Honda Prologue 2025 Review: A Game-Changing Electric SUV for 2025 Drivers

The 2025 Honda Prologue is Honda’s bold leap into the electric vehicle (EV) market, blending trusted reliability with cutting-edge tech. This midsize electric SUV, built on General Motors’ Ultium platform, offers up to 308 miles of range, zippy performance, and a roomy cabin. Competing with the Tesla Model Y and Hyundai Ioniq 5, it’s perfect for families, commuters, or eco-conscious drivers. As a senior automotive writer with deep knowledge of Japan’s car industry, I’ve crafted this 2,000-word guide to explore the Prologue’s specs, features, and value. Written for an 8th grader to understand, it’s engaging, convincing, and packed with insights from Car and Driver, Kelley Blue Book, and MotorTrend. Let’s dive into why the 2025 Prologue is a top pick for 2025, whether you’re cruising city streets or hitting the open road.

What Is the 2025 Honda Prologue?

The 2025 Honda Prologue is a five-seat, all-electric midsize SUV, Honda’s first mass-market EV in North America. Launched in 2024, it’s built alongside the Chevrolet Blazer EV in a GM factory, sharing the Ultium platform, battery, and motors. For 2025, Honda boosts its appeal with more power (220 hp for front-wheel drive, 300 hp for all-wheel drive) and a longer range (up to 308 miles), per HondaNews.com. Starting at $48,850, it comes in three trims—EX, Touring, and Elite—and qualifies for a $7,500 federal EV tax credit, per Kelley Blue Book. With sleek styling, a tech-packed interior, and Honda’s reliability, it’s a practical yet exciting choice for EV buyers.

Why It Matters: The Prologue combines Honda’s trusted name with EV innovation, making it a smart pick for going green without stress.

Performance: Smooth and Strong

The 2025 Prologue offers two powertrains, both powered by an 85-kWh battery:

• Single-Motor Front-Wheel Drive (FWD): Delivers 220 hp and 243 lb-ft of torque, up 8 hp and 7 lb-ft from 2024, per MotorTrend. It hits 0-60 mph in about 6.5 seconds, per Car and Driver estimates, and feels peppy for city driving.

• Dual-Motor All-Wheel Drive (AWD): Pumps out 300 hp and 355 lb-ft of torque, up 12 hp and 25 lb-ft, per HondaNews.com. It reaches 60 mph in 5.9 seconds, per Car and Driver, offering quicker acceleration for highway merges.

The Prologue’s smooth ride and adjustable regenerative braking, controlled by a steering wheel paddle, make it easy to drive, per The Car Connection. One-pedal driving is available, slowing the car without touching the brake, which is fun and efficient, per MotorTrend. However, it’s not as sporty as the Hyundai Ioniq 5, with vague steering and less grip in corners, per Consumer Reports.

Why It Matters: Whether you pick FWD for efficiency or AWD for power, the Prologue delivers a comfy, confident ride for daily commutes or road trips.

Range and Charging: Go Far, Charge Fast

Range is a big deal for EVs, and the 2025 Prologue shines:

• FWD (EX and Touring): 308 miles per charge, up 12 miles from 2024, per HondaNews.com.

• AWD (EX and Touring): 294 miles, up 13 miles.

• AWD (Elite): 283 miles, up 10 miles.

In real-world tests, the 2024 Elite AWD hit 240 miles, per Car and Driver, and the 2025 model should improve on this. Efficiency is solid, with FWD trims earning 113 MPGe city/94 MPGe highway, though AWD drops to 95 MPGe combined for Elite, per EPA. It trails the Tesla Model Y’s 330-mile range but beats the Nissan Ariya’s 289 miles, per Kelley Blue Book.

Charging is convenient:

• DC Fast Charging: Up to 150 kW, adding 65 miles in 10 minutes, per HondaNews.com. It’s slower than the Ioniq 5’s 350 kW but fine for most stops.

• Level 2 (240V): Adds 34 miles per hour, ideal for home charging, per PCMag.

• Home Charging Kits: Honda offers three packages, including a Level 2 charger with $500 installation credit or $750 in public charging credits, per HondaNews.com.

By 2030, Honda EV owners will access 100,000 charging points, including Tesla Superchargers and IONNA, per HondaNews.com. The 2025 model uses a CCS port but will switch to Tesla’s NACS in 2026, per PCMag.

Why It Matters: With long range and flexible charging, the Prologue fits busy lifestyles, from school runs to weekend getaways.

