Prologue vs Blazer EV: How Honda Offers a Better Driving Experience

If you have been shopping for an electric SUV, you have more options than ever these days. It seems as if every brand is jumping into the segment, from startups like Tesla and Rivian to established manufacturers like Ford and Toyota. Honda is no exception, and it has partnered with General Motors to design and build its first electric SUV, the Prologue. This partnership means that Honda’s electric midsize model (and its upscale counterpart, the Acura ZDX) shares its platform and powertrain with several GM models, including the Chevy Equinox EV, Cadillac OPTIQ, and Cadillac LYRIQ, although its closest sibling is the Chevy Blazer EV. However, while Honda and GM agreed to co-develop the basic underpinnings of this family of electric SUVs, the two manufacturers engineered their models very differently. While GM decided to follow the trends set by Tesla and attempted to create a very futuristic driving experience, Honda stuck to the basics and crafted an electric vehicle that, in many ways, feels exactly like driving a traditional gasoline-powered SUV—just without the constant visits to the gas station. If you’ve taken a look at some of the other EVs on the market and just can’t mesh with their sci-fi designs, it’s time to consider the Honda Prologue. Here are some of the ways that Honda built a much more traditional vehicle, even when comparing the closely-related 2025 Honda Prologue vs 2025 Chevy Blazer EV.

The differences between the Honda Prologue and Chevy Blazer EV are apparent from the moment you first lay eyes on these two vehicles. Since its reintroduction in 2019 as a gasoline-powered SUV, the Blazer has been a muscular and sporty model that derives its styling from the Chevy Camaro pony car. When the Blazer EV hit the scene in 2024, it took that muscle car heritage and gave it a sci-fi makeover in line with many other electric vehicles on the market. The result is a futuristic but not entirely cohesive design that combines modern features like a front lightbar and illuminated emblems with sports car elements like bulging fenders and exaggerated fender vents. While it will certainly attract attention, it’s not the sort of aesthetic most drivers are looking for in their daily lives.

In contrast, Honda chose to employ what it calls a “neo-rugged” design language for the Prologue. While that name might conjure up visions of a different type of sci-fi styling, it actually refers to an elegant and understated aesthetic that is in line with the other models in Honda’s current lineup. The 2025 Prologue is a friendly and approachable vehicle with clean and cohesive lines that give off a modern vibe without being overwrought. It’s the sort of vehicle that works well for a parent or commuter who wants something good-looking but isn’t trying to be the center of attention everywhere they go. However, the differences between these two models are far more than skin-deep.

One of the most startling differences between the Prologue and the Blazer EV is how you start the two cars. An electric vehicle obviously doesn’t have an engine that you need to start, but it still needs to be turned on. Many shoppers don’t realize this, but an EV actually has two batteries: the high-voltage battery pack that powers the electric motors and a 12-volt battery that starts the car and powers the accessories when it is turned off, just like in a gasoline vehicle. This means you want a clear way to know when you are fully powered on and ready to drive or just in accessory mode. Unfortunately, a lot of EVs don’t provide this, and the 2025 Blazer EV is one of them.

Chevy decided to follow in Tesla’s footsteps and throw out traditional car design to implement a “Hands-Free Start” system. In theory, this makes things simpler for the driver, but in practice, it can add more confusion. There are actually two ways to start and two ways to turn off the Blazer EV, and none of them use a key or start button. Once you sit in the driver’s seat, either pressing the brake pedal or closing the driver’s door will automatically start the car. However, to turn off the car, you will need to put it in Park, release the brake, unbuckle your seatbelt, and open the driver’s door. If you want to turn off the car without opening the door, you have to hit a small icon on the infotainment touchscreen. Seems complex? It is. Especially if you often drive other vehicles that don’t use this convoluted system.

Honda knows that sometimes it’s better not to reinvent the wheel and equipped the 2025 Prologue with a traditional start button. Just like a normal car, when you want to turn it on, simply press the brake pedal and push the button. When you want to turn it off, press the button again. If you want to enter accessory mode, press and hold the button. It’s nice and simple, and you won’t have to remember how your car works every time you switch between the Prologue and any other vehicle in existence.

Smartphones have become a part of our lives, and car manufacturers understand this. After an early period where they tried (and largely failed) to design their own smartphone integration software for their vehicles, manufacturers have almost universally accepted that the best way to use a phone in a car is through Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Since these systems are designed by the same people responsible for the software in most phones, they are simple, intuitive, and kept up to date. However, GM has decided to go back to the dark ages and drop Apple CarPlay and Android Auto from its electric vehicles, including the 2025 Blazer EV. Yes, that’s right, you can’t mirror your phone and access your favorite apps directly in this high-tech vehicle.

Instead, Chevy forces you to rely on Google Built-In. Taken in isolation, this is a handy bit of tech that lets you log in to your Google account directly from your vehicle and download your favorite apps to the infotainment system without needing your phone. However, it has some downsides. Most obviously, if you’re an iPhone user, you’re out of luck and have to adapt to the Google ecosystem when you’re on the road. If you have an Apple-only app you like, there’s nothing you can do about it. Second, even if you are an Android user, your phone apps and your car apps won’t necessarily be the same, and you have to remember to download your apps to your car.

In contrast, Honda gives you the best of both worlds with the 2025 Prologue. If the advantages of Google Built-In appeal to you, then don’t worry because this next-generation system comes standard with the Prologue. However, if you would prefer to stick to the tried-and-true smartphone integration supplied by Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, then you have that as well. In fact, Honda even makes the wireless versions of this software standard and pairs them with a standard wireless charging pad so you can go completely cord-free while on the road and still enjoy the apps on your phone.

While the electric SUV segment is expanding rapidly, far too many manufacturers have decided that shifting from a traditional gasoline engine to a futuristic electric powertrain means they also need to shift away from proven features that drivers know and appreciate to sci-fi-inspired technology that often creates more problems than it solves. The Chevy Blazer EV is a great example of this, with its convoluted Hands-Free Start technology and elimination of simple smartphone connectivity via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, among other features. However, Honda proves that a new type of powertrain doesn’t have to mean a new type of driving experience. Despite being built on the same platform as the Chevy Blazer EV, the 2025 Honda Prologue provides a traditional driving experience that will feel instantly familiar to any driver while still offering the advantages of owning an electric vehicle.