2024 Honda Prologue Test Drive Review: How The Civic’s Big Brother Stacks Up

The 2024 Honda Prologue is an all-new mid-size SUV. It has two rows with seating for 5 folks and a bit extra room than the favored Honda CR-V. In contrast to the CR-V, which is offered with a gasoline or hybrid engine and even a hydrogen gasoline cell, the Prologue is electrical solely. That is Honda’s newest EV effort, following the Readability sedan and Match EV, neither of which ever discovered an viewers. This time round, Honda is taking part in it protected by making its new EV an SUV reasonably than a sedan or a subcompact with restricted enchantment. Crossovers and SUVs are all the craze, which supplies the Prologue a greater likelihood of success. However does it work?

Choosing the right section is an efficient begin, but it surely’s under no circumstances a positive factor. Electrical automobile gross sales aren’t rocketing skyward regardless of a rising variety of choices. Some automakers are even pulling again on their EV plans. Not everyone seems to be bought on the electrical life for a variety of causes from the elevated price of shopping for one to the challenges of charging out on the street. Let’s see if the Prologue has what it takes to get you into an electrical automobile.

Exterior: A Totally different Look For Honda

The Prologue is the one EV within the Honda lineup, so it is sensible that it appears to be like a little bit completely different. There’s no dramatic departure from the model’s total design, however there are a couple of key components that give it added enchantment and a bit extra visible punch. Honda calls its design “neo-rugged” within the press launch, and we’re actually undecided what that’s presupposed to imply, but it surely does look good. It’s acquired the curvy aerodynamic strains which can be an indicator of electrical autos with out coming off as unnecessarily futuristic.

That is an electrical automobile that doesn’t scream its standing. We love the brand new badging for the Honda identify on the again of the liftgate. It’s one of many extra placing components of the design and, as a result of it’s new, it is positive to have folks questioning about what new Honda you’re driving.

Up entrance, it as soon as once more hides its electrical pedigree a bit with a stupendous grille. Since EVs don’t want airflow to chill an engine, designers have give you all types of recent concepts for a way the entrance of an EV ought to look. Many find yourself with drab slabs of steel with an emblem slapped within the center. The Prologue may simply idiot you into considering it has a gasoline engine due to a grille that appears extra conventional and offers this SUV some character as a substitute of trying like an afterthought.

Seating: Room For The Entire Household

This can be a two-row SUV with seating for 5, so it’s not going to work for big households. It’s, nevertheless, nice for many who are typically utilizing that second row for simply two folks, whether or not youngsters or adults. Three will match, however regardless of being 5 inches wider than the CR-V with a wheelbase that is eight inches longer, it’s nonetheless not a spot three adults will wish to keep in for too lengthy. Rear headroom is one thing to pay attention to for tall adults because it’s a bit tight for the six-foot crowd. Notice that the rear seats do have two reclining positions, which improves their consolation.

The entrance seats are supportive, however not plush. The Prologue is extra utilitarian and doesn’t coddle passengers. Minimal bolstering on these seats makes it straightforward for bigger adults to get snug, particularly for longer journeys.

Inside: A Little Much less Honda Than Regular

Honda isn’t a luxurious model, but it surely does typically supply engaging interiors, particularly in its high trims. Whether or not you’re speaking the sporty Civic or family-favorite Pilot, they ship high quality with a variety of supplies that make the expertise extra premium as you progress up in worth.

The Prologue was developed collectively with Basic Motors and has rather a lot in widespread with the Chevrolet Blazer EV. Each have the identical Ultium battery pack and motors and journey on the identical platform, however they are not the identical automobile. Honda gave the Prologue a distinct inside and although it’s extra premium, we anticipated higher. It’s a bit plain, with an excessive amount of onerous plastic, which makes it look low cost and unappealing. The seats are a excessive level with the highest Elite trim we drove that includes leather-based, warmth, and air flow, in addition to 10-way energy adjustability for the motive force. They give the impression of being nice, however the abundance of plain black plastic that adorned the remainder of the inside was lackluster.

Infotainment: Good Performance Even In The Base Trim

The significance of staying related and having info on the prepared has made strong infotainment techniques extra widespread. Whereas display screen sizes could develop together with additional options as you progress up the trim vary, even base trims now have options as soon as reserved for under the priciest of fashions.

The Honda Prologue takes that concept to coronary heart by providing an 11.3-inch infotainment touchscreen as a regular characteristic, together with an 11-inch digital instrument cluster. It contains wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Google Constructed-In, pocket-style wi-fi telephone charging, two entrance and two rear USB ports, and Wi-Fi hotspot functionality as commonplace options. A head-up show is commonplace on the Elite and the 6-speaker audio turns into a Bose 12-speaker system on all however the base EX.

The system is intuitive with a touchscreen that’s inside straightforward attain of each driver and passenger. Google Constructed-In lets the system plan your drive route round out there chargers and even preconditions the battery for optimum charging once you arrive. It gives a very good mixture of options that assist you to keep related and make street journeys with an EV simpler.

