How do you guys like it? Is the suicide doors a PITA? I'm debating on buying the wife either the CRV or the Element. Right now, it looks like the CRV will be better due to the actual 4-door configuration, but I like the Element, too. Between the two, I really like the looks of the Element better than the CRV. Thoughts?

 

It's the same vehicle with a different body. If you're going for family mobile the Cr-v still has seating for 5 people whereas the Element only has space for 4 people.
I'll still take a new Element over a new Cr-v any day.

 

CR-V worked great for me and my wife. With our 2nd child on the way, we upgraded to a 2009 MDX, so the faithful CR-V is going up for sale...

 

Element seating sucks since it's only 4...but it's great for transporting stuff. I love our 06 EXP and would have zero issues if it sat 5.


Steve

 

Recently test drove both along with our then-8-month-old and it was a PITA to get a car seat in/out of the Element. It's not just the suicide door...the seat is further back compared to the door frame.

Don't hate, but we got a mazda5 instead, since we found out there's another seed on the way.

 

Well, that sucks. I was actually expecting the answers to come back that way. I really do like the Element. Only if it had 4 real doors. Oh, well. I guess we'll be looking at the CR-V's.

Thanks for all of the inputs.

 

We were on the fence trying to choose between those two vehicles. The suicide doors weren't as big of an issue to use as was the distance the rear seats were from the front. There is absolutely no way you can tend to a baby from the front seat in the Element. Also, the 4 seats were an issue for me. We went with the CRV.

fm

 

The 4 or 5 seat question is questionable. Can we really fit 3 in the back? Do you really want to try and fit 3 passengers in the back? Can you really hookup 3 child seats in the back?

IMO, all cars short of full size are "4 passengers" seating when a child car seat comes to play. There should be no debate that CRV and Element are 4 passenger cars if OP decides to have another kid in the future.

I don't own either (but 2 minivans so far), but I think the Element has an advantage. It will be easier to load the kid with the suicide doors, so you don't have to "go around" to the rear doors to attend to the kid. The kid will also put on weight, so this task get's harder and harder.

The only other "test" I would do is, can you fit a full size stroller in the back? With both rear seats up.