Hey there! With electric vehicles taking over the marketplace, soon you‘ll have lots of battery-powered options for your next SUV. Exciting stuff! Now, you may already know Honda has an all-electric model called the Prologue coming in 2024.
I‘ll give you all the details in plain English so you can decide if it‘s right for replacing your gas-guzzling CR-V someday. Stick with me, and soon you‘ll be a Honda EV expert!
Honda‘s Electric Vision Starts with the Prologue
You‘ve probably noticed Honda hasn‘t kept pace pumping out electric vehicles lately. Sure they still make great hybrids like the Accord and CR-V. But rivals like Ford, VW and Hyundai offered plug-in models years ahead of the Japanese automaker.
Luckily, Honda got the memo that going electric is the future. CEO Toshihiro Mibe laid out big targets of selling a whopping 500,000 EVs here in North America annually by 2030. Hitting numbers like that means quickly establishing credibility and enthusiasm for battery-powered Hondas though.
That huge responsibility now falls on the upcoming Prologue SUV as the brand‘s first real effort at a modern, long-range electric vehicle. No pressure, Prologue! 😁
What We Know So Far about the Prologue SUV
Even though it won‘t start reaching Honda dealerships until early 2024, we already have a decent picture of what the Prologue has in store:
Range and Charging
- 250+ mile range from a 70+ kWh Ultium battery
- Fast charging up to 150 kW for 70+ miles of range in 10 minutes
Performance and Capability
- Available AWD with 335+ horsepower
- Tow rating over 4,000 pounds
Exterior Style
- Sleeker, more aerodynamic take on the Honda CR-V profile
- Short front and rear overhangs expand interior space
So in a nutshell, you can expect a modern electric SUV ready for family road trips or weekend getaways! Now let‘s explore some key areas deeper to see how else the Prologue sets itself apart.
Range and Charging: Liberating Road Trip Freedom
I know range anxiety still limits some folks from going electric. But with 250+ miles expected from the get-go, the Prologue should ease most worries about running low between charges. Heck, that‘s farther than many people drive in a typical week!
And when it is time to recharge, the Prologue can juice up extra fast thanks to 150 kW charging capability. Translating that spec into everyday terms, you‘ll regain over 70 miles of driving range from a 10 minute charging session.
That‘s quick enough for bathroom breaks on road trips or grabbing a bite to eat while "filling up" the battery at fast charging stations along highways. And advanced liquid cooling temperature regulation ensures consistent maximum charging speed versus rivals that slow down dramatically after a few sessions to protect deteriorating batteries. Pretty neat!
Oh, and in case you do somehow run extremely low, the Prologue will limp along at slower city speeds until you can plug in again. No getting stranded or paying for tow trucks to the rescue!
Performance that Crushes the Gas Competition
Let‘s be honest, boring slow acceleration sucks the joy from driving. And it‘s always frustrating when your old clunker struggles climbing hills or merging onto the interstate. Ugh!
Well my friend, say goodbye to sluggish driving because electric motors deliver lightning quick responsiveness. The Prologue‘s available AWD configurations pack over 335 horsepower putting torque to all four wheels instantly.
Expect a 0-60 mph sprint potentially under 5 seconds in top-trim versions. Not bad considering how much larger and heavier an SUV is compared to a small sedan!
So driving fun is virtually guaranteed no matter if you‘re hustling up to highway speed or just scooting around town.
Towing and Hauling Won‘t be an Issue Either
Now I know some of you use your SUVs for real work or play. You can rest easy knowing the Prologue maintains that utilitarian capability too.
Engineers wisely configured components to preserve a minimum 4,000 pound tow rating. So your bass fishing boat, camper or work trailer will be no match for this brawny electric Honda.
And inside, smart ergonomic packaging retains the supreme functionality CR-V owners already love.
An Interior Oasis Leveraging Electric Platform Advantages
Since bulky gas engines are no more, the Prologue redirects that space for people, not mechanical parts. You and your passengers benefit big time thanks to:
- Roomy, spacious cabin with airy feel
- Panoramic glass sunroof bathing rear seats in light
- Superior noise isolation for blissfully quiet comfort
You can chant goodbye to roar of combusting explosions and annoying vibrations. The Prologue‘s serene interior sets a new standard for peaceful relaxation among affordable electric SUVs.
Now let‘s peek at what we can expect from the tech front…
A Centralized Interactive Cockpit
Interior photos aren‘t available yet, but clues in Honda‘s concept images reveal a clean, modern aesthetic. The infotainment brain will be a nicely sized touchscreen display rather than cluttering up the dash with knobs and buttons.