Cargo: Room For The Huge Stuff And The Little Stuff

When folks consider cargo room, it’s typically about how a lot massive stuff you possibly can put in a automobile. The Prologue gives as much as 25.2 cubic toes behind the second row and 57.7 cubic toes behind the entrance row. That’s loads of room for on a regular basis gadgets or bigger baggage on a getaway. It might probably additionally tow as much as 1,500 kilos of extra cargo.

Whereas with the ability to carry massive cargo is essential, so is having a spot to stow the smaller stuff you carry round every single day. An additional 0.5 cubic toes of area hides beneath the cargo flooring, for starters. There’s additionally a coated middle console for retaining gadgets out of sight, with a big storage space beneath that console. Wallets, keys, even a small purse simply match and there’s even a little bit of an edge, so nothing slides out taking a nook. It’s a small element that makes an enormous distinction.

Efficiency: Satisfactory Energy However Not Spectacular

The Prologue is offered with front-wheel drive and a single motor for 212 horsepower with 236 lb-ft of torque or dual-motor all-wheel drive that bumps the numbers to 288 horsepower with 333 lb-ft of torque. We spent our driving time within the Elite, which is all-wheel drive solely, and located it responsive. It has robust acceleration, which is one thing you get in each EV, but it surely’s not as robust as what you’ll discover in a Hyundai Ioniq 5 or a Tesla Mannequin Y.

* Besides Elite trim, which manages 273 miles

There’s adjustable regenerative braking, which is a superb characteristic. Not everybody likes brakes that seize the minute you elevate off the accelerator. Particularly for passengers vulnerable to movement illness, with the ability to take this down a notch makes for a extra nice drive for everybody.

Vary And Charging: Highway Journey Prepared

There’s a driving vary of 296 miles for the one motor Prologue. The EX and Touring with all-wheel drive have a variety of 281 miles, whereas the highest Elite, which is all-wheel drive solely, will get simply 273 miles. The 85-kWh battery fees from 20 to 80 % in 35 minutes utilizing DC quick charging, gaining 62 to 65 miles of vary for each ten minutes of charging relying on the trim.

These aren’t distinctive numbers, however they’re greater than sufficient. When you’ve got a Stage 2 charger put in at house, plugging in in a single day is straightforward sufficient to maintain the battery charged for the majority of your driving. On a street journey, issues grow to be a bit more difficult, however nothing that may’t be managed. That is the place so many individuals get hung up on shopping for an EV, however take into account simply how typically you street journey and simply how a lot of a rush you’ll be in on that journey. You’re in all probability going to be simply nice.

Drive impressions: A Precedence On Consolation, Not Efficiency

The Prologue has a easy, quiet journey, and we’re not speaking in regards to the lack of engine noise. Each EV is quieter than a gasoline automobile, however there’s nonetheless loads of alternatives for intrusive noise, a few of which stand out extra with out the engine noise appearing as cowl. The Prologue, nevertheless, retains these additional sounds to a minimal.

There’s not a lot in the best way of street noise, even on tough pavement. Moist roads had been equally quiet with the noise of a sudden thunderstorm stored largely outdoors the cabin. Even the sounds of passing vehicles on the freeway had been properly muted. The aerodynamics of the Prologue additionally minimized wind noise, making this EV an exceptionally quiet and stress-free possibility.

On the efficiency entrance, this isn’t a sporty Honda, so let go of any Civic notions you could have in your thoughts. It has sufficient energy to simply rise up to freeway speeds with out criticism, but it surely’s not particularly aggressive. This EV is extra about snug cruising than successful races, which is simply nice for a household SUV. Its dealing with is sweet, but it surely’s not participating. There’s a Sport mode on the Elite trim, which adjusts steering and braking, but it surely’s not a dramatic change.

Pricing And Verdict: A Gentle-Mannered EV

The Honda Prologue delivers the flexibility of an SUV in EV kind. It’s a fantastic possibility for many who are Honda followers and need one thing roomier than the CR-V and are able to make the transfer to electrical. It doesn’t have the longest vary nor does it have the quickest charging, but it surely’s nonetheless a stable EV.

The outside styling is top-notch, from the sculpted physique to the brand new Honda badging to its eye-catching wheel designs. We actually like its distinctive sense of fashion. It’s nonetheless Honda, only a bit extra trendy. Inside, although snug, it lacks the enchantment of different Hondas, which is a downside, particularly once you think about pricing.

*Excluding $1,395 vacation spot fees

The Prologue begins at $47,400 and tops out at $57,900, so it’s not precisely the most cost effective possibility on the market. The excellent news is that every one fashions made after February 26, 2024, qualify for the $7,500 EV tax credit score. In the event you’re leasing, then you definitely get the credit score regardless of the construct date.

Total, we just like the Prologue. It’s a horny household automobile with room for folks and cargo and the flexibleness to tow. There’s additionally a very good infotainment system with a pleasant massive display screen throughout the lineup and a cushty inside. Vary and charging time, although not exceptional, are well-suited to day by day use and, with a little bit planning, street journey adventures. Households on the lookout for a roomy, electrical, two-row SUV would do properly to contemplate the Prologue.