The Honda Element is a compact crossover SUV manufactured by Honda and marketed in North America over a single generation for model years 2003–2011 — and noted for its boxy exterior styling with bi-parting side doors and its boxy, flexible interior layout.

[6] The Element followed a concept called Model X which was developed by a core group of Honda R&D engineers in 1998 and debuted at the 2001 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

The rear door structure have a reinforced vertical beam and, when closed, connect to the body side sill via a hook and catch system, effectively creating a B-pillar.

[8] The production Element debuted at the 2002 New York International Auto Show[9] with an interior featuring TPO-coated textured urethane flooring; stain-resistant fabric; individually reclining and removable rear seats that stow.

[12] In 2007, the Element won the Dogcars.com "Dog Car of the Year" award because of its "versatile cargo space, easy-clean flooring, crate-friendly rear design and optional 4 wheel drive.

The charcoal gray plastic tone was darkened and a navy blue was offered with the Satin Silver Metallic paint.

2008: The only changes from the 2007 Element were the addition of the color Royal Blue Pearl for the SC trim and the mounting location of the rear-view mirror (from the windshield to the roof).

[22] For 2009, the Honda Element received an optional navigation system, outside temperature display and minor exterior revisions.

The hood and grille were redesigned, the front fenders were now all metal rather than painted composite material,[22] and the wheel arches were squared off.

The previous version had the driving game using the Element EX-P (now simply called the EX) in a desert, snow topped mountains, forests, and a beach.

A new second option from the main page allows you to select the Element SC to go "underground" in an urbanesque environment featuring a drive-in, central park with a basketball court, a seedy mainstreet, and project housing.

The drive-in serves as the venue to view the TV spots that feature only the rat, mole, pigeon, and hamster.

Changes to the above ground include the removal of the previous TV spots from the website and a link on the beach to Gil's Myspace page.

RPA,[27] the company which created the Element and friends website, won the "Best in Show"[28] from MIXX Awards for the microsite.

After the Element won the Dogcars.com's "Dog Car of the Year" award in 2007, Honda presented a dog-friendly package at the 2009 New York Auto Show[22] — with a pet restraint system, extendable cargo area load-in ramp, 12V DC rear ventilation fan, second-row seat covers with a simple beige dog-outline pattern design to match the bed cover fabric, all-season rubber floor mats with a toy bone pattern,[29] a fan, and "Dog Friendly" exterior pawprint emblems.