I just got mine in October and I LOVE IT.I've had Honda CRVs for the past 10 years, but the dog hair was killing me. These have no carpet! So easy to keep clean.I get about 23 mpg. Its not as good as the CRV, but I love this more. It handles better. Seems to go better in the snow too.The one thing I'd really check is to see how easy/hard it is to get the kids out of the car seats. Those rear seats are pretty far back and its a reach. But you can get up there with them and crouch behind the front seats of you need to.It seems a bit dorky - but you'll love it, really. After an Element - every other car seems claustrophobic. They're just so roomy and perfect!The Element is getting a major re-design this season. If you're really not sure, you may want to wait and see what the new ones look like. I think they'll be like the Dodge Nitros (no clamshell doors, just a blocky SUV).Good Luck!