2024 Honda Prologue: A Comprehensive Guide On Features, Specs, And Pricing

Honda is no stranger to automotive electrification. In fact, it’s one of the pioneers in the sphere, having introduced one of the first gasoline-electric hybrid options in the guise of the Honda Insight back in 1999. Since then, Honda has always offered some level of electrification to the market, but the Prologue is the first fully electric car Honda sells in the USA.

Honda approached General Motors for its Ultium BEV3 platform, despite having a unique EV chassis of its own. This is part of an expanded collaboration between the two companies that has experienced a level of turbulence over the last few months. As a result, the Prologue is essentially a redesigned Blazer EV, but with some functional updates to make it appear and feel more aligned with the Honda brand.

What’s New For 2024?

The Honda Prologue is an all-new model for the brand. It’s also the first electric SUV to join the iconic Japanese manufacturer’s stable. It employs a combination of GM and Honda parts, making it a unique proposition in the American market. The Prologue also introduces some new contemporary design elements that favor traditional SUV design as opposed to the trendy new futuristic approaches of competitors.

2024 Highlights

• Single- and dual-motor options
• 85 kWh Ultium lithium-ion battery
• New crossover design penned by Honda’s Los Angeles studio
• New interior design scheme with Honda and GM parts
• EX, Touring, and Elite trims

Exterior Dimensions

(Specifications sourced from Honda)

Specifications And Performance

Honda keeps the Prologue range very focused by offering two motor configurations with fixed power outputs. The base model employs a front-mounted single motor producing 212 horsepower and 236 pound-feet, while the all-wheel drive option increases this to 288 horsepower and 333 pound-feet by adding a second motor to the rear axle. Honda claims that the Prologue will hit 0-60 MPH in under four seconds, but this only gives us reason to believe that it plans to launch a more powerful model. Neither of these outputs have the grunt to achieve such a time.

Despite the Prologue being released to the market this March, Honda is yet to dish test units out to independent reviewers, and Honda is yet to release more specifications to the public. Honda does confirm that it almost completely reinvented the BEV3’s suspension setup with its in-house designed multilink coil-spring suspension, with a focus on it being more focused and poised.

Performance Specifications

(Specifications sourced from Honda and the EPA)

The EPA has estimated the front-wheel drive model will return 107 MPGe on the combined cycle, while the all-wheel drive EX and Touring bring in a 101 MPGe result. The top-of-the-range Elite returns 99 MPGe due to its larger wheel option. These are in line with some of the best EVs currently available, further bolstering its proposition as a viable EV option.

Honda Prologue Charging Time And Range

All Honda Prologue models feature the 85 kWh Ultium lithium-ion battery pack. Front-wheel drive models return an EPA-rated 296 miles of range. The all-wheel drive trim reduces this to 281 miles. The flagship Elite trims return an even lower 273 miles, with their larger wheel options.

Using a Level One household plug, you can expect the battery to recover from empty to full in about 70 hours. A Level Two 48 amp charging system cuts this time down to around 8.5 hours. Level Three DC fast charging, locked up to 150 kW, needs only 43 minutes to recover the battery from 0-80 percent.

(Charging times sourced from Honda)

Honda offers three charging packages, with the sale of each Prologue. Option A includes a Home Charging Station with a $500 installation credit, $100 EVgo charging credit, and 60 kWh worth of charging at Electrify America charging stations. Option B includes a portable charging kit fit for Level Two, with a $250 home charging installation credit, $300 EVgo credit, and 60 kWh of energy from Electrify America. Option C only includes a $750 EVgo charging credit and 60 kWh at Electrify America. Honda is yet to announce the prices of these options.

Interior Technology, Luxury, And Comfort

Best Interior Features Of The 2024 Honda Prologue

• Dual-zone climate control
• 10-way electrically adjustable driver’s seat
• Google-powered 11.3-inch infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• 11-inch digital instrument cluster
• Front heated seats
• Wireless smartphone charger

As noted, Honda still needs to divulge a detailed breakdown of each trim’s standard appointments, but it has confirmed that all models come standard with a 10-way electrically adjustable driver’s seat, including lumbar support. You also get front-seat heating, and dual-zone climate control. Other comfort fitments include a multifunction three-spoke steering wheel. Honda upholsters the EX trims with cloth and accent stitching.

Touring trims feature black and charcoal or charcoal and light gray leather seating surfaces, a memory function for the driver’s seat, a leather-upholstered steering wheel, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. Elite models add black and charcoal, brown and black, or charcoal and light gray perforated leather seating, front seat ventilation, and a heated steering wheel.

