2024 Honda Prologue

How does the Prologue drive? We put the dual-motor all-wheel-drive Honda Prologue Elite through its paces. At our test track, it accelerated from zero to 60 mph in a lackluster 6.2 seconds. While that kind of speed doesn't exactly take your breath away, it'll hold its own against traditional gas-powered SUVs. It has enough power for your daily drives, even if other dual-motor electric vehicles we've tested provide a more exhilarating experience.

Emergency braking performance fell short of our expectations during testing, and the Prologue doesn't offer the same stopping confidence as a Hyundai Ioniq 5 or Tesla Model Y. Handling capabilities are also modest and un-Honda-like. However, we appreciate the Prologue for being user-friendly in everyday scenarios. Its robust and adjustable brake regeneration enables one-pedal driving, offering the convenience of a smooth stop without needing to hit the brakes.

How comfortable is the Prologue? The seating in the Honda Prologue leaves a bit to be desired. The front seats are flat and don't have enough bolstering to hold you in place when cornering. The lumbar support adjustment range is limited, and the inability to adjust the bottom seat cushion for longer legs may make it difficult for taller drivers to get completely comfortable. Also, the ride comfort is stiffer than expected, which is surprising given the Prologue's modest handling capabilities.

Thankfully the heating and ventilation systems perform very well. There are physical climate controls too, which have the benefit over a touchscreen in case the screen malfunctions. Interior noise levels are generally well managed at city speeds, but the constant presence of the pedestrian warning sound sometimes intrudes on the cabin's otherwise decent quietness, detracting from what would be an enjoyable experience.

How’s the interior? The Honda Prologue is physically larger than competitors like Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Tesla Model Y. The perception inside the cabin is there is more passenger space, even if its official interior measurements say otherwise. There are physical buttons and knobs for climate and audio controls, though most other settings (including those for the headlights) are touchscreen-based. We found the menus unintuitive at times, but the large touchscreen icons alongside the nice Google integration are a plus for usability.

The driving position is flexible for drivers of varying heights, but the Prologue's low roofline and chunky rear pillars can hinder visibility out of the back, making the surround-view camera (standard on the Elite trim) a valuable addition.

How’s the storage? The cargo area in the Prologue is wide but not very deep. There's a total of 23.7 cubic feet of space behind the second row, which puts it at the bottom of class numerically and on par with the Kia EV6. The numbers don't always tell the whole story because manufacturers measure the space differently, but what we can say for sure is the area under the trunk load floor is small. There isn't a front trunk either. However, the seats split in a 60/40 configuration and fold, allowing for flexible storage solutions.

Although the Prologue and Blazer EV interiors look very similar, we think Honda's two-tier center storage layout is a smarter use of space for small personal items. A large center armrest bin offers decent storage and the glovebox is a usable size as well. If you have small children, you will appreciate the Prologue's Isofix car seat anchors are easy to locate and access and there's plenty of room to install even bulkiest rear-facing seats.

Is the Prologue a good value? There's very little here that would make us want to recommend the Honda Prologue over any of the segment mainstays from Hyundai, Kia or Tesla. The look and feel of the cabin are more General Motors than Honda, which may turn off buyers that recognize and want the whole Honda experience. On the upside, the Prologue does qualify for the full federal EV tax credit, which makes it more competitive against the vehicles that aren't eligible.

Honda's warranty coverage is pretty standard stuff with three years/36,000 miles for the basic warranty, five years/60,000 miles for the powertrain, and eight years/100,000 miles for the high-voltage battery pack. Honda is a bit more generous than typical with its incentives and credits for installing a home charger or public fast charging.