BYE-BYE TO THE BOX.(News)(Honda)

Byline: MAC MORRISON

Judged by the relatively low 18,377 miles we logged in our long-term Honda Element, the boxy mini ute never achieved staff-favorite status. (Our long-term Chevy TrailBlazer covered 35,777 miles.) Blame the Element's lack of popularity on its icebox-inspired exterior and plastic-laden interior, two oft-repeated editor criticisms. But while staffers in search of driving fun fought over stints in our long-term Nissan 350Z and Mini Cooper S, we never hesitated to snag the Element's key when utilitarian chores beckoned.

Our fwd EX model easily handled a variety of tasks and driving conditions, from grocery and Home Depot runs to vacation drives. Our news editor, an avid outdoor enthusiast, loaded our tester with all the hunting gear needed to thin Michigan's large deer population. Despite his fellow hunters' predilection for enormous American workhorses, they seemed to sincerely appreciate the Honda's usefulness. "After the initial shock wore off,'' our newsman said, "most other hunters I encountered thought the Element was a nifty tool for outdoorsmen. After all, people who hunt have a pretty high appreciation of functionality.''

As do others. Our art director transported his handcrafted wares to a local art show-though not before a fellow motorist took exception to the Element's appearance and yelled, "Get your money back!''-and several owner/artists we heard from use their Elements for similar duty. One transported two six-foot-tall trees, the peaks protruding through the optional rear skylight (unfortunately available only on awd models).

Speaking of owners, many we heard from praised the Element's ride and handling, and most of our staff agree the MacPherson strut front and double-wishbone rear suspension design provides better than expected roadholding. The well-controlled chassis and its response to steering input surprised more than one driver. "The Element is nicer to drive than a CR-V [with which it shares a platform and powertrain] if you drive hard,'' one said. Another commented, "From behind the wheel the Element feels very car-like. Great engine, great gearbox.''

Still, we noted a distinct drop in performance whenever we loaded the cargo bay to capacity with people and paraphernalia. The effect was most obvious when we drove our tester up steep inclines and as we merged onto crowded freeways. That said, neither the drivetrain nor any other major component failed during our yearlong test. The trucklet's overall mechanical reliability impressed us. And Honda's time-saving maintenance schedule meant the mandatory 10,000-mile service appointment was one of the few times ...