Well… I’m a tree-hugging anti SUV’er, but… I like it! 
It is damn functional and that is what an SUV should be IMHO. Granted it isn’t a supercharged Xterra, but come on. It’s not a bloomin’ race car! 160hp would have been dandy 10 years ago. How come we need more power today? Anyway, at least that “lack” of hp gives you some decent mpg, better than just about any other SUV, AND the Element is, I believe, rated as the lowest emission SUV available. You may not win the stop light drags, but at least you’ll save the world! Ha!
My next car would be a hybrid Insight if I could figure out how to carry two bikes. Not sure a strap on rack will even work. Probably end up getting a hybrid Civic instead. Not cool, but personally I can’t justify owning a car that doesn’t get more than 30mpg in the 21st Century. The technology is there, all that is left is for the consumers to support the technology so the prices will go down and the choices go up.
Don’t take this too seriously. Just takin’ an angle for the sake of discussion.
P.S. How could you not want a 2003 MINI? If the mpg & emissions were better I’d have been the first person in the country to buy one. That is a TRI vehicle if I ever saw one!
Justin - Sticking with his 12 y/o Subaru until the wheels fall off.