Honda has dog owners in mind with a new package available for the 2010 Honda Element called the “Dog Friendly” pet accommodation system.
You’ll have to buy the midlevel Element EX, which starts at $22,635 before a destination charge, to get the Dog Friendly package. This package secures the dog in the cargo area using a “nylon-webbed car kennel.” It keeps the dog from bugging you while you’re behind the wheel; if you’re in an accident, the kennel also helps restrain the dog behind the rear seats, reducing its chance for injury or injuring human passengers.
The package also includes a cushioned pet bed, a 12-volt rear ventilation fan, second-row seat covers with a dog-pattern design, a spill-resistant water bowl, all-season rubber floormats (this is key given the bowl) and an extendable ramp that stores beneath the pet bed platform and can extend when the rear tailgate is down.
The package has an MSRP of $995, which is pretty reasonable—especially if those all-season rubber floor mats save you enough cleaning/Febreezing time.
The 2010 Element hits dealerships mid-October, and the Dog Friendly package will be available to buyers by Nov. 16.
