If you haven’t yet figured it out, Honda’s aiming at a 22-year-old guy who lives for extreme sports. So I was tongue-tied when hoards of soccer moms came rushing over to check out the Element last week as I picked up my son from school. “It’s sooo stylish,” said one overage hipster. More than one member of Honda’s target audience disagreed. “It’s ugly,” screamed a twentysomething guy as he pulled out of a gas station. I hope he wasn’t talking about me. Thing is, the Element is cheap, roomy and doesn’t guzzle gas. The high-riding vehicle with skinny tires felt a little tippy, so I took it easy on corners–something 20-year-old thrill seekers might not do. Maybe Honda needs to tweak its marketing plan.
Tip: Perfect for minivan drivers in touch with their inner teenagers.
