The Honda Prologue Was The Shock EV Hit Of 2024

I really feel like I’ve mentioned it one million occasions, and it is extra true each time I say it: folks need good, cheap electrical autos from manufacturers they belief. And the Honda Prologue continues to show me proper. 

A number of industry-watchers, critics and Honda followers wrote the Prologue off at first. In any case, it is not even technically a Honda product; underneath the pores and skin, it is a Normal Motors EV, re-bodied and re-tuned by Honda with some software program tweaks distinctive to the household. Most of the naysayers believed it might be an afterthought from one other EV-skeptical Japanese automotive firm, a glorified compliance automotive or a PR train to make it appear like Honda’s not completely behind within the electrical race. 

It seems they had been all unsuitable. The Prologue is clearly discovering success all by itself with the power of its specs, measurement, aggressive offers and the truth that Honda’s keen to sweeten the deal by throwing in a house or transportable charger and protecting a few of these set up prices. 

Honda’s 2024 gross sales information, launched Friday, signifies that 33,017 Prologue EVs had been bought in 2024. That is not dangerous in any respect for a automotive that did not actually go on sale in pressure till in regards to the center of the yr. It even outsold the marginally bigger, gas-powered Passport by about 500 models.

And maybe most notably, the Prologue ended up being the best-selling mannequin of all of the GM EVs: its gross sales trumped the Equinox EV (28,874 bought), Blazer EV (23,115) and even Cadillac Lyriq (28,402) in 2024. If these traits proceed into 2025, we might nicely see the Prologue grow to be one of many high EV crossovers behind the still-top-selling Tesla Mannequin Y, a listing that features the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Ford Mustang Mach-E.

I might say Honda’s onto one thing right here. However that is not shocking whenever you have a look at the specs. The Prologue is a really “regular”-feeling EV that appears and operates very similar to a standard gas-powered automotive, proper right down to the door handles. Spec-wise, it is fairly strong too: powered by an 85-kWh battery pack, the Prologue is available in front- or all-wheel-drive types with between 273 and 296 miles of vary, relying on trim and tools. Its most charging pace is a so-so 155 kW, and Honda says it could possibly cost from 20% to 80% in about 35 minutes on a commensurate quick charger. Nonetheless, with Honda opting to incorporate a Degree 2 residence charger, a Degree 1 or 2 transportable charger or credit for public fast-charging, house owners get numerous flexibility on how they wish to “gas” their new electrical vehicles. 

And whereas some will nonetheless ding the Prologue for being a GM automotive beneath, I say: do most individuals even know that, and do they care? GM’s EVs (née Ultium) are more and more spectacular in lots of segments, from household crossovers to luxurious vehicles and even pickup vehicles. Plus, Honda’s sellers are typically very well-regarded for customer support; there’s rather a lot to love in regards to the Prologue, rebadge or no. 

Previous analysis has proven that many American patrons assume that the Japanese automakers, who had been early pioneers with hybrid expertise, are among the many leaders within the EV house as nicely. That is not precisely true lately, however that notion is probably going proof that folks need good EV choices from manufacturers they know to be reliable and reliable.

Honda is working to meet up with its personal EV {hardware} quickly and we’ll see the most recent developments there this week at CES. I might say that because it plans for an electrical future, it had higher be taking notes on how the Prologue is doing proper now, as a result of there’s rather a lot to love right here.

Contact the writer: [email protected]