2024 Honda Prologue: As its name implies, the 2024 Honda Prologue lays the way for the next ground-up Honda EVs. It is the first — and last — electric vehicle of its sort, functioning as a reliable and largely competitive electric SUV.
Compared to competitors: Although the 2024 Honda Prologue’s starting price is lower than its platform sibling, the Chevrolet Blazer EV, competitors such as the Tesla Model Y, Nissan Ariya, and upcoming Chevrolet Equinox EV provide a more affordable option. The App that Makes the Prologue? Neither Tesla nor any Chevrolet vehicle has Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.
The first battery-electric automobile produced by a carmaker for the mass market is frequently more of a conversation starter than a physical vehicle. Thus it is with the all-new 2024 Honda Prologue, however the philosophical rather than the physical is the main topic of conversation. From a hands-on-the-wheel, butts-in standpoint, it’s easy to understand what the Prologue gives; everything else has to be extrapolated.
It is prohibitively expensive to build a current-generation EV platform from the ground up, and not every automaker can afford to do so while juggling existing product lines and manufacturing capacity that are predominantly focused on internal combustion vehicles. If you quickly and forcefully switch to large-scale electric vehicle production, your profit stream will break like a garden hose; if you take too long to plug in, you risk missing out on opportunities in the market and with the government. To walk on is a razor-thin wire.
Working together, Honda and GM formed a $5 billion technical agreement in 2022 to develop a range of compact, reasonably priced electric vehicles. This partnership has since been disbanded. To raise customer awareness and demonstrate zappy solidarity with the ongoing electric revolution, Honda used GM’s Ultium EV platform to power a series of electrified vehicles that will act as stopgap battery-electric crossovers until the real entree—all-new, all-Honda EVs—arrises, which is anticipated to happen sometime in 2026.
Scaling the Tree of Family
Navigate to the 2024 Acura ZDX and 2024 Honda Prologue. In the absence of a reference specimen of the original material, these SUVs’ external appearance presents like Honda thoroughbreds, albeit with a somewhat unusual proportion. In actuality, the main architecture of the Cadillac Lyriq (Acura) and Chevrolet Blazer EV (Honda) is wrapped around Honda/Acura components, including the powertrains, batteries, interior design, and switches. Anything to the contrary is not credible.
It’s evident on paper and in pictures; it’s irrefutable from the driver’s seat. The Chevy key fob, Chevy start button, Blazer EV steering wheel, GM’s OnStar emergency services, and under-the-hood GM-branded components are all used in the Prologue. Additionally, the 2024 Honda Prologue will leave a GM assembly facility in Mexico once it goes into full-scale production.
Now that we have that out of the way, realize that all of this artificial matching isn’t always a terrible thing. When viewed only in the confines of a controlled testing environment, I discovered that the Blazer EV is a competitively priced electric SUV with attractive styling and driving abilities that surpass room temperature. The one thing that bothers me about it is the enticing cost, as I mentioned in our review, which puts it in danger of overshadowing the Equinox EV and pushing it into Cadillac territory.
Fashion and Content
First, let’s discuss whether Honda was able to effectively translate its brand identity to the Blazer and what GM retained and relinquished. In terms of dimensions, it is a wash, with a wheelbase of 121.8 inches that is the same and deviations in length, width, and height of less than 0.5 inches. Although there is a 7.9-inch ground clearance difference, the Blazer EV has more passenger room in most situations.
Beyond mere geographical resemblance, I believe the style work is excellent. Working within the tight constraints of its origin, the design team successfully crafted a Honda suit that successfully communicates the official “Neo-Rugged” tagline for the model. It’s butch, a little bit aggressive, and futuristic all at once. Also take note of the brand-first retro font used for the “Honda” writing on the liftgate, which will likely appear on other models in the future.
At launch, there are two powertrain options: dual-motor all-wheel drive or single-motor front-wheel drive. The FWD EX and Touring trim levels get a manufacturer-estimated 296 miles of range on a full charge; the same trims drop to 281 miles of range in AWD configuration (official EPA numbers are not yet available). Both draw their electrons from the same 85-kilowatt-hour battery pack. If you choose the top-of-the-line Elite trim, which is available only with AWD, you should be able to go 273 miles before it becomes dark. And when it does, according to Honda, connecting it to a DC fast charger can charge the battery up to 65 miles in roughly 10 minutes and from 20% to 80% in 35 minutes.