Design: Sleek and Modern

The Prologue looks sharp, blending Honda’s SUV style with EV flair. At 192 inches long and 78.3 inches wide, it’s slightly bigger than the CR-V but lower than the Passport, per CarsDirect.com. Its sleek roofline, LED headlights, and futuristic Honda logo give it a Polestar-like vibe, per PCMag. Colors like North Shore Pearl and Raven Black pop, and 19-inch alloy wheels (standard) or 21-inchers (Elite) add style, per MotorTrend.

The design hides its GM roots well, with a cleaner look than the Blazer EV’s bold vents, per Car and Driver. However, there’s no front trunk (frunk) due to mechanical parts, unlike the Tesla Model Y, per PCMag.

Why It Matters: The Prologue’s cool, modern look turns heads, making you feel proud to drive an EV.

Interior: Roomy but Not Perfect

Inside, the Prologue feels like a Honda with some GM quirks. The cabin seats five with 38.1 inches of rear headroom and 39.4 inches of legroom, great for teens or adults, per CarsDirect.com. Cargo space is 25.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats, expanding to 57.7 cubic feet with seats folded, beating the CR-V but trailing the Model Y’s 76.2 cubic feet, per MotorTrend.

The dashboard features an 11.3-inch touchscreen and an 11-inch digital gauge cluster, with Google Built-In, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, per CarsDirect.com. The EX trim has cloth seats, heated front seats, and dual-zone climate control. Touring adds leather, a Bose 12-speaker stereo, and a panoramic moonroof, while Elite includes a head-up display and ventilated seats, per MotorTrend.

Drawbacks include flat front seats that lack support, per Consumer Reports, and GM-sourced buttons that feel clunky, per Car and Driver. Visibility is compromised by a low roofline and thick pillars, per Consumer Reports, and wind noise creeps in above 60 mph, per MotorTrend.

Why It Matters: The Prologue’s spacious, techy cabin is great for families, but comfort and controls could be better.

Technology: Packed with Goodies

The Prologue is loaded with tech:

• Infotainment: The 11.3-inch touchscreen runs Google Built-In, with navigation, voice control, and wireless smartphone connectivity, per CarsDirect.com. A Wi-Fi hotspot and six-speaker audio (12-speaker Bose on Touring+) keep everyone happy.

• Driver Aids: Honda Sensing includes automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and traffic sign recognition, per CarsDirect.com. Elite adds a 360-degree camera and rear pedestrian alert, per MotorTrend.

• Unique Features: One-pedal driving and regen paddles enhance EV fun, per The Car Connection. A HondaLink app lets you locate chargers and pay, per HondaNews.com.

Unlike GM’s Blazer EV, the Prologue lacks Super Cruise, a hands-free driving system, per MotorTrend.

Why It Matters: The Prologue’s tech makes driving safe, connected, and enjoyable, especially for tech-savvy teens.

Safety: Strong but Not Fully Tested

The 2025 Prologue hasn’t been fully crash-tested by NHTSA or IIHS, but its robust safety suite and GM platform (shared with the IIHS Top Safety Pick Blazer EV) suggest strong protection, per CarsDirect.com. Standard features include:

• Pedestrian detection and forward collision warning

• Rear cross-traffic alert and reverse automatic braking

• Lane departure warning and blind-spot monitoring

Consumer Reports praises its electronic stability control for secure handling, though steering feels vague, per Consumer Reports.

Why It Matters: The Prologue’s safety tech keeps you and your family protected, even if it’s not the sportiest.

Fuel Economy: Efficient for an SUV

The Prologue’s efficiency is competitive:

• FWD (EX/Touring): 113 MPGe city/94 MPGe highway/104 MPGe combined, per EPA.

• AWD (EX/Touring): 108/90/99 MPGe.

• AWD (Elite): 104/87/95 MPGe.

It lags behind the Hyundai Ioniq 5’s 114 MPGe combined but beats the Nissan Ariya’s 93 MPGe, per EPA. In real-world tests, the 2024 Elite hit 75 MPGe at 75 mph, below its 84 MPGe rating, per Car and Driver. Expect 2025 models to improve slightly.

Why It Matters: Good efficiency means fewer charging stops and lower costs, saving you money.

Reliability: Honda’s Trusted Name

Honda ranks high in reliability, scoring 82/100 in J.D. Power’s 2024 survey, and the Prologue benefits from this legacy, per Consumer Reports. Its GM-sourced battery and motors are proven in the Blazer EV, with no major issues reported, per Kelley Blue Book. Honda offers a 3-year/36,000-mile warranty and an 8-year/100,000-mile battery warranty, per honda.com.

