The four-seat Element was designed to carry large loads on a relatively small platform. Unlike the CRV sport utility on which it is based, it has two rear hatch doors instead of full-size ones. Since the pillars that normally separate the front and rear doors have been eliminated, the load space is enlarged, but extra structural members were added to compensate for the loss of stiffness. Honda had high hopes for the Element, which was designed specifically for the U.S. market, but its appeal proved limited. The more fully-doored CRV, on the other hand, became a huge hit and a staple of Honda's lineup.
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