Honda & Acura have new EVs on the market. But these are not made by Honda. They’re actually made by General Motors. So why did Honda go to GM, buy one of their EVs, and rebrand it as a Honda & an Acura? And are these EVs any good?
Performance
Motors – Both cars are only available with an AWD, dual-motor layout, at least for the Canadian market. The 2024 Honda Prologue’s powertrain produces 288 hp & 333 lb-ft of torque (215 kW & 451 Nm). It is a heavy EV SUV at 2,392 kg (5,273 lbs) but thanks to the instant torque of the electric motors, it doesn’t feel slow in everyday traffic situations. In the 2024 Acura ZDX, you get more power. The ZDX A-Spec is rated for 490 hp & 437 lb-ft of torque (365 kW & 592 Nm). This Type-S demo vehicle produces 499 hp & 544 lb-ft of torque (372 kW & 737 Nm). It’s a good thing that it produces more power because it is heavier than the Prologue by a substantial amount. There’s a 314 kg (692 lbs) difference between them with the Type-S tipping the scales at 2,706 kg (5,966 lbs).
Both cars have Sport modes for faster accelerator response but it’s the Aura that receives a custom drive mode. This not only allows the driver to adjust the sharpness of the accelerator pedal but also other parameters such as steering weight and suspension stiffness among others. But other than the Sport mode, both EVs drive like just about every other electric vehicle on the market.
Battery, Charging, & Range – The 2024 Prologue has a smaller battery than the 2024 ZDX. It is 85 kWh vs 102 kWh in the Acura. The Honda Prologue can be recharged at a maximum rate of 150 kW which Honda says will take approximately 35 minutes from 20% to 80% battery state of charge. The car will accept up to 11.5 kW of power from a level 2 charger and that will take up to 9 and a half hours to fully recharge. The Acura ZDX can be recharged at a faster rate of up to 190 kW. Acura says it’ll replenish the battery from 20% to 80% in about 42 minutes. From a level 2 charger, it’ll take up to 11 hours to recharge the larger battery.
As for the driving ranges, the 2024 Honda Prologue can drive from 439 km to 452 km (273 to 281 Miles). These numbers vary depending on the trim level which have different wheel sizes. The 2024 Acura ZDX has driving ranges from 447 km (278 Miles) in the Type-S to 489 km (304 Miles) in the A-Spec. Of course, all of these numbers can vary in the real world as different factors influence the overall driving range. Ambient temperature, driving style, climate control use and so on can affect what range you may get with the Prologue or ZDX. During my time with the cars, I averaged 22.2 kWh/100km (2.8 Miles/kWh) in the Prologue and 22.7 kWh/100km (2.74 Miles/kWh) in the ZDX Type-S.
Braking – Like all other electric vehicles, the Honda Prologue and Acura ZDX extensively use regenerative braking to slow down. Neither have adjustable regen braking modes like the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N for example, but they do have adjustable one-pedal modes. It can be adjusted to provide a normal amount of regen force when lifting your foot off the accelerator pedal or it can provide a high amount of regen force. Personally, I found the normal mode just fine for everyday city driving with the cars smoothly stopping within a reasonable distance. Both cars also have a teeny-tiny paddle on the left side of the steering wheel which will provide maximum regeneration force whenever the driver pulls and holds onto it. This will also bring the car to a complete stop if it is still held. However, it is very small and there are buttons just under it on the back of the steering wheel which control the radio tuning. So whenever you want to use it, if you’re not careful, you could be changing the radio station instead of making the car slow down.
The physical brakes are just fine in the Honda Prologue. There’s nothing fancy about them. The brake pedal feels normal without much difference between regen braking and the physical brakes taking over. The Acura ZDX on the other hand comes equipped with 6-piston Brembo fixed calipers and 15.3” rotors on the front axle. These provide much more stopping force and require almost no effort from your foot on the brake pedal to stop the car in everyday traffic. But these large brake calipers are only available on the ZDX Type-S. The A-Spec receives the same brakes as the Prologue.
Handling – The Honda Prologue is competent around corners but it’s not the first word in driving enjoyment. The first thing you may notice about the Prologue when stepping in it is how large it feels from behind the steering wheel. It’s about as wide and as long as the Honda Passport. Despite its size, it’s quite easy to maneuver. Steering is precise but light. There is some body roll through corners and the car doesn’t encourage you to push it like the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N.
