The Honda Prologue Is 2024’s Surprise EV Success Story

Honda’s Prologue EV is new for 2024 and doing nicely in gross sales already.
It was shut in gross sales to the Ford Mustang Mach-E in Q3 and even handed the Hyundai Ioniq 5 in the identical interval. 
Will Honda’s future EV technique have the ability to capitalize on the Prologue’s success?

You must rise up fairly early within the morning to outfox the Ford Mustang Mach-E. It is spent a couple of years now as one in every of America’s top-selling electrical automobiles that do not come from Tesla, and it took the highest non-Tesla crown this yr after the Chevrolet Bolt bowed out of the market. However now, and maybe unexpectedly, an unlikely competitor is gaining quick on the Mach-E: the Honda Prologue.

The current evaluation of third-quarter U.S. electrical automobile gross sales information from Cox Automotive has some very attention-grabbing development strains. One factor that stood out to us specifically was simply how nicely the Prologue is doing in its first yr in the marketplace and as manufacturing actually begins to ramp up.

In response to the info, the Prologue turned America’s fifth best-selling EV in Q3, behind, so as, the Tesla Mannequin Y, Mannequin 3, Cybertruck and Mustang Mach-E. So for non-Tesla EV gross sales, meaning the Prologue takes the silver medal. And with 12,644 Prologue gross sales in Q3, it was solely off the Mach-E’s numbers by 748 models. 

Granted, the Mach-E will most likely maintain the non-Tesla chief standing by the yr’s finish as a result of it is simply been on sale in quantity for for much longer. However the truth that the Prologue is catching up so rapidly to successful just like the Mach-E says rather a lot about how a lot individuals need good electrical Hondas. 

I would additionally add that the Hyundai Ioniq 5 is not any gross sales slouch both, and, along with being one of many best-spec’d EVs round, appeared prefer it might presumably take the non-Tesla gross sales chief place this yr. However now it has powerful competitors too. 

It is a good final result for Honda’s first trendy EV, however maybe it isn’t too stunning. American automotive patrons nonetheless are likely to equate Honda and Toyota with being “inexperienced” automotive firms since each have been such pioneers within the hybrid area (and nonetheless do very nicely sales-wise with electrified fashions.) This summer season, we featured a survey that indicated Honda and Toyota have been thought of EV leaders within the U.S., regardless of each automakers being really reluctant to embrace full electrification.

However clearly, individuals need good EVs from these manufacturers; on the months when good offers and reductions may very well be discovered, Toyota’s bZ4X confirmed large progress. It is a clientele that wishes reliable and dependable expertise and might be extra inclined to “inexperienced” than followers of different automotive manufacturers. 

And the specs on the Prologue are fairly authentic. With front- or dual-motor all-wheel-drive, as much as 296 miles of vary from its 85 kWh battery and a design that does not scream “I am an electrical spaceship,” Honda’s EV crossover hits quite a lot of candy spots for mainstream success. Honda is even throwing in a house EV charger and assist with some set up prices on the Prologue, making it form of a turnkey alternative for individuals going electrical for the primary time. 

Certain, beneath it really makes use of Common Motors’ EV platform and batteries, however I am unsure many shoppers know and even care. (And GM’s Ultium platform is robust by itself, with electrical gross sales from the American automaker exhibiting severe beneficial properties too.) 

Oh, and it has Apple CarPlay, not like GM’s EVs. No surprise it is doing nicely. 

Photograph by: Honda

The query now’s what Honda’s electrical future will appear like. It is cleat that whereas the GM-based Prologue is common, it is also form of a stopgap till Honda can get its in-house EV operations up and operating. That features large battery and automotive manufacturing hubs in Ohio and Canada and a novel strategy to EVs that goals to emphasise lighter weight, inside house and higher tech. However we’ve questions on that strategy too, like whether or not these next-generation Honda EVs will look as on the market because the 0 Sequence Ideas that debuted at CES this yr, and what it means in the event that they launch with a dearer flagship sedan.

With a bit of luck, Honda will have the ability to ship one thing that may capitalize on the Prologue’s success. And as attention-grabbing because the 0 Sequence fashions may very well be, a moderately-priced, good-range household crossover may be the confirmed play as a substitute. 

Contact the writer: patrick.george@insideevs.com