Eric's Autos: 2025 Honda Prologue

The Honda Prologue isn't really a Honda -- in that it's based on the Chevy Blazer EV -- but it is different in a couple of ways that may make it worth a look if you're wanting an electric vehicle sold by Honda.

What It Is

The Prologue is a midsize/two-row electric crossover based on the Chevy Blazer EV.

It differs from its Chevy sibling in that it costs less to start -- and goes farther to start -- because it comes standard in a lighter, front-wheel-drive iteration (with one electric motor), while the Chevy comes standard with a dual-motor setup and all-wheel drive that adds a few hundred pounds to the curb weight and takes about 20 miles off the fully charged range.

It's also less powerful -- and so not as quick as the Blazer EV -- but that's how you go farther and avoid having to stop (and wait) sooner when you're driving an EV.

Prices for the Prologue start at $47,400 for the base EX trim which comes standard with 296 miles of fully charged range and a single motor/FWD layout -- versus $48,800 for the base 2LT trim of the Chevy Blazer EV, which comes standard with a more powerful dual-motor drivetrain, AWD and 279 miles of range.

You can upgrade the base EX trim to essentially the same dual-motor setup that's standard in the Blazer for $50,400 -- but this will cost some driving range, which goes down to 281 miles.

A top-of-the-line Elite trim -- which lists for $57,900 -- comes standard with the dual-motor setup and AWD. Range for this model is only 273 miles even though it isn't more powerful than the EX or Touring trims with the same basic setup. It is, however, the heaviest version of the Prologue -- 5,237 pounds -- and that probably explains why.

What's New For 2025

The Prologue is the first EV to be sold by Honda.

What's Good

-- Emphasis on how far it goes in between charges rather than how quickly it can get to 60 mph.

-- Doesn't seem to leak charge when parked (and not plugged in).

-- Costs less than the basically-the-same-thing Chevy Blazer EV.

What's Not So Good

-- Best-case fully charged range isn't very far (296 miles).

-- Home charge cord is not included as standard.

-- You're not buying a Honda. You're buying the Honda badge.

Under the Hood

The Prologue comes standard with 212 horsepower versus 288 horsepower and 296 miles of advertised driving range on a fully charged battery versus 279 miles for the dual-motor (and heavier) Blazer EV. That may not seem like a big difference in driving range -- and wouldn't be, if we were talking about gas-engine vehicles -- because it's easy and quick to get more gas. It is often not easy -- and it is never quick -- to get electricity. Even at what are styled "fast" chargers -- which are only that in relation to how much longer it takes to charge an EV at home.

So -- with EVs -- you have to be careful about running the thing down to empty or even too close to empty precisely because of the uniquely EV problems of finding more electricity (and having the time to wait for it).

"Fast" chargers are not as common as gas stations, and it is common for "fast" chargers to be down -- or other EVs already plugged in. Having an extra 17 miles of cushion is thus not a small thing, and -- more fundamentally -- it telegraphs what is arguably an intelligent rethinking of the way EVs are designed.

If you want the 288-horsepower dual-motor setup (which gives you AWD), you can opt for that as a standalone option, even with the base EX trim.

On the Road

The Prologue isn't quick -- the usual EV bragging point -- but it is quick enough.

The standard single-motor version can get to 60 mph in a bit over six seconds, a time that used to be considered very quick, for sporty/performance cars. It is only not so quick in relation to other EVs that get to 60 mph in four seconds or less -- but while that's certainly entertaining, it's not necessary to be able to comfortably get up to speed and keep up with traffic. It also comes at the cost of range -- especially if you regularly use that quickness capability.

Honda seems to believe that potential EV buyers may want more range -- and less weight -- as opposed to a quicker but heavier vehicle that not only burns through range more quickly but also uses more power -- just the same as a non-EV with a big V8 engine uses more gas.

In any event, the single-motor version of the Prologue is not slow to get going.

And like all EVs, it feels even quicker than it is because of the immediate thrust provided by the electric motor, which (as in all EVs) generates its maximum torque immediately; gas (and diesel) engines must rev before they produce their peak power, and that is why there is a lag -- versus the immediacy of the power delivery of the EV. And the power flows linearly -- because there is no transmission; the motor spins the wheels directly.

At the Curb

The Prologue looks different but is fundamentally a Chevy Blazer EV. Not -- as Seinfeld used to say -- that there's anything wrong with that. It is common -- historically -- for different brands to "share platforms" to reduce the cost of designing completely different models independently. Examples include the Toyota Supra -- which is fundamentally a BMW Z4. They look different, though -- and they're sold under different brands, which makes them more attractive to people who prefer one brand over another.

Being a "Honda," the Prologue's shape is a little milder in demeanor than the more rowdy-faced Chevy, which was styled to arouse Camaro-ish comparisons (kind of like the way the Ford Mustang Mach E was styled to evoke Mustang-ish comparisons). Looks are, of course, a question of taste, but the take-home point is that you have two different looks to choose from, yet the underlying vehicle is basically the same.

Inside, the Prologue's dash is similarly less rowdy than the Blazer EV's, and it's not really a question of which is better; rather, which look do you like better?

The Rest

One small but very important feature the Prologue's got is a charge port -- basically, the fuel door in an EV -- that is located up front on the driver's side quarter panel. This means not having to back up to be close enough to reach the "nozzle" at EV fast charger kiosks.

The Bottom Line

The Prologue isn't so much a re-skinned Blazer EV as it is an alternative take on the Blazer EV.

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Eric's latest book, "Doomed: Good Cars Gone Wrong!" will be available soon. To find out more about Eric and read his past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com.