To hell with aesthetics!
Not to toot my own horn, but I designed the sound deadening treatments that are applied to the Element. For the people that cry "buy american", The vehicle was designed and built in Ohio.
I bought a used 04 for my wife about 15 months/18kmiles ago. It has 78k on it now with no issues. So far I am incredibly pleased. I have the AWD model and it is absolutely
unstopable in the winter. The plastic floor is a great for keeping clean. MPG is in the mid 20's with mostly city driving. The front and rear seating is incredibly roomy. The rear seats are mounted ~4" higher than the front, so the rear passengers get a good view of the road ahead. The factory stereo on the EX model is excellent.
From personal experience with Honda engineers, they are anal about ensuring their rust preventative treatment is fully applied during assembly. I assume they want to distance themselves from the stigma associated with their 80's and early 90's cars rusting easily. Michigan is known for its heavy salt usage on the winter roads and my car is totally rust free top to bottom, even though my wife drives like a bat-out-of-hell over several miles of gravel roads daily.
Only downsides I can list is that since its a 2.4liter, you won't be able to tow much at all. I think its rated at 1700lbs? I have never tried towing with it, so I can't tell you how it does. Also, the interior is cheap, but it is capable of holding up to abuse.
All-in-all, its great utilitarian transportation. I would definitely recommend these.
:biggrin: Hope this helps.