Expect crisp visuals from the digital gauge cluster behind the steering wheel too. Having central screens eliminates eyestrain from peering down at your phone constantly for navigation and entertainment on the go.
And of course there will be plenty of charging pads and plugs in both rows to keep smartphones and tablets humming.
Advanced Driver Aids to Reduce Stress
While supervision still can‘t be fully automated yet, the latest driver aids sure help reduce mental workload behind the wheel.
Honda Sensing package gear includes:
- Adaptive cruise control
- Lane keep assist
- Traffic jam assist
- Blind spot data
Parking also becomes hands-free thanks to:
- 360 degree camera monitoring
- Automatic emergency braking
- Front and rear sensors
Finally, the Prologue apparently offers in-car concierge via voice assistant when you need destination recommendations or points of interest. Pretty fancy and helpful!
How the Prologue Stacks Up to Major Electric SUV Rivals
Glancing at the overall package, the Prologue seems primed to compete strongly as an affordable electric family SUV. But numbers on paper are one thing. Real world value perception is another.
So I dug up some key dimensions and specs from similarly sized battery-powered rivals to see where the Prologue currently measures up:
| Model | Range | Cargo Cu. Ft. | Tow Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Honda Prologue | 250+ | TBA | 4,000 lbs | $45k+ |
| 2023 Chevy Equinox EV | 250+ | TBA | TBA | $30k |
| 2023 Kia EV9 | 300+ | 60-80 | 5,000 lbs | $55k+ |
| 2022 VW ID.4 | 250 | 64 | 2,700 lbs | $40k |
| 2024 Chevy Blazer EV | 247+ | TBA | 1,000 lbs | $45k+ |
Well, well! Right away you notice nearly all competitors plan over 200 miles of driving range. That eases initial range anxiety barriers to mainstream EV adoption. Outdoorsy buyers should also appreciate the Prologue‘s robust tow rating much higher than the VW ID.4 or upcoming electric Blazer.
I don‘t have final cargo dimensions yet, but the dashboard-free EV skateboard platform typically carves out tons of carrying capacity. Let‘s hope Honda takes advantage there stacking up favorably to current benchmarks from Kia and VW.
Now pricing remains a huge question mark and potential advantage for the Prologue if Honda wants to lure value-focused CR-V shoppers. The Equinox EV storms onto the scene thousands below the Prologue‘s entry point, albeit with possibly fewer features.
Only time will tell whether the 2024 Honda Prologue‘s total package resonates with initial crossover shoppers. But competitive heat clearly ratchets up as more automakers expand affordable electric SUV lineups!
Strong Plant Partners Powering Production Plans
Honda intelligently teamed with larger manufacturers to split development costs for the Prologue. But assembling all those vehicles efficiently takes serious factory investments too.
Here‘s the latest scoop on U.S. production plans for the 2024 Honda Prologue and other upcoming battery-electric models:
- Joint GM and Honda plant in Ohio – Already under construction with completion in 2024
- Potential second joint plant with GM planned in Michigan
- Honda currently retooling own plants in Indiana and Alabama
These ambitious manufacturing expansions signal Honda‘s long term commitment to an electric lineup encompassing over 30 models globally by 2030. The Japanese automaker earmarked an enormous $40 billion budget just through 2025 to set up future EV success.
Now that‘s great for North American jobs and delivering the Prologue to eager customers locally versus slow transport on container ships from Asia.
Segment Spread: Which Honda Vehicles Get Electrified Too?
One new electric SUV is nice, but 30+ EV models is a whole lot spicier! What other future Hondas might run solely on battery juice? Clues hiding in plain sight of their current lineup provide some clues.
Here‘s my predictions for additional Honda EVs by vehicle category:
Green Compacts and Sedans
No-brainer candidates for affordable, high-efficiency urban runabouts include:
- Civic
- Accord
- Insight
Electric Trucks and Vans
Beefy towing and payload capacities suit potential electric:
- Ridgeline
- Pilot
- Odyssey
Sporty Performance
Honda‘s beloved enthusiast cars transformed emissions-free by:
- CR-X
- Prelude
- S2000
What genres do you think Honda should electrify next? Something road-ripping fast like the S2000 excites my inner race car driver!
Regardless, buckling up for Honda‘s electric voyage over this decade looks to be an action-packed thrill ride. And the flexible Prologue SUV debuts as an excellent starting point more Americans can actually afford versus luxury flagships.
So are you onboard for testing the all-electric Prologue waters come 2024? Or playing things safer sticking to familiar nameplates and fuel types for now?
Either way, I‘m eager to hear your thoughts and questions!
