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2024 Honda Prologue: HondaB´ÎÔª¹ÙÍøÍøÖ·™s first electric utility vehicle heads to market

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The elephant in the room is that the Prologue is built on a General Motors battery and powertrain platform. Why? Honda is still working on its own. Will this matter to Honda customers? PHOTO: HONDA

The Honda Prologue is a hybrid of sorts but not in the way you might think.

The five-passenger utility-style vehicle, which is one of 30 planned electric vehicles Honda said it will introduce globally by 2030, will be available starting in early this year.

The Prologue results from a collaborative effort with General Motors, which supplies the Ultium battery platform and powertrain, while HondaB´ÎÔª¹ÙÍøÍøÖ·™s California-based stylists are responsible for the attractive bodywork. Their stated goal was to maximize the PrologueB´ÎÔª¹ÙÍøÍøÖ·™s aerodynamics for driving range, while minimizing wind noise.

The Prologue is built at a factory in Mexico that will also assemble the Chevrolet Equinox EV.

Why is this collaboration taking place? The fast answer is that HondaB´ÎÔª¹ÙÍøÍøÖ·™s electric platform is not done, but the brand needs to get an EV to market now. GM, then, appears to be a logical partner.

As a point of clarification, the Prologue isnB´ÎÔª¹ÙÍøÍøÖ·™t HondaB´ÎÔª¹ÙÍøÍøÖ·™s first EV. The Honda Fit EV subcompact was a 2014-only model, and the Clarity Sedan EV was briefly offered for model years 2017-B´ÎÔª¹ÙÍøÍøÖ·™19. Both vehicles were available B´ÎÔª¹ÙÍøÍøÖ·” for lease only B´ÎÔª¹ÙÍøÍøÖ·” in California and Oregon. With a maximum range of about 130 and 140 kilometres, respectively, neither one was destined to become a serious category contender.

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The Prologue results from a collaborative effort with General Motors. PHOTO: Honda

Compared with the Honda CR-V compact utility vehicle, the Prologue is about 20 centimetres longer, 13 centimetres wider and it has a 41 centimetre advantage in distance between the front and rear wheels. ItB´ÎÔª¹ÙÍøÍøÖ·™s a big vehicle.

The CR-V holds a significant advantage in cargo capacity, with the rear seat upright or folded flat, mainly because of its taller and flatter roofline. Unlike some other EVs, the Prologue doesnB´ÎÔª¹ÙÍøÍøÖ·™t offer a stowage spot beneath the hood, commonly referred to as a frunk.

The interior focus is on the 11.3-inch driver information display and 11.3-inch touch-screen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity. Google maps can be conveniently displayed on either screen. A finger rest below the touch-screen allows users to steady their hands when initiating selections while the vehicle is in motion.

A column-mounted shifter, instead of a dial in the console, results in more space between the seats for stowing smaller items.

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The Prologue has an 11.3-inch driver information display and 11.3-inch touch-screen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity. A column-mounted shifter — instead of a dial in the console — results in more space between the seats for stowing smaller items. PHOTO: HONDA

The audio volume control is inconveniently located within the touch-screen, but at least there are separate knobs and switches for operating the heating/ventilation system.

The Prologue EX (the base model), EX-L and Touring are equipped with front and rear electric motors that produce a net 288 horsepower and 333 pound-feet of torque. An 85-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack is standard. An estimated maximum range of 450 kilometres is projected.

According to Honda, the Prologue charges at a rate of 104 kilometres of range for every 10 minutes hooked to a commercial-grade Level 3 DC station. Honda has provided no other numbers, but a 240-volt home station will be considerably slower.

The Prologue starts at $61,990, including $2,000 delivery, and qualifies for federal and provincial zero-emission vehicle rebates. For the first two model years, however, the Prologue will only be sold in British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec.

The three trim levels also come with a range of active-safety technology as part of Honda Sensing. Included are rear-cross-traffic braking, blind-zone steering assist and rear pedestrian alert.

The base EX comes with dual-zone climate control, heated front seats and an eight-way power driverB´ÎÔª¹ÙÍøÍøÖ·™s seat with power lumbar support.

The EX-L comes with a panoramic sunroof, upgraded interior with leather seating surfaces, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, wireless phone charging, 12-speaker Bose audio system, hands-free power liftgate and front and rear parking assist.

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Rear-seat riders are treated to plenty of legroom, although not a lot of headroom (due mostly to the low roofline). PHOTO: HONDA

Selecting the top-level Touring gets you perforated leather seating (ventilated in front), head-up driverB´ÎÔª¹ÙÍøÍøÖ·™s display, heated steering wheel and 21-inch wheels (19s are standard).

The TouringB´ÎÔª¹ÙÍøÍøÖ·™s Sport driving mode provides more immediate throttle and steering responses and adjusts braking function for quicker stops.

As a business venture with GM, the Prologue is a neatly packaged vehicle with plenty of the right stuff to entice first-time EV buyers. But for all the PrologueB´ÎÔª¹ÙÍøÍøÖ·™s goodness, will Honda customers be content with driving GM technology?

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The Honda CR-V holds a significant advantage in cargo capacity over the Prologue, pictured, with the rear seat upright or folded flat. Note HondaB´ÎÔª¹ÙÍøÍøÖ·™s foldable scooter, which is not standard equipment. PHOTO: HONDA

What you should know: 2024 Honda Prologue

Type: All-wheel-drive midsize utility vehicle

Motors (h.p.): Dual electric (288)

Transmission: Single-speed controller

Market position: Honda has previously dabbled with battery-electric propulsion, but the Prologue is the automakerB´ÎÔª¹ÙÍøÍøÖ·™s first mass-produced effort, albeit supported and assembled by General Motors.

Points: Conservatively attractive bodywork. B´ÎÔª¹ÙÍøÍøÖ·¢ Spacious passenger compartment, especially for rear-seat riders. B´ÎÔª¹ÙÍøÍøÖ·¢ Dual-motor powertrain output and driving range should prove more than adequate. B´ÎÔª¹ÙÍøÍøÖ·¢ Base models come well-equipped with sufficient comfort and dynamic safety technologies. B´ÎÔª¹ÙÍøÍøÖ·¢ A future Acura EV (the ZDX) will be built using similar power systems.

Active safety: Blind-spot warning with cross-traffic backup alert (std.); active cruise control (std.); front and rear emergency braking (opt.); inattentive-driver alert (std.); lane-departure warning (std.); pedestrian warning (std.); front and rear parking assist (opt.)

Le/100 KM (city/hwy): n.a.

Base price (incl. destination): $62,000

BY COMPARISON

Chevrolet Equinox

  • Base price: $51,500
  • Well-priced EV will offer similar content and performance to the

Hyundai Ioniq 5

  • Base price: $57,650
  • Good-looking RWD or AWD EV can be had with up to 641 horsepower.

Nissan Ariya

  • Base price: $56,800
  • NissanB´ÎÔª¹ÙÍøÍøÖ·™s newest EV comes with FWD or AWD. Up to 389 h.p.

B´ÎÔª¹ÙÍøÍøÖ·“ written by Malcom Gunn, Managing Partner at Wheelbase Media

If youB´ÎÔª¹ÙÍøÍøÖ·™re interested in new or used vehicles, be sure to visit to find your dream car today! Like us on and follow us on





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