Really, Honda has created the ultimate compact cargo van with fold down passenger seats. It reminds me of the work vans my dad used to bring home from his steel fabrication shop when we needed to get some yard work done. The Element would be ideal for this application. Its massive cargo area, exaggerated by a box-like shape and enhanced with a low lift over height to its stubby drop down tailgate makes loading and unloading almost any size object relatively easy.

About the only thing that's conventional is the driveline, pulled almost directly out of the CR-V. The 160-hp 2.4-L 4-cylinder engine is down by an imperceptible single foot pound of torque, delivering 161 lb-ft to the front wheels unless 4WD is ordered. The Element is slightly heavier than Honda's compact SUV too, which slows progress minimally.

To be fair it goes pretty well. Zero to 100 km/h in front wheel drive Elements takes only 9.9 seconds, hardly neck-snapping but it won't hold up traffic in a highway merge lane. Accelerating in the 4WD model is less invigorating, reaching 100 km/h in only 12.3 seconds. But it handles pretty well in either configuration, due to a fairly wide stance, independent suspension and P215/70R16 tires either mated to stylized steel wheels or 5-spoke alloys.

I found it easy to parallel park as well. Its power assisted steering is light at slow speeds plus its van-like visibility and short overhangs left me room to spare at either end.