I really feel like I’ve mentioned it one million instances, and it is extra true each time I say it: individuals need good, cheap electrical automobiles 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 spite of everything, it isn’t even technically a Honda product; below 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 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 had been all fallacious. The Prologue is clearly discovering success all by itself with the energy of its specs, dimension, aggressive offers and the truth that Honda’s prepared to sweeten the deal by throwing in a house or transportable charger and masking a few of these set up prices.
Honda’s 2024 gross sales knowledge, launched Friday, signifies that 33,017 Prologue EVs had been bought in 2024. That is not unhealthy in any respect for a automobile that did not actually go on sale in power till concerning 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 bought), Blazer EV (23,115) and even Cadillac Lyriq (28,402) in 2024. If these developments proceed into 2025, we might properly 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 would say Honda’s onto one thing right here. However that is not stunning whenever you have a look at the specs. The Prologue is a really “regular”-feeling EV that appears and operates very similar to a traditional gas-powered automobile, 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 velocity 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 Stage 2 house charger, a Stage 1 or 2 transportable charger or credit for public fast-charging, homeowners get a variety 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 rather a lot to love concerning 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 area as properly. That is not precisely true as of late, 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 would 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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