cars

Does not matter, both are ugly

element w/o a doubt, honda is proven quality and l think its a cool car, especially the burnt orange or the grey w/ painted fenders

No compoarison. Toyota Scion XB will have more options and reliability for less then element as well as room

I've owned both & prefer the xB.

For three years l enjoyed an AWD EX Element 5-speed that l bought new in late 2003. Then it began to have very un-Hondalike problems.just after the warranty expired. The killer was $1200 for a new heater core on a vehicle that was meticulously maintained.

On the plus side, the Element was big on the inside, small on the outside, fun to drive, well equipped, reasonably comfortable, & had a good balance of performance & fuel economy. l also liked that it did not look like everything else on the road & was built in the U.S.A.

On the minus side were the repair costs, the clam shell doors became annoying over time (getting in & out of the back seat requires some gymnstics), the plastic panels were a pain to keep looking nice, the Element revs high (3000 rpm at 60 mph) & only seats four. Although l did not have problems with it, friends had Elements with supposedly rugged interiors that did not hold up very well. Granted, l owned the first year of a new model, but the Element was essentially a rebodied CRV.and it was Honda for crying out loud!

The 2nd generation xB that replaced the Element has all of the good features that attracted me to the E in the first place except for AWD & it is built offshore. The xB seats five, is quieter, gets better gas mileage, has bettter airbag protection, ABS (so did the Element), stability control, traction control, a conventional door design & was almost $1500 cheaper out the door than the Element was in 2003 (and l got a deal on the Element). l also appreciate being able to wash the roof without a step ladder & the lower roofline makes loading kayaks much easier. The xB2 also has unique styling & is much more contemporary looking than the Element.but that is subjective, some people can not stand the way either one of them look.

The Element is design is going into its sixth year & is really beginning to show its age. l have not heard any buzz about a next generation design & wonder what the future holds for the Element. I've also found that with front wheel drive & traction control the xB2 handles quite well in the snow & l never used the Element for off roadng anyhow.

Bottom Line: If u do not need the AWD, go for the xB

Scion also has no-haggle pricing which makes buying the XB much easier than buying an Element. l just hate having to deal with car salesmen. l always feel like l am getting screwed.

element had some bad seats in it.of course both are now bigger, heavier and hungier for gas.

depends what you want it for. Look at the inside dimensions if you use it to carry things. l believe the Scion has better mileage but check that, too. Both are quite reliabel. l like the new 2009 xb styling more.