The Acura ZDX Type-S is a little bit different. It comes equipped with adaptive air suspension which not only changes height depending on the drive mode, but also the firmness. It also receives larger 22” wheels, instead of the 21” wheels of the Prologue, with lower profile tires. In Sport mode, the ZDX Type-S can corner a bit more quickly than the Prologue without inducing as much understeer and with less body roll. Steering is equally as precise with a heftier weight behind it but still not providing much feedback as to what the tires are doing. The ZDX is a bit more enjoyable to toss through some corners on a back-country road than the Prologue, but it too is not as enjoyable as something like the Ioniq 5 N or Ford Mach-e GT. It’s just carrying too much weight that is noticeable when the car makes quick turns from left to right or vice versa.
Comfort
Ride Comfort – Over most road surfaces, the ride of the Honda Prologue is comfortable. Having said that, it is a little bit firmer than that of the Honda CR-V for example. It is only when you find yourself driving over very poorly maintained roads does this firmer ride start to feel too rough. Additionally, the seats of the Prologue don’t provide much support. They’re a bit too flat and not much in the way of side bolsters.
On the other hand, the Acura ZDX’s air suspension can absorb bumps a bit better than the Honda Prologue. Additionally, the ZDX’s seats have more adjustments and are more supportive for more body types.
Interior Space – With the Prologue having similar dimensions as the Honda Passport, it has a spacious cabin. For my 6’4” height, I had absolutely no issues with leg room or headroom in the front seats. The seating position is akin to something like the Honda CR-V but the Prologue doesn’t have such great rear visibility with the rear headrests impending visibility. Rear space is generous even behind my tall driving position. My knees do not touch the back of the front seats but my hair is close to brushing up against the headliner. The panoramic sunroof allows plenty of light for rear occupants, the floor is flat, there are air vents but no 3rd climate zone, and a couple of USB-C ports for device charging. In the trunk, the Prologue has 671 L (23.7 cu-ft) of cargo space behind the 2nd row and 1,543 L (54.5 cu-ft) with the rear seats folded. There is some storage space underneath the floor but there is no space under the hood. Also, both the Prologue and ZDX have hands-free power operated liftgates (except the EX trim of the Prologue) which project a little light onto the ground to let you know where you need to swing your foot to operate the hands-free liftgate. This is a feature that’s found on many other GM vehicles.
In the Acura, space is equally good in the front seats but rear visibility is a bit better thanks to the addition of the rear camera mirror. This provides an unobstructed view out the back but it is only found on the ZDX Type-S. Legroom and headroom in the back seats are identical to those in the Prologue. Cargo capacity is a bit more in the Acura with 813 L (28.7 cu-ft) behind the 2nd row seats and 1,756 L (62 cu-ft) with the seats folded. The ZDX has power release buttons in the trunk to drop those back seats whereas in the Prologue, you have to go to the sides in order to lower the rear seats.
Noise, Vibration, & Harshness – As is to be expected, the Acura ZDX is a little bit quieter than the Honda Prologue. Both vehicles had been equipped with winter tires, which are generally louder than all-season tires, but road noise was more noticeable in the Prologue than the ZDX on highways. Noise from the motors was non-existent but both played a sporty tone through the speakers when Sport mode was selected.
Odds and Ends
Pricing – The 2024 Honda Prologue starts at $59,990 CAD ($50,400 USD, EX AWD) with the Touring trim costing $69,990 CAD ($58,355 USD, Elite AWD). The 2024 Acura ZDX A-Spec starts at $84,990 CAD ($64,500 USD, RWD)with the Type-S costing $91,490 CAD ($73,500 USD). Neither of these prices include any incentives or government rebates.
Gadgets – Both vehicles are equipped with the same convenience features that are found in almost every EV which include heated & leather upholstered front seats, ventilated front seats, dual-zone automatic climate controls, wireless phone charging pads, head-up displays, 11.3” touchscreens with Google built-in, wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto connectivity, Wi-Fi hotspot and OnStar services. But that last one requires a subscription plan.
With the Acura being a more premium brand, it has a few more convenience features such as an available 3rd climate zone, heated rear seats, perforated Milano leather upholstery, power tilt and telescopic steering wheel, ambient lighting, and an 18-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system.
