Overview
The 2024 Prologue SUV, Honda’s second attempt at an EV after the ill-fated Clarity sedan, has arrived wearing a restrained look that doesn’t shout its eco-friendly mission. The Prologue rides on a platform developed jointly with General Motors, and is powered by the same Ultium battery pack already powering GM’s new EVs, including the Equinox EV with which the Prologue shares components. A single-motor powertrain is standard and should make around 210 horsepower but a dual-motor, all-wheel drive setup is optional and is good for 288 ponies. Expect a driving range of around 250–320 miles per charge depending on the configuration. The Prologue will sit above the CR-V in the Honda lineup and is similar in dimensions to the mid-size Passport. The Prologue pictured here sports 21-inch wheels, a panoramic sunroof, and simple LED lighting elements. Inside, it pulls design cues from other Honda models, including an upright tablet-style infotainment display, a streamlined dashboard design, and a clutter-free center console. If you’re looking for something a little fancier, Honda’s Acura luxury brand has launched its own version of the Prologue called ZDX.
What’s New for 2024?
The Prologue is a brand-new nameplate for the Honda brand and will be available for buyers to order by the end of 2023, with the first deliveries scheduled for early 2024.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
Honda hasn’t released information about the Prologue’s pricing, but we expect the new model to start around $48,000 and go up from there. Honda’s traditional EX, Touring, and Elite trim levels will be offered, and even the entry-level trim comes nicely equipped with heated front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, and wireless smartphone charging. But we think the Touring model will be worth the upgrade, as it adds leather upholstery, a 12-speaker Bose stereo, and memory seat settings.
EV Motor, Power, and Performance
Sharing its powertrain and platform with the Chevrolet Equinox EV means the Prologue can be had with either a single-motor and front-wheel drive or with two motors and all-wheel drive. The latter is said to be good for 288 horsepower, but Honda hasn’t released a horsepower rating yet for the front-wheel drive version. Based on what we know about the Equinox EV, we suspect that model will make 210 ponies. When we get a chance, we’ll take the Prologue to our test track and update this story with acceleration results and driving impressions.
Range, Charging, and Battery Life
All Prologue models will come with an 85.0-kWh battery pack sourced from General Motors. The single-motor front-wheel drive model is said to have an estimated driving range of around 300 miles, while the dual-motor all-wheel drive version will sacrifice some of that range for peppier acceleration. We expect to see a 280-mile driving-range estimate for the dual-motor variant. The Prologue can juice its battery on a DC fast charger at a max rate of 155 kW, but Honda will also sell a home charging kit should you wish to refill the battery conveniently in your own garage.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPGe
The EPA has not estimated the Prologue’s fuel economy—expressed as MPGe, the EV fuel-economy equivalent—yet, and neither has Honda. We don’t expect to have that information from the government until closer to the SUV’s launch. Once we get a chance, we’ll take the Prologue on our 75-mph highway fuel economy route to test its efficiency and range. For more information about the Prologue’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
While there are clues to the Prologue’s Chevrolet roots in the interior, Honda has done well to infuse the cabin with a design that looks recognizable as one of its own. Its simplified dashboard design has none of the flourishes we can see in the Blazer EV, neither the Chevy’s round vents, brightly colored surfaces, nor tilted infotainment display. Instead, the Honda’s layout mirrors that of the Civic compact sedan and Passport SUV, with a clutter-free design rendered in muted tones. Honda says the Prologue’s wheelbase is 8.0-inches longer than the CR-V’s and that the EV model is 5.0-inches wider too, so we’re expecting a roomier cabin with additional space for cargo.
Infotainment and Connectivity
Standing tall and proud in the middle of the Prologue’s dashboard is an 11.3-inch infotainment touchscreen. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included, as is an in-dash navigation system that uses Google Maps. An 11.0-inch digital gauge display and a wireless smartphone charging pad are also standard features; a head-up display is available but only on the top-spec Elite trim. A 12-speaker Bose stereo system with tweeter speakers in the Prologue’s A-pillars is standard on Touring and Elite models.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
All Prologue models will come with a suite of driver-assistance features called Honda Sensing. This package includes basic systems such as automated emergency braking and lane-departure warning, as well as more advanced tech such as lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and traffic-sign recognition. For more information about the Prologue’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:
- Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection
- Standard lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist
- Standard adaptive cruise control
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
The Prologue will come with the same warranty that’s standard on all other new Honda models, which is similar to other electric SUVs from mainstream automakers. Honda’s usual coverage package also includes two years of complimentary scheduled maintenance as a bonus.
- Limited warranty covers three years or 36,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty covers five years or 60,000 mile
- Electric components are covered for eight years or 100,000 miles
- Complimentary scheduled maintenance is covered for two years or 24,000 miles
