2008 Honda Element: trims, real prices & how to pick yours
11 builds left the factory as a 2008 Element, each a different combination of engine, transmission and body identified by the first eight characters of its VIN. The 10 main configurations sell for $3,995–$17,583 today.
- 10 main configurations
- 6,606 vehicles built
- 67 for sale right now
- $3,995–$17,583 typical price range
Which Element is yours?
Enter a VIN — the 17 characters on the windshield or the title — and we’ll match it to its exact factory configuration, typical price and equipment.
Works with any VIN — a different year or model takes you straight to its own page.
Pick your Element
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LX · FWD 5J6YH183-82.4L 4-cyl, 166 hp, Automatic, Front-wheel drive. 828 built.
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EX · FWD 5J6YH177-82.4L 4-cyl, 166 hp, Manual/Standard, Front-wheel drive. 45 built.
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LX · 4WD 5J6YH273-82.4L 4-cyl, 166 hp, Manual/Standard, Four-wheel drive. 51 built.
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SC · FWD 5J6YH189-82.4L 4-cyl, 166 hp, Automatic, Front-wheel drive. 912 built.
$5,998 great deal $9,995 typical $17,583 top of market -
EX · 4WD 5J6YH277-82.4L 4-cyl, 166 hp, Manual/Standard, Four-wheel drive. 179 built.
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LX · 4WD 5J6YH283-82.4L 4-cyl, 166 hp, Automatic, Four-wheel drive. 638 built.
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EX · FWD 5J6YH187-82.4L 4-cyl, 166 hp, Automatic, Front-wheel drive. 1,095 built.
$3,995 great deal $7,598 typical $14,600 top of market -
SC · FWD 5J6YH179-82.4L 4-cyl, 166 hp, Manual/Standard, Front-wheel drive. 50 built.
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LX · FWD 5J6YH173-82.4L 4-cyl, 166 hp, Manual/Standard, Front-wheel drive. 39 built.
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Most common — 42% of 2008 Elements
EX · 4WD 5J6YH287-82.4L 4-cyl, Automatic, Four-wheel drive. 2,768 built.
$3,995 great deal $7,500 typical $15,995 top of market
What actually differs
| EX · 4WD | EX · FWD | SC · FWD | LX · FWD | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drivetrain | Four-wheel drive | Front-wheel drive | Front-wheel drive | Front-wheel drive |
| Typical price today | $7,500 | $7,598 | $9,995 | $7,111 |
| For sale right now | 24 | 20 | 10 | 7 |
| Vehicles built | 2,768 | 1,095 | 912 | 828 |
Same on every 2008 Element
- Engine 2.4L 4-cyl
- Power 166 hp
- Transmission Automatic
- Fuel Gasoline
- Body Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV)
- Doors 5-door
What people actually pay
104 price observations · updated Aug 30, 2026Safety, in plain English
What 5J6YH183-8 means
- 5J6
- the World Manufacturer Identifier Honda registered — assembled in the United States
- YH183
- together encode the Element line — Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV), 2.4L 4cyl, Front-wheel drive — as Honda filed it, these five characters are read as one block, not letter by letter
- 8
- in position 10 — model year 2008
- 9, 11–17
- differ on every car: check digit, plant code and the serial number
1 rare configuration — mostly fleet, export or irregular VIN patterns. Fewer than 20 known vehicles each.
Already looking at a specific Element?
Paste its VIN — we’ll open that exact car’s page: its configuration, market position and every listing we’ve tracked.