Crash Test Rating
Source   NHTSA
MPG (up to)
19 -20 City / 24 -25 HWY
Horsepower
166
Seats
4
Front passenger 3/4 w/ wheels turned.

Positive Owner Reviews

accountCircle George M
Good visibility and easy to drive - I like it. Easy to get in and out of. Comfortable for four people. And affordable.
Love the car. Drives well. Easy to see out the windshield. Seat is too close to the steering wheel. Poor gas mileage. Lots of carrying space.
accountCircle Lin G
Honda Elements are the best Utility vehicles!
It is utility at its best, the seats are easily removable or they can be folded up to the side. It has a ton of cargo room. It gets great gas mileage, I usually get 26 miles to the gallon. I have the highest trim level so I have a backup camera, navigation, and voice recognition.
accountCircle Amanda N
Honda element, the best of the box shaped cars if you love to travel w/dogs!
I love that there's no carpet to vacuum or keep clean especially since I live at the beach & have 2 dogs that love to get wet & sandy! The material the seats are made out of is practically water resistant & if it does get damp it dries really fast. I like how much room there is in the back & both seats lay back & fold up making it completely open. . . Enough space to sleep back there if necessary. When traveling long distances w/2 dogs they're much more comfortable like that. The way the doors open up across from each other is great if no cars are parked next to you. My only complaint is the doors & that is only when cars are next to you & you must open the front door before the back door can be opened & then you are stuck between the 2 doors in a box if a car is beside you. Other than that I love it!
accountCircle Robert W
Comfortable cross-country cruiser. Spacious with good navigational sight lines.
Cabin space is amazing, I am not small in girth nor height. The fold up rear seats make stowage fairly easy. The rear suicide doors can be an issue for loading/unloading into the back seat because parking spaces seem to be getting narrower in my area. I have taken it on multiple 700 mile trips, and it is comfortable to be in it for up to 11 hours a day.
accountCircle Andrea B
Honda Element is award winning
This vehicle is wonderful! The gas mileage is decent, and I live how smooth the car drives in all kinds of weather. It has many safety features and fits our family of three plus our dog absolutely perfect! It really is the perfect size for our family. It's not too big or not too small. I like how the doors are unique in how they open, and it is quite roomy. There are options to move the seats to make even more room! I have always loved Honda's but I have to say that the Honda Element is probably my favorite car that I have owned so far, because of the size, safety, amenities, and the quality. I have owned many cars in my lifetime but I have to say that owning a Honda absolutely sets my mind at ease because of the superior quality of the brand. Not only that but these cars last forever! Thy literally keep going and going! With every Honda I have ever owned, each one has literally continued running way past it should have! I have put literally thousands upon thousands of miles on each and every one of my Honda's, and they just continue going and going! You are getting so much bang for your buck with the high end brands such as the name Honda.
accountCircle Matthew D
Lots of space, good sound.
Element keeps running strong after 10+ years. One thing that I love is the back; there’s tons of cargo space. I have been able to move cross-country twice just by packing all my stuff in the car. The speakers are stock, and still sound very nice and loud. Plenty of low-end, and when there is not enough you have the subwoofer option.
accountCircle Angela S
Great for kids, easy to clean.
The only issues I have is how top heavy it can be, you have to be very careful going around curves and turns. The seats are not the most comfortable for long trips. However perfect for kids it's so easy to clean. The way the back doors work can be annoying in a parking lot if someone parks too close.
accountCircle Nicole B
This Honda has lots of space, feels big on the inside, and is very easy to park.
My Honda element has been extremely reliable. The large front window is more like a large window in a truck than one in a sedan. The angle of the window is more comfortable for my eyes than most vehicle windshields since I have tbi (traumatic brain injury) and have many vision issues. The back seats are comfortable, spacious, and enjoyable to sit in. The vehicle is lined with plastic and is extremely easy to clean compared to cars with cloth interiors. The speakers sound great and I enjoy listening to anything I want to by using the aux input that is already in the car. I am not very strong, so the back seats are difficult to remove. Once the seats are removed, there is a lot of space in the back. I was very grateful to have this car when I last moved to a new location since I was able to pack so much into it. I love how all of the doors open and enjoy opening the back and sitting on it. The car feels very large on the inside, but small on the outside. It feels very easy to park. I recommend this vehicle to anyone that enjoys outdoor recreational activities.

