The Honda Prologue and the Chevrolet Blazer EV were supposed to be two pieces of a broader EV strategy with the models (and the Acura ZDX) being the fruits of a partnership GM and HOnda had when it came to EV and the Ultium technology lurking underneath. However, the models had two very different paths to sales. While the Blazer appeared with quality issues that eventually forced a brief stop-sale order, the Prologue had a relatively trouble-free launch. Is the Prologue the best of both worlds?
Prologue styling is clean and simple
Unlike the Chevrolet Blazer EV, the Prologue’s exterior styling is a simpler exercise with the front styling going for a cleaner smoother look with the large grille panel featuring sharp looking head and taillights. The bold North Shore Pearl paintwork is exclusive to the Elite and it allows the Honda to have a bolder personality. The Prologue shares its platform with the Blazer as part of the partnership that spawned the two and as a result, the core shape does have a hint of Blazer in its flanks.
That said, we like the 21-inch wheels on the Honda versus the ones on the Chevy and while the manually operated non-motorized charging door may seem like a minor difference, this wise decision by Honda helped them avoid the massive service headaches that have plagued Chevrolet dealerships with their motorized version of the door rapidly morphing into a potent repair expense if the delicate feature breaks in real-world use.Â
Prologue interior is simpler and more attractive
With how much the Honda shares with the Blazer, it’s no surprise that the interior has strong GM influences and will be very familiar to those who have spent time in the aforementioned Blazer. This is in despite of Honda’s best efforts at making the space their own thanks to design tweaks that make the space simpler with the screen not being tilted and the trim avoiding some of the over-the-top touches seen in the Blazer.
The various controls, knobs, and dials are carried over from the Chevy and that means they are still awkward to use with some of the core functions being buried in various menus and windows. Have the patience to put up with the controls though and the 11.3-inch infotainment system reveals its bundled Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capabilities which are absent from the Chevy due to that model using an in-house designed software suite. Google Built-In is also standard and it allows the Prologue to have a higher level of usability with Built-in providing a seamless user experience.
The front seats are comfortable with the long wheelbase and the floor-mounted placement for the batteries allowing the rear seats to have healthy amounts of leg room which compensates for the tight headroom created by the sloping roofline. The rear cargo area is usable enough with the rear seats expanding the space when they are folded down.Â
Dual-Motor Power
Performance for the Prologue comes from two electric powertrains that are shared with the Blazer with lower trims getting a single motor that makes 212 hp. However, Elite models like our tester get a beefier dual-motor setup that makes a combined system output of 288 hp with all-wheel drive being standard as a result. Acceleration in our tester was adequate and we liked the snap that the EV had when leaving stoplights. However, the EV also lacks some of the raw performance that a few of its rivals have including the Ioniq 5 and the Kia EV6 despite our tester making the sprint to 60 mph in 5.9 seconds.
Handling is also competent but the Prologue will not set the world on fire with some of its handling prowess. It prefers to not be rushed and if drivers respect its limits, the Prologue proves to be a commendable steed around town. The steering lacks some of the tactile feedback you expect in other Honda products but it’s still good enough for most customers in urban commuting.
Honda says that a dual-motor Elite model like our example can get up to 273 miles of estimated range in between charges with the EPA saying it can get 107/93 MPGe in city/freeway driving. This is on par with some rivals, but the Prologue won’t be at the top of its class in that regard either.
Value Quotient
Pricing for the 2024 Prologue starts at $47,400 for the base EX model with the mid-level Touring starting at $51,700. A range-topping Elite model like our tester starts at $57,900 with the pricing not including fees and any potential green credits a customer might be eligible for when purchasing a Prologue for themselves. Our tester arrived with some optional extras which caused the price to inch close to the $60,000 barrier.
If we had to purchase one, we would actually skip the Elite model and instead go for a Touring model. The upgrade from the EX is worth it and the Touring gets many of the Elite’s frills for less money with the model also retaining the base FWD layout which allows it to get a higher 296 miles of range between charges. Regardless of which flavor of Prologue you get, this electrified Honda will impress the pickiest of shoppers while also being a good bridge into the company’s upcoming “0” Series of EV models.   Â
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Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.