The new Honda Element is an ideal vehicle for those who need a lot of versatility to carry things, especially big things, of varying shapes and sizes. Outdoor recreation enthusiasts should be right at home. Also helping are 64 different interior configurations. The rear seats can be flipped up along the walls of the vehicle, folded down or totally removed. Bikes can be transported standing up, a rarity for any vehicle that isn't a full-size van.

Under the hood is a 2.4-liter i-VTEC four-cylinder with 166 horsepower, the same unit that does duty in Honda's similar-sized but more conventional-looking CR-V SUV. It allows the Element to tow up to 1,500 pounds. EPA fuel economy is rated at 18 mpg in the city and 23 on the highway for the manual. Both these numbers improve by two mpg with the automatic, to 20 and 25.