The Honda Prologue Was The Shock EV Hit Of 2024

I really feel like I’ve stated it one million occasions, and it is extra true each time I say it: individuals 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 isn’t even technically a Honda product; below the pores and skin, it is a Common Motors EV, re-bodied and re-tuned by Honda with some software program tweaks distinctive to the household. Lots of the naysayers believed it might be an afterthought from one other EV-skeptical Japanese automobile firm, a glorified compliance automobile or a PR train to make it appear like Honda’s not completely behind within the electrical race. 

It seems they have been all incorrect. The Prologue is clearly discovering success all by itself with the power of its specs, dimension, aggressive offers and the truth that Honda’s prepared to sweeten the deal by throwing in a house or moveable charger and overlaying a few of these set up prices. 

Honda’s 2024 gross sales knowledge, launched Friday, signifies that 33,017 Prologue EVs have been offered in 2024. That is not dangerous in any respect for a automobile that did not actually go on sale in drive till in regards to the center of the 12 months. It even outsold the marginally bigger, gas-powered Passport by about 500 items.

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 offered), Blazer EV (23,115) and even Cadillac Lyriq (28,402) in 2024. If these traits proceed into 2025, we might effectively see the Prologue turn out to be one of many prime EV crossovers behind the still-top-selling Tesla Mannequin Y, an inventory 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 stunning while you take a look at the specs. The Prologue is a really “regular”-feeling EV that appears and operates very similar to a standard gas-powered automobile, proper right down to the door handles. Spec-wise, it is fairly stable too: powered by an 85-kWh battery pack, the Prologue is available in front- or all-wheel-drive kinds with between 273 and 296 miles of vary, relying on trim and tools. Its most charging velocity is a so-so 155 kW, and Honda says it could cost from 20% to 80% in about 35 minutes on a commensurate quick charger. Nonetheless, with Honda opting to incorporate a Stage 2 house charger, a Stage 1 or 2 moveable charger or credit for public fast-charging, house owners get a number of flexibility on how they wish to “gasoline” their new electrical vehicles. 

And whereas some will nonetheless ding the Prologue for being a GM automobile 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 vans. Plus, Honda’s sellers are usually very well-regarded for customer support; there’s so much to love in regards to the Prologue, rebadge or no. 

Previous analysis has proven that many American consumers suppose that the Japanese automakers, who have been early pioneers with hybrid know-how, are among the many leaders within the EV house as effectively. 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 newest 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 so much to love right here.

Contact the creator: [email protected]