2024 Honda Prologue EV Tested: Chevy Heart, Honda Soul – CNET [CNET]
Price and availability
The 2024 Honda Prologue starts at $48,795 (including the $1,395 destination charge) for the base single-motor EX configuration, ramping up to $59,295 for the top-spec Elite AWD model. That’s a fairly competitive price in this class, which includes Ford’s Mach-E, Volkswagen’s ID.4 and Kia’s EV6, especially considering that the Prologue is one of the largest vehicles in its class with the longest wheelbase (121.8 inches). The Honda even manages to come in cheaper than its technological cousin, the Chevrolet Blazer LT, which currently starts at $61,790, but that may change when Chevy announces pricing for the Blazer’s front-drive configuration later this year.
The Prologue doesn’t currently qualify for the $7,500 federal EV tax credit, but that could change if Honda/GM adjust their supply chain to meet the program’s requirements. That said, the electric SUV may still check the right boxes for state or local incentives in your area.
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This is Honda’s first dedicated electric SUV… kind of.
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This is Honda’s first dedicated electric SUV… kind of.
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This is Honda’s first dedicated electric SUV… kind of.
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This is Honda’s first dedicated electric SUV… kind of.
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The Honda Prologue is actually based on GM’s Ultium electric vehicle platform, sharing its electric motors and battery tech with the Chevrolet Blazer EV.
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The Honda Prologue is actually based on GM’s Ultium electric vehicle platform, sharing its electric motors and battery tech with the Chevrolet Blazer EV.
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The Honda Prologue is actually based on GM’s Ultium electric vehicle platform, sharing its electric motors and battery tech with the Chevrolet Blazer EV.
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The Honda Prologue is actually based on GM’s Ultium electric vehicle platform, sharing its electric motors and battery tech with the Chevrolet Blazer EV.
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The Prologue is fairly large among its competitors, with the longest wheelbase in its class.
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The Prologue is fairly large among its competitors, with the longest wheelbase in its class.
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The Prologue is fairly large among its competitors, with the longest wheelbase in its class.
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The Prologue is fairly large among its competitors, with the longest wheelbase in its class.
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I Drove (and Loved) the 2024 Honda Prologue Elite Electric SUV
Ultium-powered performance and range
Shoppers have their choice of two EV power train options based on GM’s Ultium technology. The single-motor config sends 212-horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque to the front wheels. All-wheel drive adds a second motor to the rear axle, bringing the system total to 288 horsepower and 333 lb-ft of torque. Honda’s AWD is an on demand setup, meaning the Prologue behaves as a front-driven vehicle most of the time, with the smaller rear motor coming online only as needed — to add launch traction, passing power or stability — which minimizes the range penalty for the upgrade.
Every Prologue uses the same 85 kilowatt-hour battery pack, returning up to 296 miles of range from a full charge for single-motor EX and Touring trim levels or 281 miles with dual-motor AWD. The top-spec Elite model, which is available only with AWD, drops to 273 miles thanks to its heavier load-out of standard equipment and unique 21-inch wheels, the largest rollers ever fit to a production Honda.
Putting your biggest motor forward, versus at the rear axle like most other electric SUVs in this class, has a few advantages. The front-biased drive may feel more familiar for customers coming from combustion vehicles, which are often based on FWD platforms in this class. Most cars tend to do most of their braking with the front wheels, which means an advantage in regenerative braking for FWD EVs, albeit a small one, boosting urban, suburban and stop-and-go range and efficiency.
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The Prologue boasts up to 1,500 pounds of towing capacity for occasions where you may want to pull a small trailer.
Antuan Goodwin/CNETDrivers can adjust the Prologue’s regen level via paddle shifters. I was pleased to learn that the Honda also supports one-pedal driving, a max-regen mode that can bring the SUV to a stop without touching the friction brakes, but I was mildly annoyed to find it toggled via the touchscreen rather than with the paddles. My personal preference is to flip between one-pedal mode around town and less regen on the highway — it’s one of the ways I maximize my EV’s range — so this is less of a nitpick for drivers who stick with one mode.
Light, agile performance
During a day of driving over hilly terrain, I averaged 3.5 miles per kilowatt-hour in the Prologue Elite, which is on par with what I see from our long-term Kia EV6 Wind AWD. I found the dual-motor electric power train’s acceleration to be more than satisfying, both off the line and at passing and merging speeds. At higher speeds, wind noise becomes noticeable, but that’s likely highlighted by the lack of engine and road noise and easily masked by the audio system at moderate listening levels. The handling is tidy, with the suspension and long wheelbase doing a good job balancing a nimble feel on surface roads with just the right amount of attenuation of bumps on the highway.
My one complaint is that the Prologue’s steering feels a bit overboosted — even in Sport mode, which weights it up a bit — making it difficult to feel what the front wheels are doing when hustling around tight switchbacks. Frankly, I don’t think the target audience of midsize SUV drivers would even notice and may even prefer the extra-light steering feel.
Charging speed and options
The Prologue can accept up to 155-kilowatt DC fast charging, good enough to complete Honda’s recommended 20% to 80% charge in around 35 minutes at a powerful enough station. Pop the fuel door and you’ll spy a CCS-type charging port, though the SUV will eventually support the NACS standard and chargers via an adapter. This will be the case for most EVs built over the next few years and shouldn’t be considered a deal-breaker.