The Honda Element is one of those vehicles that, if Honda were to bring it back tomorrow, would enjoy a brief sales surge driven almost entirely by existing owners replacing their own cars, followed by a notable slowdown. It has a devoted following, but it was never a high-volume proposition. That's why Honda moved on to churning out CR-Vs by the thousands instead. For Element devotees, though, there's good news: a last-year 2011 Honda Element has surfaced on Bring a Trailer (which, like Car and Driver, is part of Hearst Autos), and it is about as close to new as this model will ever get again.
The Element debuted for the 2003 model year and was designed at Honda America's R&D facility in Torrance, California. The studio had just marked its 50th anniversary and was deeply engaged in translating California culture into Honda products—vehicles that would then be assembled by workers in Ohio. The team on the Element decided, quite deliberately, that being square was the answer.
Flat-folding rear seats that could also be flipped up against the cabin walls, combined with a wipe-clean interior floor, made the Element a purpose-built adventure hauler capable of accommodating a ten-foot surfboard. In theory it was aimed at sun-drenched surf culture types. In practice, the Element found its most loyal audience among older buyers who appreciated its ease of entry, compact footprint, and dog-friendly low load floor.
Honda ended production after 2011, and with it went the cheerful color options and the sportier SC trim. This 2011 example is therefore a final-run model, and despite modest specs, it qualifies as a time capsule. It wears bright silver paint over sensible grey cloth upholstery. The wheels are 16-inch steel units with covers, and the tires were replaced in 2025. Essentials like a CD player, air conditioning, and cruise control are all present. The odometer reads just 16K miles.
Power comes from Honda's trustworthy 2.4-liter four-cylinder, good for 166 horsepower and 161 pound-feet of torque, paired with a five-speed automatic driving all four wheels. Fluids and coolant have been freshened this year.
This Element simply doesn't look 15 years old—it looks more like 15 months. Its history is clean, it's been properly serviced, and it needs nothing from its next owner. Well, perhaps one thing: a happy dog who enjoys going places.
The rear-hinged suicide doors and fold-away seats are peculiar by conventional standards, but the Element is a deeply practical machine with genuine character. If you've ever suspected you might be an Element person, here's your chance to find out for certain.
The auction ends on March 12.
