Are you able to inform the distinction between a Honda local weather management knob and one made by Basic Motors? If that’s the case, do you care?
That’s in the end what we’re speaking about with the 2024 Honda Prologue. It appears like a Honda on the skin and will probably be marketed as a Honda. Its creators say that nice pains have been taken to make sure it drives like a Honda. Beneath, nevertheless, the Prologue rides on GM’s Ultium electrical platform that features, amongst a number of automobiles, the equally sized Chevrolet Blazer EV. Furthermore, it’s constructed on the identical GM manufacturing facility in Mexico because the Blazer, albeit on a separate line set to Honda’s distinctive requirements, utilizing components from GM’s designers and suppliers. That’s the place that query in regards to the local weather management knob is available in. To some (like automotive reviewers), will probably be instantly apparent that the Prologue’s inside shares completely nothing with a CR-V aside from the Honda badge. To others? Properly, that’s why I requested.
You see, it’s completely believable and certainly possible, that those that can’t inform the distinction will fortunately purchase a Prologue, completely satisfied to lastly take residence a completely realized, extensively obtainable electrical Honda, but be completely unaware of its GM origins. Honda, the corporate, isn’t hiding that reality, however it’s additionally not precisely promoting it. Actually and figuratively. Honda sellers, however, appear even much less more likely to acknowledge the connection, be it by ignorance or obfuscation. This units up the potential of consumers not actually figuring out what they’re shopping for, and once we’re speaking about fiercely loyal consumers like Honda’s, the scenario for these consumers to really feel a way of bait-and-switch certain appears doable.
“I would feel scammed if after purchasing the vehicle I found out it’s a GM product,” mentioned Gail Riswick, a four-time Honda/Acura proprietor who purchased her first one in 1990 after one too many troublesome GM automobiles. She additionally occurs to be my mom. After initially responding positively after I despatched her an exterior picture, I requested what she would suppose if it was a GM beneath. Above was her response, which she adopted with “I hope they are upfront about its origins.”
Are you able to inform the distinction between these? Do you care?
Not all Honda loyalists could have a unfavorable view of Basic Motors, however they’re additionally loyal for a purpose. Moreover, loyal automotive clients of any model are inclined to get used to the way in which that model’s automobiles function. Get into anything, and it’s often not a optimistic expertise. “Different” is interpreted as “bad.” Once more, how are you feeling about these local weather controls?
Honda Prologue product planner Quincy Tam says that his staff anticipates clients more than likely coming from the CR-V Hybrid and Passport, which he says are typically bought by these with a extra open thoughts towards new automotive experiences. That can be the kind of purchaser who they anticipate will think about the Prologue, each for being an EV and for its GM origins. Assuming they find out about it.
And let’s be very clear right here, the GM Ultium platform is spectacular. This isn’t rebadging an Isuzu Rodeo we’re speaking about, nor a Toyota bZ4X/Subaru Solterra scenario. Tam says that the Prologue is meant as a wanted first step to bridge the hole between now and when Honda’s first in-house e: Structure electrical automobile arrives in 2025. A prologue, if you’ll. That’s not truly a lot of a spot to bridge, actually, and it’s unclear how lengthy the Prologue will stick round. Appears more likely to be shorter than the unique Honda Passport, a rebadged Isuzu Rodeo that lasted two generations serving as Honda’s entry within the rising SUV market whereas Honda developed the CR-V after which Pilot. It was fairly straightforward to inform the OG Passport’s inside wasn’t associated to an Accord’s, both.
The range-topping interiors of the Honda Prologue, Honda CR-V and Chevrolet Blazer EV
Since we’re as regards to the inside, it disappoints, and never essentially as a result of GM’s bits and items have been used. Based on Prologue growth chief John Hwang, designers needed to create a design per the horizontal scheme discovered within the Civic, Accord, HR-V and CR-V. Whereas there’s definitely a resemblance as you’ll be able to see above, full with a skinny line of trim connecting air vents, it comes throughout as extremely plain and boring with out the metallic honeycomb trim discovered within the “real” Hondas above. The local weather controls, that are completely fantastic items that work properly in a Blazer, additionally don’t present the identical further pizzazz because the three local weather knobs within the CR-V et al. that pleasingly click on like an Audi’s. The plastic on the middle console, in the meantime, appears and feels low cost, with a broad expanse of a tablet-size “bin” that doesn’t assist issues.
With out the Elite trim degree’s obtainable orange trim pictured above, it’s a very dreary place that doesn’t appear to be it belongs in the identical dialog as a Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, Nissan Ariya or, crucially, a Chevy Blazer EV. Though it shares the identical switchgear, the Chevy has a dynamic, characterful cabin with higher-quality supplies. And for the file, Tam says that Honda thought of utilizing its personal components for the inside, however was instructed by engineers that it will value far an excessive amount of, diminishing economies of scale.
When it comes to house, the Prologue’s again seat gives huge legroom due to the form of ample wheelbase we’ve come to anticipate from devoted EV platforms. Rear headroom is cramped with the Touring and Elite’s panoramic sunroof, one thing that’s lengthy plagued GM SUVs. All that wheelbase and again seat legroom additionally comes on the expense of cargo house: regardless of having midsize passenger room, the cargo space’s 25.2 cubic ft is indicative of an even bigger subcompact. A CR-V hybrid has 36.3. To be truthful, that determine is just not a lot lower than the Ioniq 5, EV6, and many others.
