Honda announced on Friday that its box-shaped Element would be discontinued after the 2011 model year.
The Element once enjoyed an enthusiastic following that included youthful hipsters and small business owners who put its high-roof cargo area to good use. While its shape had once been unique, it is now just one of a number of small, boxy vehicles in the market. Perhaps more important to Honda, the automaker had learned that its brand-loyal customers preferred the more refined, more fuel-efficient Honda CR-V utility vehicle.
Introduced during the 2003 model year, the Element was refined over the years and had a major upgrade in 2007 with more power and additional safety features. With a shape not unlike that of a classic dog house, the Element was an obvious choice for pet owners, and in 2009 Honda added a Dog Friendly Element accessory package to the list of available options.
Ari Echt, a Santa Barbara, Calif., advertising executive, was an early Element buyer.
“I enjoyed it,” Mr. Echt said in a telephone interview. “The rear seats converted to a bed, so I used to take a nap in the Element at lunch time. The high roof made it easy to get into the front seat after a big meal.”
As a vehicle that was defined to a great extent by its shape, the Element’s eulogy, delivered by John Mendel, executive vice president of American Honda, was not unexpected.
“The Element proved that ultimate functionality can often come from thinking inside the box,” Mr. Mendel said. “It made boxy vehicle designs cool, and Element owners continue to enjoy its unique styling and unmatched versatility.”
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