Honda’s all-new Prologue Elite battery-electric SUV will arrive in North America in 2024, and here’s your first look. The Japanese brand says the EV, co-developed with General Motors – has a “Neo-Rugged exterior and interior styling, and ample interior space that’s ready for adventure inside and outside the city limits.” Umm, sure, I suppose but I really don’t think many Prologue drivers will be doing any “rugged” adventuring with it.
Slotting in above the CR-V, size-wise, and closer to the I-haven’t-seen-any-on-the-road Passport, you’ll be forgiven if you see body lines similar to the Mazda CX-50’s, minus the squared wheel arches. It kinda looks like a grown up HR-V, if you ask us.
There’s a panoramic roof and available 21-inch wheels, while the front fascia is similar to the new design language Honda’s shown off on the Civic, HR-V, and CR-V.
From the side, the steeply raked windshield will reduce drag while still looking good; there’s a charging port on the driver’s-side front fender (odd to me, as it forces drivers to pull in forward to charge, as opposed to reverse, which is safer); and overall, it’s a modern, clean design.
Up front, the simple lines, thin headlights, and vertical inserts on the edges don’t stand out, but in a world where less can be more, Honda’s blended right in. The automaker tried out something new on the rear, where it’s removed the “H” badge and replaced it with the word “Honda.” The rest of the rear design sees smooth lines, a black bar in the middle, wrap-around taillights, and, from the press pictures, we’d say it evokes the look of the Land Rover Evoque.
2024 Honda Prologue EV Photo by Honda
2024 Honda Prologue EV Photo by Honda
2024 Honda Prologue EV Photo by Honda
2024 Honda Prologue EV Photo by Honda
2024 Honda Prologue EV Photo by Honda
2024 Honda Prologue EV Photo by Honda
The Prologue will have a wheelbase of 3094 mm, and is about 203 mm longer and 127 mm wider than 2023 Honda CR-V. Inside, it shares dimensions similar to the Passport from Honda’s light truck lineup. The Prologue will have an interior volume of more than 2,900 litres, and a standard fully digital 11-inch driver-display instrument cluster; there’s also an 11.3-inch infotainment display.
The digital instrument cluster is new, placed above the dashboard as opposed to being integrated into it. Think Kia’s EV6 and Ioniq 5. The potential issue I see is it being challenging to see through the top of the steering wheel to view all the info on the screen. The cabin itself is typical Honda, from what we can see. A clean, simple layout; a centre console with plenty of storage options; and, yes, there’s a volume knob!
The Prologue – available with all-wheel-drive, which should bolster appeal, especially in Canadian climates – will hit Canadian dealerships in 2024, and pricing won’t be available until closer to that time. The automaker aims to follow it up with a slew of North-American-built models based on the Honda e:Architecture platform, in 2026; followed by a series of more affordable EVs, also co-developed with GM, in 2027.
Keyword: Honda's 2024 Prologue is a 'Neo-Rugged' electric SUV