Less Show, More Realism
The FWD 2024 Honda Prologue can produce 212 horsepower and 236 pounds-feet of torque, while the AWD version can produce 288 horsepower and 333 pounds-feet of torque. Official 0-60 mph timings for either setup are unknown from Honda, but our trained tuchus believe Chevy’s claim of a six-second sprint for the Blazer EV RS eAWD is spot on. Even though the acceleration wasn’t very quick, I never missed the on-ramp pace or passing power while I was riding in an Elite AWD trim. Nevertheless, the 2024 Honda Prologue’s AWD is more functional than spectacular, so if you’re looking for a side of jellied eyeballs and stomach aches with your dual-motor EV, go somewhere else.
Consider it an electric version of the well-known AWD systems found on traditional gas-powered SUVs rather than a design that drains the battery all the time. Clutch packs and differentials in vehicles such as the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V only send power to the back wheels when necessary, frequently in low-traction situations or when slippage is detected. If our (well-informed) conjecture is correct, the Prologue’s more potent front-mounted permanent magnet motor handles the majority of propulsion, with the rear-mounted induction motor only coming into play during bursts.
Even if only slightly, the 2024 Honda Prologue’s strong dynamic qualities raise it above practical crossovers like Honda’s CR-V and Passport. I think that the EV’s lower center of gravity and a hint of Honda’s distinctive chassis razzle-dazzle are mostly responsible for the extra capability. That’s all well and well, but I have a sneaking suspicion that not a single shopper will choose the Prologue because of its athletic nature.
The Prologue’s braking skill will be what most people notice, particularly the almost seamless transition between the regenerative system and the conventional brakes. Engaging these brakes is almost as smooth and adjustable as a standard system, depending on your preferred setting (Normal, High, or Off). The same cannot be said for the steering, which was noticeably slow and had an almost noticeable lag between inputs and responses. This made it difficult to maneuver at low speeds and to maintain position in the center of the lane.
Curation of Cabins
Let’s talk about frustrations in the interior. Except for the top Pilot and Odyssey trims, the materials used in the Elite are, for the most part, superior to those used in any other Honda. The interior’s visual presentation is likewise flawlessly in line with the brand, with recognizable Honda trim and tinsel all over the place. The attractive contrast white-over-black trim on my test car was complemented with teal accent lighting that matched the deep exterior color.
The steering wheel is a carryover from the Blazer EV, but it is nicely aligned with the brand’s established design language thanks to a Honda-specific horn cap. The main complaint I had was with the center console; the enormous accessory pad for holding the phone, keys, and sunglasses seemed visually off-putting, especially considering that the upper part was bare but for a 12-volt outlet and two USB-C ports.
Aside from looks, the feature set of the top trim is largely in line with its high price (we’ll get there). Bose premium audio, wireless charging, a panoramic moonroof, heated and ventilated front seats, dual-zone automatic temperature control, a heated steering wheel, and a head-up display complement the leather upholstery. All 2024 Honda Prologues include an 11-inch driver display with playback capabilities and an 11.3-inch touchscreen positioned on the dashtop, making tech essentially identical across trim levels.
Google Built-In, like its Chevrolet equivalent, forms the digital architecture and includes integrated Google Assistant and Maps features. All 2024 Honda Prologues, in contrast to their Chevrolet equivalent, feature wireless smartphone compatibility for both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay! Customers who cross-shop the siblings may find this to be a real decision-maker, and I have to believe Honda lobbied for the integration.
So, What Amount?
It’s all about the cost. The 2024 Honda Prologue starts at $48,795 (plus $1,395 for destination), which is significantly less than the Blazer EV’s starting price of $56,715. As of this writing, Chevrolet was offering a $7,500 cash incentive on the Blazer EV, bringing the SUV’s base price down to $49,215. Given that the base Chevy is now only offered in the eAWD version, the $51,795 2024 Honda Prologue EX AWD and the $59,295 maxed-out 2024 Honda Prologue Elite start at headlights.
I’m going to wait to compare the 2024 Honda Prologue’s features, materials, and trim levels for a possible head-to-head comparison review, but even without matching up the spec sheets, I can tell the car is still expensive, especially in light of the competition from the much less expensive Nissan Ariya and Tesla Model Y. The Prologue is a strong contender in the fiercely competitive electric SUV market for fans of both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as well as Honda.
However, if you have the luxury of time, you might want to hold off and see what Honda’s completely in-house EVs, which are expected to arrive in a few model years, will be like. Perhaps the upcoming Chevrolet Equinox EV would better suit your needs and your budget if you need to fill your garage soon.