Negative Owner Reviews

accountCircle Casey R
Honda element’s lack of carpet.
This car is extremely reliable and feels very safe. It is best suited for working and traveling. There are no carpets, which can be an upside or a downside. I have had to put a rug in the back so my groceries do not roll. It also has large blind spots.
accountCircle Daniel S
My review of my Honda element.
It performs well by starting, staying clean, and keeping a good standard of mpg. All parts are in good working order. The tires are great. The wheels are in good shape. The transmission and engine are working well and have never needed replacement. I only get oil changes once in a while.
accountCircle Britt C
Great car - Honda element.
There really is not no a problem with the Honda element I have got at the moment. The oil leak is really only issue that I am facing at the moment. Other than that I like the car and enjoy the space in it. The back seat you've got so much leg room it is absolutely wonderful.
accountCircle Jessica P
Functional, but inconvenient for young families.
The vehicle is great for people that like the outdoors. The hard plastic floor is easy to keep clean. Gas mileage is ok. I do not like the suicide style opening and closing of the doors. It is difficult to use with small children or families. And the car only has 4 seats at maximum.
accountCircle Emily K
The good the bad and the ugly.
I feel like my car is pretty reliable, there are not any major issues. The one thing that really bugs me about it though is that the back seat doors open backwards and you need the front doors to open first before you can open the back and vice versa. Also, while sitting in the back, you do not really get to see out the window because you are higher than the front seats.
accountCircle Gidget M
Honda element needs done more elements.
Reliability is great! It rides greats. It does not require a lot of maintenance. Back seats are very uncomfortable. I'd love it if it weren't for the some other features. I cannot put car seats in the back seats, because they do not fit right. The seat is too short. I can drive my grandkids in my car. I dislike the back suicide doors.

Honda Element Models

Models also known as Trim Levels, are used to identify a vehicle's level of equipment or special features.

car
LX
166 HP 21 MPG 4 Seats
car
EX
166 HP 21 MPG 4 Seats
car
SC
166 HP 22 MPG 4 Seats
car
EX w/Navi
166 HP 21 MPG 4 Seats
Photos may not match model

2010 Honda Element Owner Reviews

4.43
44 Reviews
close Write Review
5 stars 57%
4 stars 30%
3 stars 14%
2 stars 0%
1 star 0%
accountCircle Britt C on June 3, 2021
Great car - Honda element.
There really is not no a problem with the Honda element I have got at the moment. The oil leak is really only issue that I am facing at the moment. Other than that I like the car and enjoy the space in it. The back seat you've got so much leg room it is absolutely wonderful.
accountCircle Casey R on May 12, 2021
Honda element’s lack of carpet.
This car is extremely reliable and feels very safe. It is best suited for working and traveling. There are no carpets, which can be an upside or a downside. I have had to put a rug in the back so my groceries do not roll. It also has large blind spots.

Pros from Owners

likeFilled Nicole F.

Everything! The seats fold up for easy hauling, camping, etc. It can haul a lot for a smallish vehicle. I love the square shape. I like the uniqueness about it. I can put the seats in hundreds of configurations without needing assistance.

likeFilled Paula W.

Lots of room, great cargo space, seats very adjustable. I bought the car new and never have had any major problems: just routine maintenance. Great for people with children. Waterproof upholstery that feels like fine cloth.

Cons from Owners

dislikeFilled Nicole F.

The only con is that the front seat belts are attached to the front seats. This causes the seatbelts to cut into your next sometimes while driving / riding. I know this was a change from prior models and I wish the seat belts were attached to the doors like before.

dislikeFilled Paula W.

High step in, when the 2 back seats are up in the hanging position, hard to see to back up. This really is the only problem I see in the design. I cannot believe Honda stopped making this model. Also, I wish it got better mileage. Mine gets 20+ miles to the gallon.

Ranks #5 Compact SUV by Owners

The 2010 Honda Element has an average owner rating of 4.35 out of 5 which ranks it #5 of 27 other Compact SUVs.

1
car
4.83
2
car
4.58
5
Tie
car
4.43

Ranks #6 Compact SUV by Fuel Economy

The 2010 Honda Element has a combined MPG of 28 which ranks it #6 of 27 other Compact SUVs.

1
Tie
car
31 MPG
1
Tie
car
31 MPG
6
Tie
car
25 MPG

Is The 2010 Honda Element A Good Car?

Yes, I enjoy the comfortable, seat. It is rather small but perfect for an independent. Has a good sounds system, bass could be better.
Sandra W.
Yes, the style of the car allows it to be used in various terrain and is easy to clean. The seats are comfortable and spacious.
Anthony W.

How Reliable Is The 2010 Honda Element?

I bought it new and kept good care of it. Regular oil changes and tire rotations. No major concerns but I also don't travel far with it
Nikki S.
Overall, the care is reliable. I have experienced issues with the radio and air conditioning, but they have been solved easily. I think it is a dependable vehicle.
Angela R.

Is The 2010 Honda Element A Good Value?

I can't remember exactly how much it cost. It was a good value at the time. If I had the choose I would upgrade and go with something newer
Allison D.
I believe it cost around $10,000 used when purchased in 2012. I think it is good value. I plan on using the vehicle for the foreseeable future.
Tammie W.

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Safety & Reliability

NHTSA Logo
NHTSA Crash Test

Overall

Front

Rollover

Side

*National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
IIHS Logo
IIHS Crash Test

Moderate Overlap Front

Side

Roof Strength

Driver-side Overlap Front

Not Rated
*Insurance Institute for Highway Safety