rear seats provide ample space for cargo, comparable to the flexibility of the Element’s interior.
The Subaru Forester is a solid choice for individuals who need a practical, all-terrain vehicle that doesn’t sacrifice comfort.
3. Jeep Renegade
For those who appreciated the Element’s rugged charm but want something with a bit more off-road capability, the Jeep Renegade might be the ideal alternative.
The Renegade combines Jeep’s iconic off-road prowess with a compact, versatile design that makes it suitable for both city driving and wilderness excursions.
Key Features:
- Off-Road Capabilities: Like the Element, the Renegade can handle a variety of terrain, but with added Jeep toughness.
- Customizable Interior: With its fold-flat rear seats, the Renegade offers a flexible interior space that can adapt to various needs.
- Technology: Available features like Uconnect infotainment, navigation, and smartphone integration make the Renegade both adventurous and tech-savvy.
- Unique Design: While it’s not as boxy as the Element, the Renegade retains a bold and distinctive look, with plenty of character.
The Jeep Renegade is a strong contender for drivers who want the adventurous spirit of the Element, combined with modern off-road capabilities.
4. Toyota RAV4
The Toyota RAV4 is a well-known compact SUV that offers a practical, versatile solution for families or solo adventurers alike.
While its design isn’t as boxy as the Element’s, it does offer spacious interiors and strong reliability—two factors that Element owners will appreciate.
Key Features:
- Spacious Interior: The RAV4 provides ample cargo space and passenger room, making it a practical choice for families and those who need extra space for activities like camping or road trips.
- Fuel Efficiency: The RAV4 offers good fuel economy, especially in its hybrid variant, which appeals to eco-conscious drivers.
- Off-Road Capability: The RAV4 Adventure and TRD Off-Road trims provide the ruggedness and capability for light off-road driving.
- Advanced Safety Features: Toyota equips the RAV4 with its Safety Sense suite, including features like lane departure alert and adaptive cruise control.
The Toyota RAV4’s blend of practicality, efficiency, and reliability makes it a go-to choice for drivers who miss the Element’s versatility.
5. Nissan Xterra (Discontinued)
Though discontinued, the Nissan Xterra remains a popular choice in the used market for those seeking a rugged, outdoor-ready vehicle.
Like the Element, the Xterra was designed with adventure in mind, offering a boxy design, plenty of cargo space, and off-road capabilities.
Key Features:
- Durability: Known for its rugged build, the Xterra can handle tough terrains and heavy-duty use.
- Spacious Cargo Area: The Xterra’s flat-folding seats provide a spacious cargo area, making it ideal for carrying gear or pets.
- Off-Road Ready: With its body-on-frame construction and available 4WD, the Xterra can tackle rough terrain with ease.
- Adventure-Focused Design: Features like roof rails and a first-aid kit built into the rear door emphasize the Xterra’s adventure-driven purpose.
For those who miss the Honda Element’s outdoor spirit, a used Nissan Xterra can provide similar durability and adventure-readiness.
6. Ford Bronco Sport
The newly revived Ford Bronco Sport is an excellent modern-day alternative to the Honda Element, particularly for those who love the outdoors.
With its compact size and rugged design, the Bronco Sport blends off-road capability with practicality, offering a vehicle that’s just as comfortable in the city as it is in the wilderness.
Key Features:
- Off-Road Capability: With standard 4×4 and available off-road packages, the Bronco Sport is well-equipped for adventures.
- Flexible Cargo Space: The rear seats fold flat, providing a spacious cargo area that can accommodate gear, bikes, and more.
- Retro-Inspired Design: The Bronco Sport’s design pays homage to the original Bronco, but in a more compact, modern form.
- Advanced Tech: Features like a touchscreen infotainment system, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and driver-assistance tech come standard.
The Ford Bronco Sport is a fantastic option for those who want a balance of off-road prowess and urban practicality, similar to the Honda Element.
7. Honda HR-V
As a successor to the Element in many ways, the Honda HR-V offers a compact crossover option that’s practical, flexible, and modern.
While it doesn’t have the same boxy design as the Element, it retains Honda’s attention to practicality and versatility, making it a great alternative.
Key Features:
- Magic Seat: One of the standout features of the HR-V is the Magic Seat system, which allows for multiple seating and cargo configurations, offering similar flexibility to the Element’s flat-folding seats.
- Compact Design: The HR-V is easy to maneuver in urban environments, yet offers enough interior space for gear or groceries.
- Fuel Efficiency: The HR-V provides better fuel economy than the Element, which is ideal for long commutes or road trips.
- Reliable: As with all Honda models, the HR-V is known for its reliability and longevity, making it a practical choice for families or solo drivers.
The Honda HR-V is a practical, compact crossover that offers the same versatility and Honda reliability as the Element, making it a natural fit for those who loved the original.
8. Scion xB
Another close competitor to the Honda Element, especially in the used car market, is the Scion xB. Known for its boxy design and spacious interior, the Scion xB was marketed toward younger drivers but found favor among those who needed a practical, spacious vehicle.
Key Features:
- Boxy Design: Much like the Element, the xB’s boxy exterior design allowed for a roomy interior and better cargo space.
- Customizable: The Scion brand was known for customization, allowing drivers to personalize their xB with a variety of accessories.
- Fuel Efficiency: The xB offered good fuel economy, making it an economical choice for daily driving.
- Interior Space: With rear seats that fold flat, the xB provides a versatile space for cargo and passengers.
For drivers looking for a boxy, practical vehicle like the Honda Element, the Scion xB remains a strong contender in the used car market.
Conclusion
While the Honda Element is no longer in production, there are plenty of vehicles that offer similar versatility, practicality, and unique design features. Whether you’re looking for a rugged, off-road-capable SUV like the Jeep Renegade or Ford Bronco Sport, or a spacious and tech-savvy option like the Kia Soul or Subaru Forester, there’s a vehicle out there that can fill the void left by the Element.
Each of these vehicles provides a balance of flexibility, comfort, and design that made the Honda Element so beloved.
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