Arguably the biggest gadget that is available in the Acura ZDX Type-S is Hands Free Cruise. This is GM’s Supercruise system which allows hands-free driving across most highways throughout Canada and the United States. The system works very well, both in rain and night time, but in some situations, it can feel a bit unsettling. For example, when the car was going through a steady curve on wet roads, the steering wheel kept swerving lightly back & forth like as though the system was searching for the edges of the lane. But otherwise, it is a fabulous system that can also change lanes both on its own or with an initiation of the indicator stalk by the driver.
Interior Design – This is where things get a bit more un-Honda-like. The 2024 Prologue’s interior is more reminiscent of a GM vehicle than any other Honda vehicle on sale today. From the GM infotainment system, which is really easy to use and learn by the way, to the climate controls to the window switches, it is all from the GM parts bin. That’s not to say that they don’t work, it’s just that they don’t look like Honda parts. In the Acura, it looks a bit more like an Acura than the Prologue does a Honda. The door panel design and the cover for the driver instrumentation screen are similar in design to other Acuras. But the rest is all the same as in the Prologue.
These cars also have some GM quirks. For example, the Sport mode button is by the driver’s left knee. The parking brake button is right next to the Sport button by the driver’s left knee. Not only do you have to take your eyes off the road to change either car into Sport mode but you could accidentally hit the parking brake button. Thankfully, the parking brake does not get applied while the car is in motion. Also, both have gear selectors that are mounted on the right side of the steering column much like a Mercedes-Benz. And finally, if you want to turn on the headlights and taillights yourself, it must be done through the infotainment touchscreen. There are no physical controls for the headlights apart from the high beam. Of course, both cars have automatic headlights and tail lights which turn on as the ambient light dims and if the wipers are turned on. But if it is foggy and not dark enough, the headlights can only be turned on through the touchscreen.
Exterior Design – The Honda Prologue has a simplistic design language whereas the Acura ZDX looks much more like an Acura product. The Prologue has simple LED daytime running lights, simple LED tail lights, and simple looking 21” wheels on this Touring trim. Design-wise it doesn’t really stand out but its large size makes up for it.
The ZDX looks more like a large wagon. It has the “Chicane” LED daytime running lights and tail lights, the 22” wheels have a much more interesting design, but I don’t like the silver portion that runs along the button of the car. I think it should have been painted in the same colour as the rest of the body.
Safety – Both cars come equipped with the same safety & driver aids. These include forward collision alert with automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, side blind zone alert with steering assist, reverse automatic braking, available front & rear parking sensors, and surround view cameras among a few others. The Acura also has automatic parking assist available on the Type-S.
One thing I noticed is that these systems were a bit more sensitive on the ZDX than on the Prologue, particularly the forward collision alert system and the lane departure warning. The former happened more so when there was a parked vehicle on the side of the road next to a start of a corner. The car would think that I’d hit it. As for the lane departure warning, it would think that fallen autumn leaves and tar snakes on the roads were the lane markings. In the Prologue, I had noticed far fewer instances of these two systems intervening while driving.
Warranty – The 2024 Honda Prologue is covered by a 3 year / 60,000 km new vehicle and an 8 year / 160,000 km battery warranty. The battery warranty is only covered if the battery degradation remains above 75%. The 2024 Acura ZDX is covered by the same battery warranty but a 4 year / 80,000 km new vehicle warranty. For more information on Honda’s Canadian warranty, click here. For information on USA warranty, click here. For more information on Acura’s Canadian warranty, click here. For USA warranty information, click here.
Conclusion – So why did Honda & Acura get GM to build new electric vehicles for them? Well, although Honda has the Honda-e in other markets, a small car like that wouldn’t be enough for the demands on North American consumers who like big SUVs and trucks. So they wanted to have an EV on the market for those consumers that want to make the switch from a gasoline powered car to an EV. Obviously, they don’t want to lose customers to other brands so this is why they partnered with GM for these two cars. Honda is producing their own new generation of EVs but they won’t be available until 2026 or 2027. So until then, if you want to stay in the Honda/Acura family and have an EV, these are your choices. Objectively, they’re not bad EVs. All I’m saying is, don’t expect a typical Honda or Acura product.
Thank you to Honda Canada for providing the Prologue. www.Honda.ca
Thank you to Acura Canada for providing the ZDX Type-S. www.Acura.ca
2024 Honda Prologue Gallery
2024 Acura ZDX Type-S Gallery