So, Honda couldn’t pull off a Honda inside utilizing GM components. May it obtain a Honda driving expertise utilizing GM components? That is a lot tougher to reply since electrical automobiles are so intrinsically completely different than an inside combustion one. Even when the Prologue have been 100% Honda, it wouldn’t drive like a CR-V, even a hybrid one which largely depends on its electrical motor. That mentioned, Honda’s engineers appear to have struggled to make use of the GM {hardware} they got, particularly regarding the steering. It lacks a crispness when delivering; there’s vagueness on-center, after which a delicate little bit of resistance at instances simply after turn-in or mid-sweeper that nearly seems like a lane-keeping assist is intervening. It was undoubtedly off. The steering doesn’t really feel like a Honda and it doesn’t really feel like a Blazer’s, both.
Acceleration is clearly an space the place an EV goes to be completely different than any model’s inside combustion norm, and it clearly is on this case, so let’s forego placing the Prologue up in opposition to the Better of VTEC listing. As beforehand acknowledged, the Prologue makes use of GM’s Ultium electrical platform that features numerous motor management models and a few variety of widespread battery packs (a Hummer EV has extra, a Prologue has much less). Very similar to a typical Honda SUV, front-wheel drive is normal, whereas all-wheel drive is optionally available on all however the range-topping, AWD-only Elite. Just like the Blazer EV, all-wheel drive is achieved with a smaller traction motor that largely reacts to slippage from the wheels up entrance (very like a typical all-wheel-drive system), and as such, the added efficiency is way lower than “dual-motor” variations of assorted opponents. There’s nothing improper with that – consumers who need or want all-weather traction don’t must pay for extra efficiency. The upcharge is $3,000 – greater than the ICE norm of $1,500-$2,000 however lower than the $3,500 or extra of assorted EV opponents. It additionally have to be famous that Honda is providing all trim ranges and front-wheel drive from the get-go, whereas GM is trickling out Blazer trim ranges with pricier ones arriving first.
The only-motor, front-drive Prologue produces 212 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque, which is significantly lower than a Blazer and never that a lot completely different than a CR-V Hybrid (204 hp, 247 lb-ft) that assuredly weighs far much less (Honda didn’t present the Prologue’s curb weight). We solely acquired an opportunity to drive the all-wheel-drive model, which does get a major bump to 288 hp and 333 lb-ft even when not attaining Ioniq/EV6/Ariya ranges of dual-motor spunk. The everyday on the spot torque of an EV is clearly current, however passing energy is underwhelming. If I have been writing a few gas-powered automotive, I’d say there’s “nothing up high” within the rev band. There’s a transparent distinction between this and people numerous dual-motor opponents, and it doesn’t portend properly for the front-driver packing solely 212 horses.
Large-time efficiency has hardly ever been the forte of consumer-oriented Hondas, although. Effectivity has, and on this space, the Prologue doesn’t disappoint. Vary with front-wheel drive is 296 miles, with all-wheel drive dropping to 281. The Elite, which has larger wheels, drops to a nonetheless better-than-average 273 miles. It appears logical that almost all of customers will care extra about vary and all-weather traction than efficiency, so in that means the Prologue succeeds. Max DC quick charging pace is simply OK at 155 kilowatts.
Pricing begins at $48,795 for the front-drive EX, together with the $1,395 vacation spot cost. Honda additionally expects the Prologue can be eligible for the $7,500 federal tax credit score, thereby offering an enormous benefit over Hyundai Group’s Korean-made contenders which can be in any other case equally priced. Pricing goes as much as $59,295 for the loaded Elites we sampled and already declared to have an inside not consistent with equally priced electrical automobiles. As such, cheaper Prologues are extra interesting.
With the EX you continue to get the total array of driver help tech, together with adaptive cruise management, plus the 11.3-inch touchscreen that runs a Honda reskin of GM’s Android Automotive-based interface. Meaning Google Maps is your native navigation system, and crucially, it’ll plan street journeys together with charging stops, and robotically pre-condition the battery for fast-charging ought to your vacation spot be an EV charger. Honda’s tech interface is ok, however that is one space the place the Prologue undoubtedly comes out on high due to the GM components bin. Ditto the usual diagonal wi-fi charging bin that’s far superior to Honda’s normal flat one (or non-existent one in lots of trim ranges). The EX additionally will get an 11-inch digital instrument panel (with distinctive graphics), heated entrance seats, an influence driver seat and a six-speaker stereo, however you’ll be doing with out leather-based seats and wheel, an influence passenger seat, the panoramic sunroof, roof rails and Bose audio that present up on the Touring ($53,095 FWD, $56,095 AWD).
I very a lot tried to present the Prologue the good thing about the doubt, accepting the idea that collaborating with GM and so extensively utilizing its parts was essential to get an EV extra rapidly to market and to attain life like economies of scale. I additionally settle for product planner Tam’s admission that Honda hasn’t skilled the intense points which have stalled the Blazer EV’s launch. That every one mentioned, the Prologue underwhelms, as each a Honda and an EV. The GM bits and items will nearly definitely be an issue for Honda’s devoted (in the event that they’re conscious of them), however they aren’t THE downside. It’s how these bits and items are utilized. Maybe it’s not stunning that the Honda-GM collaboration is already useless.
