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

It seems they have been all improper. 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 masking 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 unhealthy in any respect for a automotive that did not actually go on sale in drive till concerning 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 offered), Blazer EV (23,115) and even Cadillac Lyriq (28,402) in 2024. If these tendencies proceed into 2025, we might nicely see the Prologue grow to be one of many prime 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 take a look at the specs. The Prologue is a really “regular”-feeling EV that appears and operates very like a standard gas-powered automotive, proper all the way 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 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 may well 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 moveable charger or credit for public fast-charging, house owners get a variety of flexibility on how they wish to “gas” their new electrical automobiles. 

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 automobiles and even pickup vans. Plus, Honda’s sellers are typically very well-regarded for customer support; there’s rather a lot to love concerning 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 nicely. That is not precisely true today, however that notion is probably going proof that individuals 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 rather a lot to love right here.

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