Technology

Honda has been a bit more open about the Prologue’s technological fitments, as it confirms the 11.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system is standard across all trims. This Google-based interface supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, together SiriusXM satellite radio. Additional technical features include a wireless smartphone charger for all models. Touring models include a 12-speaker Bose audio system, a head-up display, and four USB-C charging points located between the front and rear sections. All cars are also equipped with an 11-inch digital instrument cluster.

Interior Dimensions

(Specifications sourced from Honda)

Safety And Reliability

Honda doesn’t disclose any of the Prologue’s basic safety features, but we know that all Ultium BEV3-based models feature airbag appointments covering the front driver and passenger, sides, and curtains. The Prologue is a brand-new car that is yet to hit the market, so there are no real-world crash test results or recalls to analyze as yet. Honda has confirmed that it is aiming for a Top Safety Pick+ and NHTSA five-star crash rating.

Driver Assistance Features

Honda fits all Prologue trims with the Honda Sensing technology, which includes a plethora of advanced driver assist systems.

• Forward collision warning and emergency braking
• Lane departure warning and keep assist
• Lane centering assist
• Adaptive cruise control
• Blind spot detection with cross-traffic braking
• Rear pedestrian alert

The Prologue also includes all the basic assists, such as ABS with electronic brake distribution and brake assist, together with traction and stability control.

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

• Recalls (NHTSA): 0
• NHTSA Investigations: 0
• NHTSA Consumer Complaints: 0
• Awards: N/A

Warranties

Honda offers a fairly comprehensive warranty package for the Prologue range, including a 36-month or 36,000-mile basic coverage. You also get 60 months or 60,000 miles worth of powertrain warranty, while Honda covers all scheduled maintenance in a 24-month or 24,000-mile period. There’s also 36 months or 36,000 miles worth of roadside assistance and a 36-month corrosion warranty with unlimited miles.

(Specifications sourced from Honda)

2024 Honda Prologue Versus Its Competitors

The Honda Prologue enters a highly competitive mid-size EV crossover segment populated by the likes of the Tesla Model Y and Hyundai Ioniq 5. The Prologue looks like a great proposition on paper, but it starts to fall a bit short when you square it up against some established monikers currently trailblazing this segment across the world.

How The Honda Prologue Compares To The Tesla Model Y

The Tesla Model Y is the car to beat across all segments on a global scale. The American EV beats the Honda on almost all fronts, including performance, affordability, and interior space. It also benefits from significantly faster charging times thanks to its higher rated EV architecture. The only area where the Prologue competes is in EV range, but that’s despite the Honda featuring a larger capacity.

The Prologue appears to best the Model Y with its more impressive list of standard comfort, convenience, and safety features. Honda is yet to announce the Prologue’s claimed acceleration figures, but based on the Blazer EV’s results, it’s unlikely to be competitive enough to stand a chance against the Tesla.

How The Honda Prologue Compares To The Hyundai Ioniq 5

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 also puts up a strong fight against the new Honda Prologue. The two options are closely matched on the performance front. The Ioniq 5 offers a bit more variety, with its more diverse power range options ranging from the base 168-horsepower SE to the flagship 641-horsepower Ioniq N. Despite its larger battery, the Prologue’s EPA-estimated range and consumption falls just a bit short of beating the South Korean EV.

The two options feature similar interior packaging. The Prologue has better equipment across the range, but it is significantly more expensive than the Ioinq 5’s base trim. Critics argue that the Hyundai also benefits from a more pleasing interior experience, just based on its contemporary aesthetics alone. Again, this is a tough match-up where the Prologue tends to fall a bit short.

How Much Does A 2024 Honda Prologue Cost?

The Honda Prologue range starts at $48,795 for the base front-wheel drive EX model and $54,095 for the Touring trim. Upgrading to all-wheel drive costs $3,000. The flagship Elite is only available with the dual-motor configuration, and is priced at $59,295.

(Pricing sourced from Honda)

Is It Worth Buying The Honda Prologue?

Judging by what the Honda Prologue offers on paper alone, it’s a very tough option to consider. Its lack of competitive pricing puts it at a noteworthy disadvantage. Further hurting its case is a lack of variety, as it is only available with two drivetrain options, both of which deliver mediocre power, efficiency, and range.

We reserve opinions regarding its driving characteristics for when test units are allocated to reviewers. The Blazer EV has been applauded for its poised driving characteristics. Coupling this with Honda’s bespoke suspension system may be a saving grace for this intriguing newcomer, but for the time being, the Japanese brand will have to either work on fine-tuning this package to be more powerful and efficient, or get to work on a more competitive follow-up product.