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First look: We get our paws on Dog Friendly Honda Element
November 17th, 2009, 10:27 am · 19 Comments · posted by Matt Degen
Honda’s Dog Friendly Element officially went on sale today, and we’ve already put one through the wringer with the help of my canine companion.
The special-edition Element features a built-in crate behind the rear seats and a ramp that can be pulled out so your dog can walk on up. A plug-in fan keeps circulation moving back there, and there is also a water bowl affixed to the crate portion. The kennel can house a dog up to 80 pounds, Torrance-based American Honda says.
The crate features a plush, washable mat, and the whole contraption can be removed if you don’t want to house your groceries in the same place your pooch has drooled.
Other traits that distinguish the Dog Friendly Element from regular models include rubberized floor mats with a bone pattern, removable seat covers that also feature a canine theme, and some paw-centric badging on the outer panels.
The Dog Friendly edition is only available on spruced-up EX models of the new Element, which is available in two- and four-wheel drive. The package adds $995 to that of regular EX models, which start at $22,635 for the two-wheel-drive version and $23,885 for the four-wheel-drive model.
Under the hood is the same 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine making 166 horsepower and 161 pounds-feet of torque.
EPA mileage is a little disheartening: 20 city/25 highway for the two-wheel-drive and 19/24 for the four-wheel-drive model, which is what we are testing this week.
Stay tuned for our full review of the Dog Friendly Element after we are done with a full week of testing.
You can also read what Pet Editor Samantha Gowen had to say about the new accessories.
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Great idea!
All of the fluffy and muffy owners will love this! Take it to the dog park if they want to advertise!
Bubbles!
Sweet, another shoebox on wheels!
I prefer to let my dogs hang their heads out the windows with their ears flapping in the wind. That Element thing looks a little hot and claustrophic.
Wait a minute! My dog sits up front. How do I explain dog gadgets to her when she thinks she’s a person?
And I Bet your dog has longer hair than you do
Great video, Matt
Way, way, way, way, way too small for Saint!
Great Video Matt!!
What a great idea. Now you can leave you dog in the car on a hot day and no one will notice you killing it and call the police…….
Very cool, but I need the two container option. I have two pugs and a English bulldog and the bulldog doesn’t like to share his space.
Ha! That’s an understandable issue, Real. Maybe in the future they’ll make a “zoned” edition.
I showed the video to my dog and he said no way! He likes looking out the window.
Has anyone come out with Dog On Board car stickers yet?
THIS IS THE SAME THING AS PUTTING YOUR PET IN THE TRUNK. Putting your beloved, helpless doggie in this CRAMPED HOT BLACK BOX is nothing less than CRUEL AND INHUMANE. Why doesn’t the driver ride in it first to see what a great idea it is. You can just tell that part of the joys of doggie life is putting their faces in the wind while riding in the car. Honda has managed to make a DEATHMOBILE for helpless pets. What if you’re rear-ended. They didn’t even take care to make it out of netting so the poor pet can see around. The fan doesn’t even blow air INTO the black coffin. Some idiot is trying to justify his/her pathetic job by coming up with this sales gimmick WITHOUT GIVING THE SLIGHTEST THOUGHT TO TO THE COMFORT OF A LIVING CREATURE TRAPPED IN IT.
22Fancy — Just to be clear, I don’t think anyone is suggesting one should ever leave his or her pet in this vehicle when the car is not in operation; this is for transportation only. As for the fan, it’s quite robust, as I felt when i crawled back there myself, and the air blows directly into the compartment.
Regarding dogs sticking their face out the window and getting fresh air, who doesn’t love seeing that? I have, however, heard reports that that can in fact do harm to a dog’s eyes. Can anyone out there comment on this, and whether it’s a healthy practice?
-Matt
Matt - I have read on several links (via Twitter) that letting a dog put its head out the window is NOT a good practice for several reasons:
#1 Wind dries out eyes.
#2 Debris in air could damage eyes.
#3 An emergency stop would slam head/neck into window frame.
I have heard that back windows do not roll down … is this true?
GoPetFriendly — Thank you for those observations. Others, please feel free to chime in on this subject.
Re: the rear windows, that is correct. They only pop out to let air in, so even if you wanted to, a dog could not stick its head out from the back seat.
-Matt
As a dog walker in LA, I can say that the Element was already dog friendly. I think they are trying a little too hard to create something that is redundant. I put an outdoor mat from Home Depot in the back which provides traction. The space is already secure and the air conditioning in the car already reaches the back so no need for the extra fan. This is a little gimmicky and cumbersome.
I find this whole concept very confusing. If the dog is trapped in a crate in the back, who is going to drive the car?