It feels like we’ve been waiting ages for Honda to launch a modern electric car in America, but the 2024 Honda Prologue is just around the corner. Sure, it’s technically a bunch of GM bits with Honda badging, a bit like how the new Acura ZDX is also a GM product, but this sort of re-badging isn’t unprecedented. After all, Honda’s first SUV was a rebadged Isuzu. Regardless, Honda’s released more details on its incoming electric crossover, so let’s see what’s on the table.
Honda claims that the Prologue will start “in the upper $40,000s,” which is a chamois-smooth way of saying nearly $50,000. Oh, and there’s a little asterisk in the press release, since that claimed price excludes freight charges. Since Honda seems happy to ballpark the numbers, let’s do the same and say that the Prologue will start around $50,000 including freight. So, what do you get for that sort of money?
Well, you definitely get a center console. Not only does it feature USB-C charging ports and a huge smartphone tray, it also offers serious beverage capacity. Honda is extremely proud of the console’s cupholders, claiming that each one “can accommodate large 32 oz. bottles.” That’s more than the capacity of a human bladder, which is probably something you never expected to think about today.
The Prologue also gets up to 300 miles of maximum targeted range from an 85 kWh battery pack, while peak DC fast charging speeds of 155 kW should make the Prologue a decent road-tripper. Granted, if you really want a mileage champ, the long-range, small-tired Hyundai Ioniq 6 is rated for a whopping 361 miles on a charge, but the Prologue should get something only offered on the Ioniq 6 if you lease it — federal tax credits.
That headline range figure is all well and good, but there’s some important information on the Prologue that Honda won’t divulge at this point in time. Although we know that all-wheel-drive models pump out 288 horsepower and 333 lb.-ft. of torque, power from the two-wheel-drive models is anyone’s guess. What’s more, that maximum approximate range of 300 miles will likely only apply to the base model on small wheels. How much do the optional 21-inch rollers and all-wheel-drive impact that figure?
As for toys and equipment, the entry-level Prologue comes with eight airbags, an 11.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a digital instrument cluster, heated seats, and wireless charging. Come to think of it, can’t you get most of those things on a well-specced cheap-and-cheerful Chevrolet Trax? I know batteries are expensive, but damn.
Mind you, it’s not as if Honda isn’t doing anything to temper the cost of its American-market EV. Buyers get to choose between three different complimentary (read: baked-in) charging packages: An 11.5 kW home charging station, $100 worth of public charging credits, and a $500 installation incentive; a 7.6 kW portable Level 2 charger, $300 worth of public charging credits, and a $250 installation incentive; or just $750 in public charging credits. While it’s hard to not feel like Honda could’ve just lopped a few hundred off the Prologue’s price tag, these charging setups are nice spiffs.
We might have to wait until next year to learn more about the 2024 Honda Prologue, but early details seem promising. Sure, it’s not a groundbreaking EV from a tech perspective, nor is it tiny and adorable like the overseas-market Honda e, but it has the right form factor and badge to have serious mass appeal. Needless to say, as Honda reveals more about the Prologue, we’ll keep you updated.
(Photo credits: Honda)
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What is America’s obsession with huge beverages in cars?
hydration over ever lengthening commutes?
That would explain the pissbottles on the side of the road.
I usually look at buying Honda because I have less faith in the reliability of GM products.
So why do I want a Honda with GM guts? Add to it that it seems to be a very pedestrian CUV for $50k?
It definitely looks like a Chevy. Actually, come to think of it, the Equinox EV is better-looking, and it starts at $30,000.
I’d much rather have the Equinox, even if it weren’t $20k cheaper.
All I want is a Honda E
I was interested in this until I saw the $50K expected price tag. Honda apparently thinks the world needs yet another $50K EV crossover, but at that cost, it’s a non-starter for me. Their e:NY1 EV (which I think of as the NYC1 because I can’t remember the real name… you know the one I mean: https://www.motortrend.com/news/honda-eny1-ev-suv-everything-we-know/ ) is a bit more intriguing only because it would presumably cost less. But if the Prologue starts around $50K, then sadly, the e:NY1 will probably wind up starting at $40Kish, which is still too much for what it is (IMO), even from Honda.
