Late to the Get together, however a Lot to Like

Coming up with a new vehicle name isn’t an easy task. That’s why so many new EVs have adopted relatively anonymous nomenclature, like the Volvo EX30 — or outright oddball designations, such as the Toyota bZ4X. With its new Prologue, however, Honda has sounded the right note. It’s not only memorable but also appropriate.

The Japanese automaker was a hybrid pioneer but was also reluctant to enter the EV space. Until now, it opted for limited-range compliance cars, notably a version of the Clarity sedan also offered in plug-in hybrid and hydrogen fuel-cell configurations.

The 2024 Prologue is not only Honda’s first long-range EV entry but is also the first targeted at mainstream buyers. More importantly, the name signals its role as the first of what are expected to be numerous EVs to follow.

That said, Prologue had an unusual gestation. Forced to respond to rapidly tightening emissions requirements, Honda chose to team up with its erstwhile rival, General Motors, which has laid out what CEO Mary Barra calls “a path to an all-electric future.” Honda’s entry shares the same Ultium platform, drive, electrical, and battery technologies as the Chevrolet Blazer EV.

In short: Entering a busy market segment, especially a declining one, is always a rough way to start. Luckily the 2024 Honda Prologue was designed for mass market appeal. It offers most of the right stuff while leaving little off the table. However, a frunk, more power, and a lower price point would likely help it find success in the market.

2024 Honda Prologue Review

It’s been a quarter-century since Honda launched the first hybrid-electric vehicle in the U.S., with the original Insight reaching showrooms months ahead of the Toyota Prius. But, the Japanese automaker has been reluctant to enter the market for long-range all-electric vehicles. Until now, anyway.

Its first, the Honda Prologue, is just getting ready for market. Prologue is the result of an unusual alliance between two erstwhile competitors, the electric crossover riding on the same platform as the new Chevrolet Blazer. But it manages to retain a distinct Honda flavor.

Kissing Cousins

Like the recently launched Blazer, the 2024 Honda Prelude is offered in a two-row, five-passenger configuration. And they both compete in an increasingly crowded segment that includes models such as the Ford Mustang Mach-E, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Tesla Model Y, and Volkswagen ID.4.

That said, you’d be more accurate calling them kissing cousins, rather than twins. Unlike the essentially identical Toyota bZ4X and Subaru Solterra — which share everything but their badges — the similarities end at the skin-deep level.

After working together on the fundamentals, Honda and GM went their own separate ways. That means there are significant differences in a number of areas, including design, onboard technology, and even their drivetrain strategy.

Power to the People

Chevy took a unique approach with Blazer EV, offering three distinct powertrain layouts. In a first ever, buyers can choose from rear-wheel-drive (RWD), front-wheel-drive (FWD), or all-wheel-drive (AWD) configurations.

With the 2024 Honda Prologue, the options are narrowed to FWD or AWD. Honda is launching the new EV in the top-line Elite AWD configuration — which I had the chance to test drive during a recent visit to Napa wine country.

This package uses two motors, one on each axle, producing a combined 288 horsepower and 333 pound-feet of torque. Those are reasonably solid, albeit far from benchmark numbers. The all-wheel-drive Hyundai Ioniq5, for example, punches out 320 horsepower and a much more impressive 446 pound-feet of torque.

At 212 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque, the rear-drive Prologue is also in the lower group of compact SUV EVs.

Chevy does offer a sportier package — the Blazer EV SS pAWD, which muscles up to 557 horsepower and 648 pound-feet. For now, Honda isn’t talking about a high-performance Prologue, though, speaking on background, one key company insider told me he “wouldn’t rule that out.”

2024 Honda Prologue Driving Impressions

Even if it doesn’t set a performance benchmark, the 2024 Honda Prologue Elite is spritely and likely to deliver more than enough power for most EV drivers. This is thanks to the way electric motors deliver maximum torque the moment they start spinning.

Like Blazer — and virtually all new EVs — Prologue is based on a skateboard-like platform where batteries and motors are mounted below the load floor. That has several advantages — some of which I’ll get back to shortly. In terms of performance and handling, the layout results in a low center of gravity and a nearly 50:50 front-to-back weight distribution.

There’s no disguising the mass of the EV’s 85kWh lithium-ion battery pack, yet the Prologue Elite exhibited a surprisingly sporty feel as I whipped it around the windy roads through Napa wine country. Steering was predictable, despite a bit less road feel than I might have asked for.

