In a display of marketing confidence, Honda plucked the concept version of the Element from the auto show circuit to give it a real-world introduction in 2002. That year saw the appearance of several boxy retro dream car prototypes, and the Element’s Pacific War lines made it stand out. In fact, Honda targeted this first Element at Gen-Y males who (as we implied in its review) would go for an SUV that looked like it served in wartime Borneo, even if they had no idea when that was.

Save for the addition of a midrange trim level and some minor changes, the 2004 Honda Element is the same as the inaugural model, which, as it turned out, won the hearts and minds of many more than just historically-challenged Gen-Y types. As pleased as we would be to attribute this success to the compact sport-ute’s retro looks, we think that other factors – such as innovation, performance, utility, and Honda’s reputation for quality and durability – each played their part.

Foremost among its innovations are the Element’s center-opening side car go doors. Once open, these form a broad portal to a flat area constituting what Honda sees as the SUV’s “base camp.” Here you might see target Gen-Y males engaging in generational pursuits while reclining on the truck’s washable, rubber-like floor, perching atop the lower portion of its split rear tailgate, or sticking their artfully mussed heads out of its rear skylight. Honda augments this “monkey island” (as the company still hilariously refers to it) by means of the sport-utility’s variable seating, in which you can expand cargo space by either swinging the split rear bench up against the interior’s sides or removing it altogether.

Honda bases the Element on its Honda CR-X, using the earlier sport-ute’s four-cylinder engine, front- and all wheel-drive systems, and manual and automatic transmissions. All Elements are four-seaters that use front buckets and a split rear bench covered in water-resistant cloth. From the Base DX through the new LX, they come equipped with 16-inch wheels and four-wheel disc brakes. Additionally, the deluxe EX model has antilock brakes, front side airbags, the rear skylight, and remote keyless entry among its available features. Although the Element actually competes with the likes of the Ford Escape and Subaru Forester, it seems a worthy alternative for any prospective Hummer buyer not actually planning to advance the vehicle into combat.

The test truck was one of these, a manually shifted AWD model slathered in “Sunset Orange” and going for just over $21,000.As an EX model, the Element also rode on alloy wheels and carried a passenger-seat armrest and map lights.

The map lights illuminated a sturdy looking interior marked by superior materials and workmanship, clear instrumentation, excellent ergonomics, and a surprising absence of designer flash. Front seats, albeit a bit hard padded, were comfortable and set well into their space; while the rear bench, once lowered into the monkey island region, was skimpy in both padding and size. By contrast, cargo room was generous, allowing the Element to carry a pair of 10-foot surfboards or sleep the two 6-foot dudes who own them, even with its hatch shut tight.

Driving the EX was surprising in a good way, as it moved out smartly and handled nimbly for any vehicle so upright in design and utilitarian in purpose. The 160-horsepower four’s acceleration felt faster than the 11.4-second zero-to-60 time that Honda claims for it as the Element proceeded to speed, its stiff suspension absorbing road irregularities with noticeable jiggle and bounce. Highway road seams produced annoyingly loud reports in EX, but its high-speed wind and engine noise was muted. Back road handling was exceptional, with the SUV’s lean-in curves nicely controlled, its braking solid, and its long-throw shifter smoothly working its way back and forth through gear changes.

In this fashion, we drove west, the orange sunset enveloping our Sunset Orange Element in its dusky embrace. With our time on monkey island now nearing its end, we took comfort in the thought that here was a surprising truck that could unsurprisingly attract buyers from demographics lying way over the horizon from the youthful one Honda first targeted. Someday – in another model year, perhaps – we will return to the Element. Until then, we hope it retains the rugged, capable, and fun-loving spirit of these first models.