Will Electric Cars Destroy Your Neighborhood...
Green
Trucks
Luxury
Family
Brand
Muscle
See more sites from  HighGear  M E D I A  >>
Compare this car to others like it Try our car compare tool now

2009 Honda Element Safety Review

March 19, 2009

SAFETY | 9 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

Good," frontal offset impact; "good," side impact
IIHS

Five stars, frontal impacts; five stars, side impacts; three stars, rollover risk
NHTSA

Active front seat head restraints have been designed to help reduce the severity of neck injuries in the event of a rear impact
Autoblog

The 2009 Honda Element may look a bit quirky, but when it comes to safety, it’s all business. The Honda Element excels in crash tests and offers a wide range of standard safety equipment.

Very few cars manage to sweep both the IIHS and NHTSA crash tests, but the 2009 Honda Element is one of those rare breeds. The Honda Element earns the IIHS's highest possible score, "good," in both the frontal offset and side impact tests. In NHTSA testing, the 2009 Honda Element also wins perfect five-star ratings in all impact tests, including front and side impacts. In addition, the Honda 2009 Element garners a Top Safety Pick 2009 award from the IIHS, which cites the Honda Element's "good performance in front, side, and rear tests and standard electronic stability control." The only cause for concern on the 2009 Honda Element is its poor rollover rating from NHTSA, a mere three stars, due to its tall, narrow stature.

In case those stellar crash-test ratings don't convince you that the 2009 Honda Element is a safe vehicle, Honda packs a wide array of safety features into this Honda 2009 Element. Edmunds predicts that the latest edition of the Honda Element "should also be safer than ever, thanks to new safety equipment including standard stability control and optional side curtain airbags." Autoblog notes that the Honda 2009 Element "is equipped with dual-stage, dual-threshold supplemental restraint system (SRS) airbags for the driver and front passenger." Reviews read by TheCarConnection.com also invariably mention the rollover capabilities of the airbags, as Motor Trend points out that "both front- and rear-seat passengers get side-curtain airbags, which the vehicle can adjust for optimal protection in the event of a rollover."

Another critical element of overall safety is the field of view afforded the driver, and the Honda Element does an above-average job in this regard. ConsumerGuide notes that the "SUV-tall driving stance and short nose offer a panoramic feel, but the roof pillars slice into visibility aft and over the shoulders." Fortunately, an available rearview camera should help increase driver awareness to the rear of the Honda Element.

Conclusion

With the exception of rollover concerns, the 2009 Honda Element is tops for safety.

SAFETY | 9 out of 10Expert Quotes:Good," frontal offset impact; "good," side impactIIHSFive stars, frontal impacts; five stars, side impacts; three stars, rollover riskNHTSAActive front seat head restraints have been designed to help reduce the severity of neck injuries in the event of a rear impactAutoblog The 2009 Honda Element may look a bit quirky, but when it comes to safety, it’s all business. The Honda Element excels in crash tests and offers a wide range of standard safety equipment. Very few cars manage to sweep both the IIHS and NHTSA crash tests, but the 2009 Honda Element is one of those rare breeds. The Honda Element earns the IIHS's highest possible score, "good," in both the frontal offset and side impact tests. In NHTSA testing, the 2009 Honda Element also wins perfect five-star ratings in all impact tests, including front and side impacts. In addition, the Honda 2009 Element garners a Top Safety Pick 2009 award from the IIHS, which cites the Honda Element's "good performance in front, side, and rear tests and standard electronic stability control." The only cause for concern on the 2009 Honda Element is its poor rollover rating from NHTSA, a mere three stars, due to its tall, narrow stature. In case those stellar crash-test ratings don't convince you that the 2009 Honda Element is a safe vehicle, Honda packs a wide array of safety features into this Honda 2009 Element. Edmunds predicts that the latest edition of the Honda Element "should also be safer than ever, thanks to new safety equipment including standard stability control and optional side curtain airbags." Autoblog notes that the Honda 2009 Element "is equipped with dual-stage, dual-threshold supplemental restraint system (SRS) airbags for the driver and front passenger." Reviews read by TheCarConnection.com also invariably mention the rollover capabilities of the airbags, as Motor Trend points out that "both front- and rear-seat passengers get side-curtain airbags, which the vehicle can adjust for optimal protection in the event of a rollover." Another critical element of overall safety is the field of view afforded the driver, and the Honda Element does an above-average job in this regard. ConsumerGuide notes that the "SUV-tall driving stance and short nose offer a panoramic feel, but the roof pillars slice into visibility aft and over the shoulders." Fortunately, an available rearview camera should help increase driver awareness to the rear of the Honda Element. ConclusionWith the exception of rollover concerns, the 2009 Honda Element is tops for safety. 2009 HONDA ELEMENT STYLING | [7 out of 10] Edmunds: "One of the most distinctive and useful shapes on the road" Car and Driver: " Honda has retooled its Maytag-square Element to be more urban-hipster chic" ConsumerGuide: "Simple, convenient climate and audio controls" There's nothing ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

Scion's xB is a capacious, convenient vehicle, but has recently grown bigger and heavier (some 600 pounds greater than before), diluting its nimbleness; with that extra weight, its more powerful 2.4-liter engine delivers lower fuel economy without much more impressive performance than the former 1.5-liter. The Mazda5 is probably the Element's fiercest competitor in terms of value and convenience, though its minivan silhouette might make it a no-go for some. Finally, Kia's upcoming Soul promises a strong dose of fresh style in the mini-crossover market, though initial driving impressions rate it as somewhat less refined than the 2009 Honda Element. For those who love and need vans—especially small-business owners—the Ford Transit Connect arrives for the 2010 model year with a four-cylinder powertrain and a customizable rear cargo area.

Next Steps:

Get a free price quote

for the 2009 Honda Element from a dealer near you

Check Insurance Rates

for the 2009 Honda Element

Check Financing Rates

for the 2009 Honda Element

Check Local Classifieds

for a 2009 Honda Element near you

See the Honda Element in Other Years:

2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003

Comments (0 total)

Be the first to post a comment

Post a comment

Post anonymously, or
(Required)
(Required - will not be published, sold or shared)
(Optional - your 'posted by' name will link to the URL)

Remember Me?

I have read TheCarConnection.com's privacy policy