Any 2007 Honda Element feels spunkier thanks to the powertrain improvements. If you’re of a juvenile mindset, it’s easy to spin the wheels in first gear, and you can squawk ‘em in second. The 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine is refined, emits a pleasing growl at higher revs, and doesn’t complain when maximizing power at the upper end. The clutch and five-speed manual gearbox are wonderful pieces of engineering, and the five-speed automatic showed an improvement over the old four-speed transmission. Our pick is the stick despite the penalty at the pump.