All 2007 Honda Element models have a new two-bar grille and headlight design that more closely resembles the Honda Ridgeline pickup. On the high-trim EX model, the lower body and cladding are now painted to match the rest of the exterior, while the base LX retains dark gray vinyl cladding.

The new, 2007 Honda Element SC model features a monochromatic paint scheme and fully painted exterior panels. It's also lowered by nearly an inch compared to other Element models, and finished with aggressive 18-inch spoke wheels and projector beam headlamps. The SC is available in exclusive Root Beer Metallic paint, and it takes utilitarian chic in a new direction.

The Honda Element's shape proudly proclaims its utility. It's a basic two-box design, with a small box for the engine and a much larger box for four passengers and their stuff or two passengers and a lot more stuff.

Its profile is unlike anything else on American roads. From the front, the Element has a cheeky, chunky look accentuated by rectangular headlights and the unusual design of the bumper. The hood line is fairly low and leads to a steep windshield flowing into a gently curved roofline, while the rear tailgate is nearly vertical.

Further distinguishing the Element LX are the dark gray panels used for the front and rear fenders, front fascia, and rocker panels. They're made of a scratch- and dent-resistant composite material. These panels are painted to match the body color on the Element EX, diluting the Element's function-first look just a little.

The tailgate is split horizontally. The top half lifts like a hatch, while the bottom half drops like a tailgate. Honda suggests the lower half can be used as a seating surface for parties. That's a fine idea, but the tailgate has its drawbacks. It effectively raises the liftover height for cargo in the rear, and it requires a little more leaning to heft larger objects into the back. That said, there remains an impressive amount of cargo space in the Element. With the easily removed rear seats taken out, it offers 74.6 cubit feet of storage space. That's more than the maximum available in much larger vehicles such as the Mercedes-Benz M-Class.

The Element's rear corners are nicely curved, so it doesn't look as chunky from behind. Large wheels help ensure the Element doesn't look like a minivan. In all, the Element makes a stylish box, or at least a box with some personality.