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2004 new car guide, model guide, new car reviews, by brand

2004 HONDA LINE-UP
HONDA SUVS

HondaHonda has four multi-use vehicles in the 2004 collection of SUVs and each differs in size, organization and purpose. The group includes the midsize Pilot sport-utility vehicle, CR-V compact SUV, boxy Element the cargo-hauling van and Odyssey, a seven-passenger minivan.

Pilot popped out of a Canadian assembly plant in Ontario last year as the first SUV designed and built exclusively by Honda. While it appears tough and strong in the shape of a boxy sport-ute, it differs from a conventional truck-based SUV because it springs from a unitized structure that's innately stiff and strong, and there's a smart four-wheel-drive (4WD) system permanently engaged to direct the engine's muscle to all wheels when needed to maintain tire traction and keep the vehicle moving forward. In Pilot's spacious cabin, all aspects seem comfortable and convenient in the Honda tradition, with capacity extending to eight passengers.

Element, best described as a mobile dorm room, is a basic vehicle with cavernous wash-and-wear cabin that's flexible and convertible to accommodate four riders and all sorts of packed gear. Honda's designers equate the concept of Element with a California lifeguard station, a shack on stilts like the ones on "Baywatch" TV shows. It's a small but livable space, carefree but cleanable with a broom or sponge, secure and lockable, but quite simple in design, scale and concept. The variation for Element is that wheels have been added, plus the locomotion mechanisms of a sturdy SUV rigged with a thrifty but strong four-pack powerplant.

The name explains Honda's compact SUV: Comfortable Runabout Vehicle. For simplicity, Honda shortens it to the initials of CR-V. It's a five-door crossover sport-utility built on the platform of a car. Current versions emerged in a new design two years ago and repeat for 2004.

Honda's design for Odyssey the minivan first appeared in 1999 on a longer and broader platform with the floor set at a low level like a car so you could step in or out easily. Making a van more like a car has always been the big idea behind a minivan, of course, but until Honda's design appeared no other automaker dared to structure and equip a minivan with so many car-like comforts. That overriding concept of making a minivan easy to drive and easy to use explains why Odyssey has been so successful in a market filled with keen competitors.

Honda Pilot
2004 Honda Pilot

Honda's midsize SUV has a tall stance for clearing off-road obstacles and a 4WD system works constantly but automatically to maintain traction on pavement or dirt.

It delivers plenty of muscle, thanks to the aluminum V6 powerplant. With single overhead camshaft and four valves in every cylinder, the advanced engine displaces 3.5 liters and uses Honda's remarkable VTEC (variable value timing and lift electronic control) valvetrain to precisely manage engine breathing and combustion in order to maximize horsepower and disperse the torque across a broad band. It produces a hardy 240 hp.

Cabin capacity extends to eight seats in an arrangement with twin buckets on the first row, a bench for three on the second row and a third bench that holds three children. Benches on rows two and three split 60/40 to vary the layout as seatbacks fold flat. With all seats down, the broad, long and tall compartment provides up to 90 cubic feet of cargo space. Safety equipment includes both front and side air bags, shoulder belts and headrests at every seat position, and child seat anchors on the second row.

Pilot comes in two well-equipped versions of LX and EX. The LX stocks air conditioning, power for windows and door locks and mirrors, cruise control, and a stereo audio system with CD deck. EX adds automatic climate controls, eight-way driver's seat, alloy wheels, roof rails and a fold-down activity tray for kids. New features for EX-L (the L indicates leather upholstery added) are heated seats and heated side mirrors, plus new body colors like Evergreen Pearl and Midnight Blue Metallic.

Read our Review: Honda Pilot                                    

Honda Element
2004 Honda Element

Only a quick glance at Honda's cubistic crate on wheels will tell you this isn't another tot-toting sport-utility vehicle. Instead, it's a radical idea for gear-hauling basic transportation that amounts to a big box on wheels with scrub-able cabin and a thrifty but strong four-pack engine. It's stark and square and downright cubic yet fixed with seats for four plus a high-powered stereo that adds a connection for external audio kit like a MP3 player.

On those flat sides, check out the double doors: Front one's hinged up front but the adjoining rear door has hinges on the tail side and both doors open wide in suicide-door fashion to forge a broad pillar-less opening on each side for stuffing gear aboard -- trail bikes, snowboards, maybe even a sofa and stereo speakers to outfit that dorm room. Then at the rear the hatch door consists of top and bottom sections that swing open like a clam's shell -- the lower lid folds down flat in line with the cargo floor as a seat or loading dock while the top one swings up until it's horizontal with the roof. It shelters the bay when up and creates an opening as wide and tall as the cargo bay.