Why It Matters: A reliable EV means less worry and more time enjoying the drive.

Value: A Smart Buy with Tax Credits

Starting at $48,850 (EX) and topping out at $59,350 (Elite), the Prologue is priced like the Chevy Blazer EV ($48,800) and Tesla Model Y ($44,990), per Kelley Blue Book. The $7,500 federal tax credit drops the effective price to $41,350, making it a steal compared to the Ford Mustang Mach-E ($39,995), per Edmunds. The Touring trim ($53,150) offers the best mix of features—leather, Bose audio, and a moonroof—for $4,300 over the EX, per CarsDirect.com.

Resale value is average, but Honda’s brand trust boosts appeal, per Kelley Blue Book. It was the #2 best-selling EV SUV in late 2024, per HondaNews.com, showing strong demand.

Why It Matters: The Prologue delivers premium EV features at a budget-friendly price, especially with tax savings.

Compared to Rivals

The Prologue faces tough competition:

• Tesla Model Y ($44,990): Longer 330-mile range and faster charging (250 kW), but less comfy ride, per MotorTrend.

• Hyundai Ioniq 5 ($41,800): Zippier acceleration (4.5 seconds to 60 mph) and 350 kW charging, but smaller cargo space, per Car and Driver.

• Chevy Blazer EV ($48,800): Nearly identical but sportier steering; lacks Apple CarPlay, per Consumer Reports.

• Nissan Ariya ($39,590): Cheaper but shorter 289-mile range, per Kelley Blue Book.

The Prologue’s blend of range, comfort, and Honda reliability makes it a strong contender, per U.S. News.

Challenges: Room for Improvement

The Prologue isn’t perfect:

• Not Fully Honda: GM roots disappoint purists, with clunky controls and less sporty handling, per U.S. News.

• Charging Speed: 150 kW lags behind Ioniq 5’s 350 kW, per PCMag.

• No Frunk: Limits storage compared to Model Y, per PCMag.

• Cabin Noise: Wind and motor whine at high speeds, per Consumer Reports.

Despite these, its value and range keep it competitive, per Edmunds.

Why the Prologue Matters in the Japanese Car Industry

Honda, Japan’s #2 automaker, is known for reliable cars like the Civic and CR-V. The Prologue marks its EV pivot, following the gas-powered Clarity’s flop (89-mile range), per MotorTrend. Partnering with GM sped up development, letting Honda compete with Toyota’s bZ4X and Nissan’s Ariya, per Car and Driver. By 2030, Honda plans in-house EVs, but the Prologue’s #2 EV SUV sales rank in 2024 proves its market strength, per HondaNews.com. It showcases Japan’s push for green tech while leveraging Honda’s quality reputation.

Tips for Buying a 2025 Honda Prologue

1. Pick Touring Trim: Balances range, features, and price, per CarsDirect.com.

2. Claim the Tax Credit: Check eligibility at irs.gov to save $7,500.

3. Choose FWD for Range: 308 miles vs. 294 for AWD, unless you need traction, per HondaNews.com.

4. Test Drive: Feel the steering and seat comfort, as some find them lacking, per Consumer Reports.

5. Plan Charging: Install a 240V home charger ($1,616 average, per Edmunds) or use Honda’s $750 public charging credits.

6. Compare Rivals: Test the Ioniq 5 or Model Y for sportiness, per Car and Driver.

7. Negotiate: Use Kelley Blue Book’s Fair Purchase Price to save $1,000-$2,000, per Kelley Blue Book.

Where to Buy

• Honda Dealers: Visit automobiles.honda.com to find local stock or configure your Prologue.

• Online Platforms: TrueCar or CarGurus list new Prologues, starting at $48,850.

• Certified Pre-Owned: Check honda.com for 2024 models with extended warranties.

Conclusion: A Bright EV Future with Honda

The 2025 Honda Prologue is a game-changer, blending a 308-mile range, comfy ride, and Honda’s trusted name into a family-friendly electric SUV. Despite GM roots and slower charging, its $48,850 price, $7,500 tax credit, and top-tier tech make it a steal. Compared to the Tesla Model Y or Hyundai Ioniq 5, it prioritizes practicality over thrills, perfect for daily drives or road trips. As Japan’s car industry goes electric, the Prologue leads Honda’s charge, ranking #2 in EV SUV sales, per HondaNews.com. Visit a dealer, test drive the Touring trim, and claim your tax credit to join the EV revolution. The Prologue isn’t just a car—it’s your ticket to a greener, fun-filled future.