Update October 7, 2022: Honda Prologue revealed for the US market
Honda has revealed the 2024 Prologue., its first all-electric SUV. The catch is that it’s only for the US market (at least for now) and rides on a platform co-developed with GM.
The Prologue will be Honda’s second mainstream electric vehicle after the Honda e-City car, although the brand will continue to grow. 30 BEVs before the end of the decade.
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On sale in 2024, the Prologue will sit alongside Honda’s Alabama-built three-row Passport SUV, which is not sold in Australia.
Honda Prologue is 4877 mm long, 1889 mm wide. And it is considered a mid-size SUV in the US.
In Australia, the Prologue will compete with the Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia Sorento and Mazda CX-9 which we see as large SUVs. Honda of America has yet to confirm the Prologue’s seat count.
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Honda America expects new-generation CR-V customers to also be interested in the new electric SUV, and is offering short lease plans for those vehicles to encourage the transition to BEVs.
Speaking of size, the Honda rides on the same 3094mm wheelbase as the Chevrolet Blazer EV. It will also use GM’s Ultima battery and high-voltage electric technology.
It heralds Honda’s ‘new rugged’ design language. At the front, that means a bluff fascia, though at the rear a sloping roofline is reminiscent of the Range Rover Evoque. Instead of a brand emblem, the Prologue wears spaced-out Honda lettering at the rear.
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Inside, there are few nods to the 11th generation Honda Civic, with only the wheel matching. Infotainment appears to be brand new, and included. An 11.3-inch touchscreen as well as an 11.0-inch tablet-style digital driver’s display.
Physical climate control dials sit below the touchscreen and Honda seems to be leaning towards its new dynamic premium philosophy with two-tone white/grey upholstery and an airy cabin.
More details including power, torque range, and battery size will be revealed in the future.
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July 31, 2022: 2024 Honda Prologue previewed in new teaser video
coming up 2024 Honda Prologue The electric SUV has been teased in a new video.
Developed in partnership with General Motors, the Prologue will be launched in the United States in 2024, based on the American company’s latest Ultium battery technology.
It is currently unknown if the Honda Prologue will come to Australia. However, it is expected to be heavily related to the Chevrolet Blazer EV, which is aimed at the North American market.
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It will compete with the Tesla Model Y, Ford Mustang Mach-E and Volkswagen ID.4, with battery technology allowing for a potential driving range of up to 724 km. Of course this depends on battery size and other elements, such as aerodynamics.
The Prologue’s designers, speaking in a video released by Honda, use virtual reality technology, enabling better collaboration between colleagues in Japan and the United States.
Technical specifications for 2024 Honda Prologue It has not been confirmed, with more details expected in the coming months.
For more on the partnership between Honda and General Motors, check out our previous coverage below.
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The story here
June 29, 2021: Honda names Prologue as next EV model.
Snapshot
- Honda’s next EV will be based on a platform developed with GM.
- The all-electric SUV will go on sale in the US in 2023.
- It is unclear if the Prologue will be sold in Australia.
Honda has revealed that its next fully electric model will be an SUV dubbed the Prologue – a convenient synonym for the word ‘Preload’, a popular but now retired badge in the Honda range.
Due to go on sale in the U.S. in 2023, the Japanese manufacturer says its next EV is a major one, launching a new series of volume BEV (battery EV) models for the brand.
The SUV will use General Motors’ Ultium battery pack and sit on a bespoke EV platform co-developed with GM as part of a strategic alliance between the two automakers inked in April 2020.
Although still in its infancy, the clever Ultima battery technology is already used in several recent GM products such as GMC’s Hummer EV and Cadillac’s Lyriq.
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General Motors’ Ultimate Modular Electric Platform
Honda claims that the Prologue will be a highly competitive product when it goes to market, offering the same level of practicality that has become synonymous with the brand.
There are no further clues or details about the upcoming EV, although it is thought that the Prologue will fit into the small-to-midsize SUV market segment when it goes on sale.
That means it will face stiff competition from the likes of Ford’s Mustang Mach-E, Volkswagen’s ID.4, Nissan’s Aria, and Kia’s EV6.
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GMC’s Hummer EV already uses GM’s Ultium battery technology.
The Tokyo firm also said the Prologue reflects the brand’s desire to achieve its recently announced mission statement that by 2040, all Honda products in the U.S. will be fully electric.
“Our first volume Honda BEV will begin our transition to electricity and the Honda Prologue name signifies the role it will play in our zero-emission future,” said Dave Gardner, executive vice president, Honda of America.
“The Prologue will provide our customers with a battery-electric SUV with the best functionality and packaging they’ve come to expect from Honda.”
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The Japanese firm has already started its EV manufacturing program with models like the funky Honda E.
Honda’s greener pastures aren’t exclusive to the U.S. market, though — the automaker recently said it will target carbon neutrality for all its products and corporate activities by 2050.
It is unknown at this stage if the prologue will come to Australia. The wheels Honda Australia has been contacted for more information, and we will update this story as it becomes available.