Why manufacturers other than Tesla aren’t seriously trying to bring a slightly-profitable $25K EV to market BEFORE Elon finally offers buyers the Model 2 is beyond me. I mean, why wait for him to chomp up the lion’s share of that market too, and then release a semi-competitive model two or three years too late? Even Volvo’s EX-30, which I find to be very appealing, costs too much at $35K… I wish they’d see fit to offer a comfortably sub-$30K version (like $28,995 + tax/title/reg) even if it got say 20% less range and/or had slower charging built-in.
Aptera is claiming a base price of less than $26k and had planned to make deliveries this year. I know it’s a new company now and there’s suppossedly actually a chance of something happening with them but I still won’t believe a word they say until they’re actually selling something.
So first there was Aptera Motors Inc. That was founded in 2005, persuaded over 4000 people to put down deposits in 2008, then the company failed in 2011. Though it did refund depositors their money.
So now there’s Aptera Motors Corp that spun up in 2019. In 2020 they got people to give deposits. They actually build several prototypes in 2021, and continued to accrue deposits, supposedly exceeding 35,000 at this point.
However regarding production…
I expect there’ll be another reason for delay within the next 90 days.
Thanks for the nice summary. I first saw this thing around 2006 and have been following-ish it ever since. I also expect more delay(s), but this time at least stuff is happening with them- factories, tooling, etc and the tech seems more ready for what they’re trying to do. I’m hoping the vaporware will coalesce at some point since we need more smaller/cheaper EV options.
Yah, I’ve been following Aptera too since the first go-round in the oughts. I never put a deposit down on one, mostly because if I’m going to get a new daily-use EV, it’s got to be able to carry stuff… more cargo space than the Aptera provides.
I did see fit to put a deposit down on a small Telo EV pickup, but I think actual customer deliveries are still a ways off, and whether they’ll have a starting price I can live with remains to be seen: https://www.telotrucks.com
The best thing that can be said about Aptera is that they are not Faraday Future or Lordstown Motors. Yes, they are the most intriguing EV vaporware.
Finally a plain, normal-looking EV inside and out
I get your point Accordian, but where’s the fun in that? 😉
In this case, the fun would be choosing the Teal color hehe
I am open to teal on anything at all these days, just for change of pace. That BMW twin that Mercedes bought is one of the prettiest teal bikes I’ve ever seen. 🙂
Hard to believe there was a time when affordable, eco-friendly Japanese cars had GM absolutely sweating bullets and begging for help.
The spirit of Honda, at least when it comes to it’s cars, is officially dead in America. And we got the cup-holders to prove it.
It took a while but Japan has lost another war.
Something interesting from the ZDX specs: the standard A-spec with 20″ wheels is estimated at a higher range, and even the 500hp Type-S with 22s is close. Maybe trying to underpromise/overdeliver for the Prologue?
ZDX A-Spec single-motor: 325 mi
ZDX A-Spec dual-motor: 315 mi
ZDX Type-S dual-motor: 288 mi
Also the ZDX listed towing capacity (3500 lbs) in the specs but Honda didn’t, more odd that they mentioned it at all on the Acura but interesting if the Prologue differs.
It’s boring, it’s dull, and it’s crazy expensive. And I couldn’t have one anyway because I have no place to charge it, and 5K of my annual 8K miles are a long road trip…in my Honda.
Looks par for the EV SUV course. Simple styling, not offensive or controversial in any way. I’m sure it drives fine. All that said, no way is this 50K.
GM in Honda clothing…meh. Seeing as I am holding on to my 2011 CR-V for at least another 4-5 years, no rush on a Honda EV. I’ll wait for them to put out their own instead of a rebadged GM product.
So, when the car eventually breaks or rusts out, are we going to call it an “Epilogue” or a “Prolapse”?