The Honda Prologue Was The Shock EV Hit Of 2024

I really feel like I’ve stated it 1,000,000 instances, 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 number 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 Normal 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 automotive firm, a glorified compliance automotive or a PR train to make it appear to be Honda’s not completely behind within the electrical race. 

It seems they had been all unsuitable. The Prologue is clearly discovering success all by itself with the energy of its specs, measurement, 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 had been bought in 2024. That is not unhealthy in any respect for a automotive that did not actually go on sale in pressure till in regards to the center of the yr. 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 effectively see the Prologue change into 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 once you have a look at the specs. The Prologue is a really “regular”-feeling EV that appears and operates very like a traditional gas-powered automotive, 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 varieties 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 may possibly cost from 20% to 80% in about 35 minutes on a commensurate quick charger. Nonetheless, with Honda opting to incorporate a Stage 2 residence charger, a Stage 1 or 2 moveable charger or credit for public fast-charging, house owners get plenty of flexibility on how they need to “gasoline” 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 vehicles. Plus, Honda’s sellers are typically very well-regarded for customer support; there’s lots to love in regards to the Prologue, rebadge or no. 

Previous analysis has proven that many American consumers suppose that the Japanese automakers, who had been early pioneers with hybrid expertise, are among the many leaders within the EV area as effectively. That is not precisely true nowadays, 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 most recent 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 lots to love right here.

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