It feels like we’ve been waiting years for this day, but at long last, Honda unveiled the upcoming 2024 Prologue all-electric SUV. On Thursday, the Japanese automaker shared important information about this new nameplate’s dimensions, range and more.
Closely related to the 2024 Acura ZDX, the new Prologue was also co-developed with GM and rides on the Ultium platform. A midsize utility vehicle, the Prologue is about 3 inches longer than the two-row Honda Passport, though its wheelbase is almost 11 inches greater, meaning designers really pushed the axles to each end of the vehicle. The body is 192 inches long and the hub-to-hub span is a generous 121.8 inches.
The Prologue is the next step in Honda’s push to offer a 100%-tailpipe-emissions-free lineup by 2040. And this utility vehicle is a great start because it’s handsome, spacious and offers plenty of technology.
Like other Honda SUVs, the Prologue wears simple, honest styling. The grille is short and wide, integrating nicely with the rectangular headlamps. The vehicle’s hood is also relatively long for a sporty look. Giving drivers lots of choice, seven exterior colors will be on the menu including North Shore Pearl, the hue seen here.
A superlative for the brand, this EV will offer 21-inch wheels, the largest ever fitted to a Honda (at least from the factory). A multi-link suspension is found at both ends of the Prologue, which should provide sporty dynamics and plenty of refinement.
This SUV’s rear end mirrors its front. The backside is clean and simple, with Honda spelled out across the hatch in blocky letters, a hallmark of the automaker’s upcoming EVs. The backlight is surprisingly small, which may hamper outward visibility, and the rear wiper is commensurately tiny. Both the midrange Touring and top-shelf Elite trims come standard with a hands-free power-operated liftgate. With the hatch open, the Prologue provides more than 25 cubic feet of luggage space, but when you drop the 60/40 split rear backrest, that figure expands to nearly 58 cubes, a generous amount. There’s also 0.8 cubic feet of underfloor storage space, though no front trunk is offered.
Underneath that bodywork, the Prologue will be offered with either front- or all-wheel drive, which is no surprise. Models fitted with four-corner power should be graced with 288 horses and 333 pound-feet of torque, respectable if not mind-blowing figures. Unfortunately, no output numbers for the front-wheel-drive powertrain have yet been shared.
All versions of the Prologue will come with an 85-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack. This energy reservoir is expected to provide around 300 miles of range, a good showing. When it comes to DC fast charging, the Prologue will top out at a good – but hardly industry leading – 155 kilowatts, enough to get you up to 65 miles of range in just 10 minutes.
Inside, the Prologue’s interior is clean and simple, just like its exterior, with no tacked-on trim or design weirdness. The dashboard is strongly horizontal and many of the controls are finger-friendly, featuring large buttons and dials.
This Honda has room for up to five people and the split rear backrest offers two reclining angles for added comfort. As for standard amenities, the base EX trim comes with an eight-way power driver’s seat with adjustable lumbar support, the front buckets are heated and there’s a dual-zone climate control system.
Beyond that, there’s generous standard technology in the Prologue, amenities like a wireless phone charger, an 11-inch digital instrument cluster and a 11.3-inch HD touchscreen, the highest-resolution display Honda has ever had. A huge benefit to users, that last item features Google built-in, an Android-based infotainment system that gives you access to the helpful Google Assistant, the Google Play store and, most importantly, Google Maps complete with dynamic route planning and the ability to initiate battery preconditioning for quicker charging.
Helping keep you safe, the Honda Sensing suite of advanced driver aids is also standard. This includes rear cross-traffic braking, blind zone steering assist and rear pedestrian alert, so it’s harder to reverse into passersby.
Of course, if a collision is unavoidable – it’s unfortunate – but Honda anticipates this SUV will earn both a five-star crash test rating from NHTSA and Top Safety Pick+ honors from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
When it comes to pricing and availability, you should be able to pre-order a Honda Prologue later in the year. As alluded to above, three trim levels will be offered: EX, Touring and Elite. Expect this all-electric SUV to start in the upper-$40,000 range before any applicable tax credits or incentives. Look for the Prologue at Honda dealerships in early 2024.