Inside, the flat floor of Element is covered by a hard urethane-coated surface that sweeps out and wipes down fast. Likewise, the four flip-and-fold seats in the cabin are also designed for quick cleaning. Front seats are clad in a feel-good fabric that's actually waterproof while two back seats wear durable vinyl upholstery. Layout consists of a pair of firm bucket-style seats in front and followed by two broader buckets set side-by-side in a second row.

Seatbacks for the front set fold rearward until flat, as do both seatbacks on the second row. In effect, with all seatbacks folded down you end up with two long rows that resemble cots or sleeper seats. And back seats perform other tricks - each has a hinge on its outboard flank so the entire seat flips up to rest in vertical stance out of the way against the cabin wall. Or each seat pod may be removed entirely - they're light in weight and easy to eliminate.

For locomotion, Element carries the engine used by CR-V, a twin-cam 2.4-liter in-line-four with aluminum block and heads and Honda's i-VTEC variable timing valvetrain. It delivers 160 hp and mates with either the standard manual five-speed or optional automatic four-speed transaxle for the FWD version or one with Honda's intelligent 4WD device permanently engaged to send the engine's power to all wheels.

Two levels of trim apply to Element - DX and EX, and 2004 editions come in cool new colors, like the latest tint called Fiji Blue Pearl.

Honda CR-V
2004 Honda CR-V

Foundation for the compact-class CR-V wagon is a universal small-car platform that Honda uses for various products in markets around the world. It has a low center of gravity and a wide-track tread to improve vehicle stability in motion.

Access to the cabin comes from four passenger doors or a cargo door at the back that's hinged on the right side, swings wide with several indents to pause along the swing, and has a window that flips up and out of the way to reach small items without having to open the door. Cabin layout looks conventional with tall buckets up front and a folding bench in back that holds two adults comfortably or three in a pinch.  

However, unconventional designs inside make creative use of the space and add to comfort. For instance, the two front buckets are separated by a flat floor. With a manual transmission, the stick mounts on a center console in conventional format, but with an automatic transmission the shifter sticks directly out of the dashboard to the right of the steering wheel. That arrangement eliminates the need of a console so it vanishes, leaving the floor for walk-through space.

Rear seats split in unequal portions, each section slides fore and aft, the seatback reclines or folds forward and the folded seat tumbles forward, all to add flexibility in carving out space for people and cargo.

There are three trim variations. Entry point comes with a FWD LX that piles on convenience features. LX trim also works with 4WD, as does deluxe EX trim. All use the same engine, a 2.4-liter in-line-four that delivers 160 hp. An automatic four-speed is standard, but a manual five-speed is available with 4WD.

Honda Odyssey
2004 Honda Odyssey

Honda's minivan packs a powerful engine and long list of equipment for safety and comfort.

Odyssey's extended chassis, derived from Honda's popular Accord sedan, carries car-like independent suspension and steering mechanisms. The platform sets up a smooth and stable ride quality, while also forging a passenger compartment of generous dimensions. The 3.5-liter V6 generates 240 hp and links to a five-speed automatic transmission.

Odyssey has two sliding side doors set behind front hinged doors. Top trim EX uses power controls to open and close the sliders. Inside, there are three rows of seats in place. Honda provides two individual captain-style chairs up front in a cockpit outfitted with all of the convenient features you would expect in a luxury sedan. Odyssey's second-row seats move around to several positions for flexibility in hauling people and gear.

The two captain's chairs slide together into a bench when more floor area is needed on the right side. These seats also can be removed easily by simply flipping a latch or two -- and one person can do that job, thanks to lightweight frames. Reaching the second-row seats is also easy: Just open a door, slip aboard and buckle up. Access comes from either side due to the dual sliding doors, and without bending and scooting or crawling.

Reaching the third tier's two-person bench requires more work, but not so to fold it flat into the floor because this thing flips and tucks in a clever vanishing act. As a secondary trick, the third bench also flips down and back to the floor so the seatback becomes the seat and the seat is the back, all facing rearward as a handy perch at a tailgate party. Then the top-hinged gate swings up so you can stand beneath it in shelter.

All aspects of Odyssey's interior orient toward comfort -- from power windows and door locks along with other power-assisted controls such as cruise control to assets like front and rear air conditioning with controls at each seat, even rear heat ducts. Deluxe options extend to a navigation system with leather package and DVD-based entertainment system. Latest paint shades for Odyssey are Evergreen Pearl and Redrock Pearl.  (CONTINUE...)

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