Like the Blazer EV, the Honda Prologue features a One-Pedal mode which, in its most aggressive setting, operates something like a gas engine does if downshifted several gears. Much of the time, I simply modulated the throttle, rather than having to flip-flop from throttle to brake. One plus is that, in One-Pedal mode, Prologue will come to a complete stop and you won’t need to use the brake to prevent it from creeping forward.

2024 Honda Prologue Design

If anything, the 2024 Honda Prologue features a more muted exterior look than its Chevy cousin. It adopts a bit more of a slab-sided shape, with a less pronounced nose and grille. And there are no air curtain exhaust ports behind the front wheels. It’s not a bad shape, and I’d dare guess that typical Honda buyers might prefer it over the exaggerated accents of the Blazer.

One place both models fall short is the lack of a “frunk,” or front trunk. A big selling point for competitors such as the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Tesla Model Y.

Inside, both Prologue and Blazer EV benefit from the GM Ultium platform’s skateboard-like layout, which frees up space for the cabin — which is a size class larger than the compact exterior might suggest. The flat floor is another benefit, especially for anyone stuck in the second row’s middle seat.

Honda’s interior layout — the instrument panel, in particular — is in keeping with the rest of its lineup. Again, that’s a bit more conservative than Chevy. Prologue opts for two separate — albeit large — screens. It has an 11-inch gauge cluster and an 11.3-inch touchscreen for the infotainment system.

While Honda aimed to make as unique a cabin as possible, it does share a number of features with the Blazer EV, including the steering wheel and stalks, and, even the Qi wireless charging pad.

Kudos to Honda designers for retaining hard controls for almost all climate functions, as well as a volume knob.

Tech Partners

GM isn’t the only partner who helped Honda bring Prologue to market. The Japanese automaker turned to Google for its new infotainment operating system. One advantage is a constantly updated onboard mapping system.

Meanwhile, Honda has not only added wireless versions of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto but has also said it won’t drop those features, something GM has announced it will do. Prologue, meanwhile, is capable of smartphone-style over-the-air updates, which can keep maps fresh, download software fixes and, in the future, bring in new features and functions.

Among other pluses, the Elite and Touring versions of Prologue come standard with a 12-speaker Bose sound system.

From a safety standpoint, the EV comes standard with the Honda Sensing suite of advanced driver assistance systems including a suite of safety and driver-assistive technologies, including Honda’s first applications of Rear Cross Traffic Braking, Blind Zone Steering Assist, and Rear Pedestrian Alert.

Prologue Charging

Today, about 80% of EV charging is done at home or office, according to McKinsey data. With Prologue, Honda will offer all buyers a choice of three options:

• Home Charging Station (11.5 kW) and $100 public charging credit, plus $500 installation incentive
• Portable Charging Kit (7.6 kW) and $300 public charging credit, plus $250 installation incentive
• $750 in public charging credits

As with GM, the Japanese automaker has been vague with details when it comes to charging times. It says that its 85 kWh battery pack can add as much as 65 extra miles range in 10 minutes using a public quick charger.

2024 Honda Prologue: Pricing & Availability

Honda is already taking advance orders for the 2024 Prologue. It expects to shortly begin the first deliveries of the EX model, which will start at $48,795 — including $1,395 in delivery fees.

Other packages will follow later this year. The EX FWD will start at $50,190, including delivery fees. At the upper end, the Elite AWD — like the one I tested for this review — will start at $60,690.

2024 Honda Prologue Review Wrap-Up

Honda has aggressive plans for the 2024 Prologue. It first announced the EV, it forecasted annual sales numbers in the 70,000 range. It’s pared that back a bit but still has ambitious expectations. Whether it will get there is far from certain.

The Honda Prologue is a solid, if far from spectacular, entry into the increasingly competitive compact EV SUV market. And, it is a late entrant. Making matters worse, the entire growth rate of the U.S. battery-electric market has been slowing down.

Add to that the fact that GM was forced to order a “stop-sale” for the Blazer EV last month due to unexpected software issues. It’s unclear whether any of those will impact Honda Prologue, however.

On the plus side, Honda does have a reputation as an environmentally friendly brand. That could help it build some momentum once Prologue finally starts rolling into showrooms.