Just months after hitting the market, Honda, one of the last major automakers to go electric in the American market, is now out-selling its competitors. To say that the 2024 Honda Prologue has been a success would be an understatement. Is Honda’s first EV in America worth the hype? Here’s how the Honda Prologue compares to electric offerings from Hyundai, Kia, Toyota, Tesla, and other new arrivals.
Honda Is An EV Sales Leader Right Now
Looking at the EV sales totals for the past 45 days (courtesy of CarEdge Insights), the Honda Prologue stands out at the top of the pack. This success is despite its recency, having been launched earlier this year. It’s also not cheap: the average selling price for a new Honda Prologue is $51,524, according to data from CarEdge Insights.
Of course, Tesla sells direct-to-consumer, and therefore we don’t have their data. Nor do we have numbers from Rivian, Lucid, or the now defunct Fisker. What we do have are fascinating insights that reveal who’s who in the U.S. electric vehicle market in 2024. at least among legacy automakers. Here are the top 10 EVs in America today, as measured by their 45-day sales total as of September 10, 2024. We’ve also included the current market day supply for each.
45-Day Sales Total | Market Day Supply | |
---|---|---|
Honda Prologue | 7,046 | 84 |
Ford Mustang Mach-E | 6,311 | 128 |
Hyundai IONIQ 5 | 5,777 | 88 |
Chevrolet Equinox EV | 4,655 | 131 |
Chevrolet Blazer EV | 3,761 | 173 |
Cadillac Lyriq | 3,722 | 111 |
Ford F-150 Lightning | 3,174 | 67 |
BMW i4 | 3,136 | 91 |
Volkswagen ID.4 | 3,014 | 78 |
Kia EV9 | 2,747 | 67 |
The Prologue Is A Chevy In Disguise
Did you know that Honda doesn’t manufacture the Prologue? As odd as it may sound, this is probably a good thing. In 2022, General Motors and Honda entered into a partnership that would help Honda leap into the EV space before it finished engineering its own electric powertrain. One year later, Honda backed out, but not before using GM’s Ultium electric powertrain for the Honda Prologue EV and Acura ZDX EV.
GM’s Ultium platform is good, but it’s not great. Ultium batteries power the Chevrolet Blazer EV, Equinox EV, the popular Cadillac Lyriq, and other models. The general consensus among owners and auto reviewers is that range, handling, and overall value are great. But for over $50,000, buyers should expect the latest and greatest technology. That’s not always the case with the Prologue.
Charging speeds are not miserable, they just aren’t on par with the competition from Hyundai, Kia, and Tesla. For example, a 20-minute charging session in a Hyundai IONIQ 5 is likely to take 30 to 40 minutes in the new Prologue. Performance aside, the Prologue is arguably the most normal-looking EV on sale today. It simply blends in with the crowd, as most Honda models do.
But the specs matter in the crowd of electric crossovers. Here’s how the 2024 Prologue compares to the top competition when it comes to range, charging speed, and price.
Price (Base MSRP) | Range (Miles) | Max Charging Speed | |
---|---|---|---|
Honda Prologue | $48,795 - $59,295 | 296 | 150 kW |
Hyundai IONIQ 5 | $43,195 - $54,895 | 303 | 230 kW |
Kia EV6 | $43,975 - $62,975 | 310 | 230 kW |
Toyota bZ4X | $44,465 - $48,575 | 252 | 150 kW |
Nissan Ariya | $40,980 - $55,580 | 304 | 130 kW |
Tesla Model Y | $46,380 - $52,870 | 320 | 210 kW |
Subaru Solterra | $46,340 - $53,340 | 228 | 100 kW |
The Best Honda Prologue Offers This Month
Despite sales success, Honda continues to aggressively discount the Prologue. According to Motor Intelligence, the average manufacturer incentive for the Prologue was $7,035 in July 2024. On top of the discounts, the Prologue qualifies for the $7,500 federal EV tax credit. GM manufactures the Prologue alongside the Blazer EV in Mexico.
This fall, the sales continue. Honda is advertising 0.9% APR for 60 months, or 2.9% APR for 72 months. Current Honda owners also get $1,000 in Honda Loyalty Cash. Leasing the Prologue is a sweet deal, too. Lease the Prologue AWD EX from $289/month for 36 months with just $2,999 due at signing. See the best new car deals this month.
The Honda Prologue Is A Great EV With Few Compromises
The Prologue is not going to last forever, at least according to Honda’s own plan for its next-gen EV platform. In July 2024, Honda and Sony announced that they will share the EV architecture from the upcoming “Honda 0” EV series, which is expected to arrive in 2026.
Should you buy the Honda Prologue as your first EV? It’s certainly worth the test drive. If an EV that blends in with the other crossovers on the road appeals to you, the Prologue is right up your alley. Just don’t forget that you have more options to choose from than ever before.
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