• Honda reportedly plans to revive the Element as a hybrid in 2029.
  • The new model could slot between the HR-V and CR-V.
  • Adventure-focused buyers appear to be the primary target audience.

Automakers are leaning hard into nostalgia lately, and Honda is no stranger to the game. The Prelude might not be a car for enthusiasts anymore, but at least it’s hitting its sales targets. If Honda gets its way, it’ll draw in more customers with the revival of the Element crossover. Reportedly arriving in 2029, it’ll feature boxy styling, rugged features, and a hybrid drivetrain.

According to a report from Autonews citing people “with knowledge of the plan,” Honda will kick off production of the new Element in the second quarter of 2029 at a plant in central Ohio. That facility would serve as the model’s only global production hub, with the automaker aiming for close to 100,000 units in the vehicle’s first full year on the market. Honda, predictably, declined to comment on future plans.

Filling A Gap In Honda’s Lineup

If accurate, the revived Element would slot between the HR-V and CR-V, giving Honda another entry in one of the industry’s hottest segments. It would also arrive at a time when buyers are flocking to vehicles that blend crossover practicality with adventure-themed styling.

Honda’s Boxy Element Could Return In 2029 With A Powertrain It Never Had
Honda’s Boxy Element Could Return In 2029 With A Powertrain It Never Had
Honda’s Boxy Element Could Return In 2029 With A Powertrain It Never Had
Honda’s Boxy Element Could Return In 2029 With A Powertrain It Never Had
Honda’s Boxy Element Could Return In 2029 With A Powertrain It Never Had
Honda’s Boxy Element Could Return In 2029 With A Powertrain It Never Had
Honda’s Boxy Element Could Return In 2029 With A Powertrain It Never Had
Honda’s Boxy Element Could Return In 2029 With A Powertrain It Never Had
Honda’s Boxy Element Could Return In 2029 With A Powertrain It Never Had
Honda’s Boxy Element Could Return In 2029 With A Powertrain It Never Had
Honda’s Boxy Element Could Return In 2029 With A Powertrain It Never Had
Honda’s Boxy Element Could Return In 2029 With A Powertrain It Never Had
Honda’s Boxy Element Could Return In 2029 With A Powertrain It Never Had
Honda’s Boxy Element Could Return In 2029 With A Powertrain It Never Had
Honda’s Boxy Element Could Return In 2029 With A Powertrain It Never Had
Honda’s Boxy Element Could Return In 2029 With A Powertrain It Never Had

Models such as the Ford Bronco Sport, Toyota 4Runner, Hyundai Santa Fe, and even Honda’s own Passport TrailSport have proven that rugged looks can be just as important, if not more so, than actual off-road capability.

Read: A 2006 Honda Element Was Sold For $30,000 On Bring A Trailer

That wasn’t the case when the original Element debuted. Honda attempted to market the quirky crossover toward younger buyers, highlighting its washable floors, durable interior materials, and unusual rear-hinged access doors. Instead, it found a loyal following among older customers, outdoor enthusiasts, and anyone who appreciated its unmatched practicality.

Honda’s Boxy Element Could Return In 2029 With A Powertrain It Never Had
Honda’s Boxy Element Could Return In 2029 With A Powertrain It Never Had
Honda’s Boxy Element Could Return In 2029 With A Powertrain It Never Had
Honda’s Boxy Element Could Return In 2029 With A Powertrain It Never Had
Honda’s Boxy Element Could Return In 2029 With A Powertrain It Never Had
Honda’s Boxy Element Could Return In 2029 With A Powertrain It Never Had
Honda’s Boxy Element Could Return In 2029 With A Powertrain It Never Had
Honda’s Boxy Element Could Return In 2029 With A Powertrain It Never Had
Honda’s Boxy Element Could Return In 2029 With A Powertrain It Never Had
Honda’s Boxy Element Could Return In 2029 With A Powertrain It Never Had
Honda’s Boxy Element Could Return In 2029 With A Powertrain It Never Had
Honda’s Boxy Element Could Return In 2029 With A Powertrain It Never Had
Honda’s Boxy Element Could Return In 2029 With A Powertrain It Never Had
Honda’s Boxy Element Could Return In 2029 With A Powertrain It Never Had
Honda’s Boxy Element Could Return In 2029 With A Powertrain It Never Had
Honda’s Boxy Element Could Return In 2029 With A Powertrain It Never Had
Honda’s Boxy Element Could Return In 2029 With A Powertrain It Never Had
Honda’s Boxy Element Could Return In 2029 With A Powertrain It Never Had

Sales told a more complicated story. The Element peaked at 67,478 U.S. deliveries in 2003 before gradually declining throughout its life cycle. By the time production ended in 2011, annual sales had dropped to just 11,534 units. Yet the vehicle never disappeared from enthusiasts’ minds. Used examples remain highly sought after, often commanding surprisingly strong resale values.

A Hybrid Could Fix The Original’s Biggest Flaw

Honda’s Boxy Element Could Return In 2029 With A Powertrain It Never Had
Honda’s Boxy Element Could Return In 2029 With A Powertrain It Never Had
Honda’s Boxy Element Could Return In 2029 With A Powertrain It Never Had
Honda’s Boxy Element Could Return In 2029 With A Powertrain It Never Had
Honda’s Boxy Element Could Return In 2029 With A Powertrain It Never Had
Honda’s Boxy Element Could Return In 2029 With A Powertrain It Never Had

Honda’s patent drawings of a modern Element-style model were filed in 2024.

In July of 2024, Honda patents hinted that an Element return could be in the cards. While it hasn’t really come to fruition in a public showcase of design or concept, it could still play a role in today’s news. The hybrid powertrain could solve one of the biggest criticisms leveled at the original model: fuel economy.

Combined with modern technology, modular cargo solutions, integrated roof racks, and the kind of boxy styling buyers now actively seek out, Honda may finally have the market conditions that eluded the first-generation Element.

Honda’s Boxy Element Could Return In 2029 With A Powertrain It Never Had

Photos: Honda