- The 2024 Honda Prologue debuts as the brand’s second EV for the United States, and the mid-size SUV will start between $45K and $50K.
- With an estimated range of up to 300 miles, the Prologue offers front- or all-wheel-drive powertrains; the latter produces 288 horses and 333 pound-feet of torque.
- Based on GM’s Ultium platform, the Prologue’s handsome exterior and smart interior are courtesy of Honda’s Los Angeles-based designers.
Who remembers the Honda Clarity EV? Most people probably don’t. The funky-looking sedan was the brand’s most recent attempt at selling an electric car in the United States, but it was ultimately doomed by a measly 89-mile range estimate, not to mention it was only available for lease and only in California and Oregon. Now, with the help of GM’s scalable Ultium battery platform, Honda gets back into the American EV game with the 2024 Prologue.
Prologue Preview
Spanning 192 inches long, the Prologue is just over seven inches longer than the compact Honda CR-V and about three inches longer than the mid-size Honda Passport. The electric SUV also has a lengthy 121.8-inch wheelbase (the same as the recently revealed Acura ZDX), which helps provide ample passenger space. Since the Prologue is wider than it is tall (64.7 inches), it gives off station-wagon vibes à la the now-defunct Ford Flex.
Honda’s Los Angeles design team penned the Prologue’s design, which features smooth exterior surfaces and short overhangs. While its minimalist appearance is plain compared with anything new wearing a Kia or Hyundai badge, we think it looks handsome. A set of 21-inch wheels on the top-of-the-line model complement its proportions.
The Prologue’s interior also looks attractive, with its simple layout and restrained mix of materials. Along with preserving physical buttons and knobs on the dash, we applaud the column-mounted shifter and versatile center console, which has huge cupholders that accept 32-ounce containers as well as oodles of cubby space between the upper and lower levels.
We had the chance to sit in the Prologue, and we can report that there’s lots of legroom in both rows. However, taller rear-seat passengers will have to deal with limited headroom, especially on models with the panoramic sunroof. The back seats do slightly recline, and behind them there’s 25 cubic feet of space. Dropping the seatbacks expands that space to 58 cubes. Under the cargo floor is an additional cube of storage. Unfortunately, due to the packaging of the front electric motor, there’s no frunk.
Prologue Battery and Powertrains
The Prologue comes with either a single-motor front-wheel-drive setup or a dual-motor all-wheel-drive configuration. The latter generates an estimated 288 horsepower and 333 pound-feet of torque. Honda hasn’t released power output for the single electric motor, but judging by its platform mate—the front-drive Chevy Equinox EV—we think the Prologue will produce somewhere around 210 horses and 243 pound-feet. Regardless of the powertrain, acceleration and deceleration is expressed with simulated sounds, but it remains to be seen whether they make the driving experience better or worse.
With an 85.0-kWh battery pack, Honda estimates the front-drive Prologue will have a maximum driving range of 300 miles. While there’s no estimate for the all-wheel-drive models, we think it’ll be similar to the Equinox EV, which has a 280-mile estimate.
With a 155-kW max charging rate when connected to a DC fast-charger, the Prologue’s battery is expected to add 65 miles of range in 10 minutes. Customers can also select from one of three different charging packages. They include an 11.5-kW home charger or a 7.6-kW portable charging kit (both with a $100 public charging credit and a $500 installation incentive). A $750 public charging credit is the third option.
Prologue Features and Pricing
The Prologue comes in three trim levels: EX, Touring, and Elite. Even the base model is well-equipped, as it comes standard with heated front seats, a power-operated driver’s seat with lumbar adjustments, dual-zone climate control, and a wireless smartphone charger. Stepping up to the Touring swaps cloth upholstery for leather and adds memory seat settings, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and a 12-speaker Bose sound system. The Elite includes perforated leather in more colors, a heated steering wheel, ventilated front seats, and a head-up display.
An 11.0-inch digital gauge cluster and a horizontal 11.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system are standard on all models. The latter features Google software, including myriad apps, as well as wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. In addition to all that tech, every Prologue has a host of driver assists, which include blind-spot steering assist, and rear cross-traffic braking, and rear pedestrian detection.
Honda hasn’t yet released full pricing for the 2024 Prologue, but the EX is expected to start somewhere between $45,000 and $50,000. We’d wager the top-tier Elite will tack on another $10K or so. The EV SUV will be available to order before the end of the year, with deliveries set to start early in 2024.
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Senior Editor
Eric Stafford’s automobile addiction began before he could walk, and it has fueled his passion to write news, reviews, and more for Car and Driver since 2016. His aspiration growing up was to become a millionaire with a Jay Leno–like car collection. Apparently, getting rich is harder than social-media influencers make it seem, so he avoided financial success entirely to become an automotive journalist and drive new cars for a living. After earning a journalism degree at Central Michigan University and working at a daily newspaper, the years of basically burning money on failed project cars and lemon-flavored jalopies finally paid off when Car and Driver hired him. His garage currently includes a 2010 Acura RDX, a manual ’97 Chevy Camaro Z/28, and a ’90 Honda CRX Si.
Source: Motor - aranddriver.com
