2010 Honda Element EX

Honda makes pups a priority in Dog Friendly Element

Wed, Dec 30th 2009

Ever since it came out, the Honda Element has been a favorite of dog owners. Charmed by its functional shape and ease of cleaning, they viewed it as a crate on wheels, perfect for hauling Biff the Boxer and Louie the Lab to dog shows, agility trials or even just to the veterinarian.

Its easily removable rear passenger seats (which can also be folded up, down or to the side) and its interior dimensions made it suitable for big and tall canine passengers such as Great Danes and Scottish Deerhounds. Honda recognized the potential for a new class of customer and created a package with dog-friendly features, available this year as a dealer-installed option on 2010 Element EX models.

The first car to be branded for dog owners is equipped with a specially designed soft-sided crate lined with a cushioned bed, an extendable ramp for easy loading and unloading of canine passengers, a fan, a spill-resistant water bowl, bone-patterned rubber floor mats, and a tote bag containing a leash, collar, ID tag and bag dispenser. The rear passenger seats and the bed are covered in an easy-clean dog-print fabric. A backup camera and GPS are secondary dog-friendly elements: the first so you don’t run over Rover if he’s lying in your driveway and the second so you can find your way to training class.

My dogs are used to riding in a crate, albeit not one with a cushy bed inside it, and they seemed to enjoy this one as we drove to Balboa Island to view the holiday lights. Because of its soft sides, I didn’t worry as much about them getting banged up if I made a quick turn, and I loved being able to put all three of them in it, with room left over. The back seat had more than enough room for 14-year-old Bella’s stroller.

The ramp, which stores beneath the bed platform, was not excessively heavy, making it easy to pull out and set up. My two older dogs trotted up and down it happily. They’ll do anything if they’re being lured with treats. The puppy was more suspicious, but it didn’t matter. We used the ramp only once, just to try it out. The rest of the time I just picked them up, tossed them in and zipped up the kennel. It’s a great option, though, for larger dogs who can’t be lifted or those with infirmities that make them unable to jump into the crate on their own.

One thing I really liked about the combination of the built-in kennel and the tinted windows on the model I had was that no one could tell that there were dogs inside, or even a dog crate in the car, although the pawprint badging might be a clue. That’s a great safety factor in these days of rising dog theft. Of course, it’s preferable not to ever leave dogs unattended in the car, especially on warm or hot days, but there are times when drivers must do so for short periods.

The lack of visibility prevents people from tapping on the window to get the dog’s attention or trying to remove the dog from the car. That said, it’s important to know that the fan doesn’t run when the car is off. For safety reasons, Honda doesn’t want to encourage people to leave their dogs in the car on the assumption that the fan will prevent them from overheating. Good for them!

While the accessories are a plus for certain dog owners, not every element of this vehicle is as well thought out. The suicide doors are a case in point. They can’t be opened without first opening the front doors, and because of the direction in which they open, it’s inconvenient and sometimes downright difficult to load items into the back seat, especially if you have other cars parked on either side of you.

The rear tailgate is heavy and closes with a satisfying thunk. People with little upper-body strength might find it difficult to lift, though.

I appreciated the acceleration of the 4-cylinder engine. I expected it to be stodgy, but I was pleasantly surprised by its quickness and power.

If you value driving comfort as much as dog-friendliness, you may be disappointed, however. The Element is a noisy ride and visibility toward the rear and sides is not the best. The seat belt didn’t seem to be conveniently positioned. I always had to fumble for it, more so than in other cars.

Honda’s dog-friendly Element won’t satisfy all dog owners, but it’s not for lack of trying.

Much of what makes a great dog car depends on the individual dog and lifestyle, not to mention the driver’s preferences. And much as I liked the crate and bed, I’m not convinced that the dog package as a whole is worth $995. It’s an admirable effort nonetheless.

-- Kim Campbell Thornton

Carguy Comments: While the 2010 Honda Element comes in three trim levels: the base Element LX, the more refined Element EX and the sports Element SC, the Dog Friendly package is available only on the Element EX. All Element models feature a 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine with five-speed automatic transmission. Real Time 4WD is available on the LX and EX models. Cargo area in all models is 74.6 cubic feet with rear seats removed.

-- Keith Turner, The Family Car

Barking Lot Banter: Hurray for Honda for making the safety and comfort of our pups a top priority in the new, dog friendly Element.