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In the event you’ve been ready for a Honda long-range electrical car earlier than taking the EV plunge your self, the wait is over… kind of. Sure, that is Honda’s first full-electric SUV, however contained in the 2024 Prologue beats the heart of a Chevy. I imply that actually: The electrical energy prepare and battery expertise are all based mostly on GM’s Ultium EV platform. Nonetheless, as I discovered after a day spent behind the wheel, there are sufficient variations within the efficiency, software program, packaging and magnificence to make the Prologue stand aside from the mechanically related Chevrolet Blazer EV and maintain its personal as a wonderful possibility on this extremely aggressive class.
Value and availability
The 2024 Honda Prologue begins at $48,795 (together with the $1,395 vacation spot cost) for the bottom single-motor EX configuration, ramping as much as $59,295 for the top-spec Elite AWD mannequin. That is a reasonably aggressive worth on this class, which incorporates Ford’s Mach-E, Volkswagen’s ID.4 and Kia’s EV6, particularly contemplating that the Prologue is likely one of the largest automobiles in its class with the longest wheelbase (121.8 inches). The Honda even manages to return in cheaper than its technological cousin, the Chevrolet Blazer LT, which presently begins at $61,790, however that will change when Chevy proclaims pricing for the Blazer’s front-drive configuration later this yr.
The Prologue would not presently qualify for the $7,500 federal EV tax credit, however that would change if Honda/GM regulate their provide chain to satisfy this system’s necessities. That mentioned, the electrical SUV should still examine the fitting containers for state or local incentives in your space.
I Drove (and Liked) the 2024 Honda Prologue Elite Electrical SUV
Ultium-powered efficiency and vary
Buyers have their alternative of two EV energy prepare choices based mostly on GM’s Ultium technology. The only-motor config sends 212-horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque to the entrance wheels. All-wheel drive provides a second motor to the rear axle, bringing the system whole to 288 horsepower and 333 lb-ft of torque. Honda’s AWD is an on demand setup, that means the Prologue behaves as a front-driven car more often than not, with the smaller rear motor coming on-line solely as wanted — so as to add launch traction, passing energy or stability — which minimizes the vary penalty for the improve.
Each Prologue makes use of the identical 85 kilowatt-hour battery pack, returning as much as 296 miles of vary from a full cost for single-motor EX and Touring trim ranges or 281 miles with dual-motor AWD. The highest-spec Elite mannequin, which is on the market solely with AWD, drops to 273 miles because of its heavier load-out of normal gear and distinctive 21-inch wheels, the biggest rollers ever match to a manufacturing Honda.
Placing your greatest motor ahead, versus on the rear axle like most different electrical SUVs on this class, has a couple of benefits. The front-biased drive could really feel extra acquainted for patrons coming from combustion automobiles, which are sometimes based mostly on FWD platforms on this class. Most automobiles are inclined to do most of their braking with the entrance wheels, which implies a bonus in regenerative braking for FWD EVs, albeit a small one, boosting city, suburban and stop-and-go vary and effectivity.
The Prologue boasts as much as 1,500 kilos of towing capability for events the place you could need to pull a small trailer.
Drivers can regulate the Prologue’s regen stage through paddle shifters. I used to be happy to study that the Honda additionally helps one-pedal driving, a max-regen mode that may convey the SUV to a cease with out touching the friction brakes, however I used to be mildly aggravated to seek out it toggled through the touchscreen slightly than with the paddles. My private desire is to flip between one-pedal mode round city and fewer regen on the freeway — it is one of many methods I maximize my EV’s range — so that is much less of a nitpick for drivers who stick to one mode.
Gentle, agile efficiency
Throughout a day of driving over hilly terrain, I averaged 3.5 miles per kilowatt-hour within the Prologue Elite, which is on par with what I see from our long-term Kia EV6 Wind AWD. I discovered the dual-motor electrical energy prepare’s acceleration to be greater than satisfying, each off the road and at passing and merging speeds. At greater speeds, wind noise turns into noticeable, however that is seemingly highlighted by the shortage of engine and highway noise and simply masked by the audio system at average listening ranges. The dealing with is tidy, with the suspension and lengthy wheelbase doing a very good job balancing a nimble really feel on floor roads with simply the correct amount of attenuation of bumps on the freeway.
My one criticism is that the Prologue’s steering feels a bit overboosted — even in Sport mode, which weights it up a bit — making it tough to really feel what the entrance wheels are doing when hustling round tight switchbacks. Frankly, I do not assume the target market of midsize SUV drivers would even discover and will even favor the extra-light steering really feel.
