So they big day has come. I've been torn on both these vehicles, usually leaning one way for a while then the other way. I have to buy a car in less than 2 weeks when I go home on leave. I've been a CRV lean for a bit now since I got San Diego orders and will be there for 4 1/2 years, I've thought about the Element again. Even recently thought about the Jeep but I'm not sure it's really worth it. Plus I get a sorta hook up with Honda with pricing.


Opinions!!!

A co-worker of my wife's had an '08 Element and loved it before she totalled it in an accident, from a style perspective the Element garners wide opinions. The CR-V is a little more accessible to people and the recent body change is a nice look IMO, so if re-sale is a factor the CR-V has an advantage. I believe they both run the same I-4 engine, and in San Diego you won't need AWD. The Element is marketed as a young 20-something-ish vehicle for people that want easy interior adjustments, whereas the CR-V is a little more refined. Both should be reliable options that will get 100,000+ miles easy with relatively light maintenance costs.

The Element is by far my least favorite car out there.....not a fan at all.

Take a look at the Pilot.

Pilot is too expensive for me.

cant go wrong with either one. crv will have far better resale value as element sales are bottoming out. pilots get terrible gas mileage due to axle ratio plus harder to park if thats an issue. used to be a sales manager at a honda dealership, just going on that experience plus i am now sales mgr at a gm dealership. you cant go wrong with a honda, but you might want to check out the 2010 chevrolet equinox. looks much better than a crv but still the same size. good luck and enjoy your new ride!

Ugh, my wife test drove a Pilot and said it was the ugliest vehicle she's ever driven, as for the performance ok but truck-like - both the Element and CR-V will handle more like cars. Whoever designed the front grill for the Pilot needs to be fired. But those vehicles fly off dealership lots and have mega resale value. Certainly the Honda quality reputation helps, but IMO if you're in the Pilot price range there are better choices.

I'm definitely not in the Pilot price range.

I suggest the Pilot.

Well I do love the CRV even though it's a family type vehicle. I am 30 lol. The only drawback to the Element for me is it only seats 4 and the back doors you have to open the front ones to open the back. One reason I'm upgrading from my Civic 2Dr is that reason.

Pilot.

I own an '08 Element and you simply CAN NOT GO WRONG with it. Awesome vehicle. I've driven it for close to a year and a half now. Not a single problem. As for the complaint about the back doors, I can understand that if you use the back a lot. But, I just don't notice it. Most people think it's really neat. Plus......the best thing about the Element is the fact that the back seats come completely out and BOTH front seats lay completely flat. Just last week I was out somewhere and had a little too much sauce. I always keep a blanket in my Element and I simply took the headrests off the front seats and both seats lay completely flat and form a bed. When you're drinking...it's actually pretty nice. So, I slept that off in the Element. Ha. There's just many things you can do with it that you can't do with other vehicles. That's all I'm saying...and the Honda reputation and reliability come with it and all of that. So, yeah...I'd say, go with the Element.

Both are great cars but, I would go with a CRV.

Have you looked at the Pilot?

visionquest;388192 wrote:I own an '08 Element and you simply CAN NOT GO WRONG with it. Awesome vehicle. I've driven it for close to a year and a half now. Not a single problem. As for the complaint about the back doors, I can understand that if you use the back a lot. But, I just don't notice it. Most people think it's really neat. Plus......the best thing about the Element is the fact that the back seats come completely out and BOTH front seats lay completely flat. Just last week I was out somewhere and had a little too much sauce. I always keep a blanket in my Element and I simply took the headrests off the front seats and both seats lay completely flat and form a bed. When you're drinking...it's actually pretty nice. So, I slept that off in the Element. Ha. There's just many things you can do with it that you can't do with other vehicles. That's all I'm saying...and the Honda reputation and reliability come with it and all of that. So, yeah...I'd say, go with the Element.

This is the first person I've heard of who owns an Element. I like the fact that it does all the stuff with the seats and everything is easy cleanup. But the limit to 2 people in the back kinda stink especially since I always end up with a full car of people.

I'd suggest the pilot.

ernest_t_bass;388294 wrote:I'd suggest the pilot.

+1

the CRV and Element are both built in Ohio at Hondas East LIberty auto plant,,the Element is a great vehicle with ease of loading and unloading any cargo you might want to carry but the CRv is more of a car like SUV,,i would get the CRV in your case.

The_Crosby_Show;388402 wrote:the CRV and Element are both built in Ohio at Hondas East LIberty auto plant,,the Element is a great vehicle with ease of loading and unloading any cargo you might want to carry but the CRv is more of a car like SUV,,i would get the CRV in your case.

Yeah but what about the Pilot??

Definitely the Pilot. I had a co-worker that had one. It was sweet!

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the Pilot yet.

I own a Pilot but I also build them both ( CRV and Element) as Iwork at The East Liberty plant. I would go with the CRV........the Element is nice but it has the areodynamics of a billboard.

attaboy;388472 wrote:I own a Pilot. PILOT = GOAT.

fixed for accuracy.