Charging pace and choices
The Prologue can settle for as much as 155-kilowatt DC quick charging, ok to finish Honda’s advisable 20% to 80% cost in round 35 minutes at a robust sufficient station. Pop the gasoline door and you may spy a CCS-type charging port, although the SUV will ultimately support the NACS standard and chargers through an adapter. This would be the case for many EVs constructed over the following few years and should not be thought of a deal-breaker.
Honda’s three tiers of charging incentives enable patrons to stability their residence and public charging wants.
Honda provides the selection of three charging packages with a Prologue buy, with an even bigger emphasis than most automakers on encouraging and serving to drivers get arrange with residence charging — probably the most handy, value efficient solution to reside with an EV. The primary possibility consists of an 11.5-kW Honda Dwelling Charging Station, a $500 credit score for set up through the Honda Dwelling Electrification program and a $100 EVgo public charging credit score. Possibility two scales all the way down to a smaller 7.6-kW moveable charger and a $300 set up incentive, however scales as much as a $300 EVgo credit score. Possibility three is only a flat $750 EVgo credit score aimed toward homeowners who have already got residence charging gear and house dwellers who cannot set up.
All three charging packages additionally embrace a 60-kWh Electrify America charging allowance, which is not a lot however serves as a free introduction to EA’s community. Honda can be one among seven OEMs partnered on the upcoming IONNA DC fast charging network launching later this yr with the purpose of constructing 30,000 cost factors at 1,350 charging stations throughout the US and Canada by 2030, but it surely hasn’t introduced any incentives or perks for Prologue patrons.
Google Constructed-In tech
The Prologue’s cabin boasts high-quality dashboard and middle console supplies, snug seats, in all probability the most important cup holders I’ve ever seen and 4 high-speed 45-watt USB type-C ports for charging telephones, tablets or laptops.
Commonplace tech consists of an Android-powered dashboard with an 11-inch digital instrument cluster, an 11.3-inch fundamental touchscreen and the Google Constructed-In working system. Which means Google Maps is used for navigation, with reside vary estimates, charging stops and vitality effectivity built-in into its route planning. The Google Play Retailer permits passengers to seek out and set up music and audio streaming apps, whereas Google Assistant serves because the voice command system, enabling drivers to ask, “Hey, Google, set the temperature to 69 levels” or, “Hearken to the Hives on Spotify.”
The Honda’s 5G knowledge connection is offered by GM’s OnStar, which is one among many clues that, like the facility prepare beneath the chassis, the Prologue’s cabin tech is constructed on the identical bones because the Blazer EV. There are sufficient software program variations that buyers could also be steered towards the Honda. A giant one is help for wi-fi and USB-C related Apple CarPlay and Android Auto — options GM has abandoned on its EVs — good will get for drivers preferring Apple’s ecosystem or to not log in to a borrowed/shared automotive.
Honda’s dashboard options Google Constructed-In software program, however drivers can select to make use of phone-based Android Auto or Apple CarPlay.
Execs and cons of the 2024 Honda Prologue
Agile and easy, the Prologue does really feel like greater than a clone of the Chevrolet Blazer EV. True, the broad strokes are related and the underlying tech is identical, but it surely’s clear that Honda’s engineers and designers have touched, tweaked and left their mark on each side of the 2024 Honda Prologue. Pushed back-to-back, the distinction is refined, but it surely’s there. And the addition of fascinating applied sciences like Android Auto and Apple CarPlay alongside the lower cost (for now) are sufficient to present the Honda a little bit of an edge over the Blazer, making it a stable possibility amongst long-range electrical SUVs.
Nonetheless, sharing GM’s Ultium platform could show to be a double-edged sword, because the software growing pains that the Blazer has skilled in its first months on the highway are actually a giant trigger for concern for Prologue early adopters. Honda’s engineers inform me that the Prologue’s software program is exclusive to Honda, freed from the problems that triggered a latest stop-sale of Blazer EVs, and that we should always anticipate a clean launch when the Prologue begins hitting dealerships within the coming weeks. I ought to observe that my Prologue Elite’s head-up show did not work in any respect throughout my take a look at drive, although to be truthful, it was a preproduction car and glitches occur. I did not expertise another points throughout my quick take a look at drive, however I plan to comply with up with an extended take a look at quickly.
Editors’ observe: Journey prices associated to this story had been lined by the producer, which is frequent within the auto trade. The judgments and opinions of CNET’s workers are our personal and we do not settle for paid editorial content material.
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