2025 Lexus RX Hybrid vs 2024 Honda Prologue

The 2024 Honda Prologue presented a design that was refreshingly normal for an electric vehicle. Its exterior, available in a variety of colours, including Sonic Grey and Pacific Blue on the Touring trim, was understated enough to blend into everyday traffic. The front featured a smooth black panel with the traditional Honda "H" logo, emphasizing its electric nature by eliminating the need for air cooling. Accessories like skid plates and side cladding allowed for personalization, adding a rugged touch to its appearance. The Prologue's side profile was elongated, with large wheels that accentuated its low roofline, while the rear showcased a new font spelling "Honda," marking its venture into electric propulsion. Inside, the Touring trim offered a brown and black interior in the U.S., with leather seating on higher trims. The dashboard design was reminiscent of other Honda models, with a focus on familiarity and a touch of upscale appeal.

In contrast, the 2025 Lexus RX Hybrid, particularly the RX 500h F Sport Black Line, was a $90,000 SUV that, despite its price, did not stand out visually. Its Incognito paint job and orange brake calipers were unique touches, but the overall design was unremarkable, with a large front grille and a dramatic rear haunch. The RX lineup included three models: the RX 350h, RX 500h, and RX 450h+, each offering different powertrains and efficiency levels. The RX 500h, with its turbocharged engine and sport-tuned features, was the most powerful, while the RX 350h prioritized efficiency. The interior was contemporary, with quality materials and ambient lighting, though some controls were ergonomically challenging. The RX Hybrid offered a range of packages and standard AWD in Canada, with prices varying based on the model and features.

The 2024 Honda Prologue, available exclusively with AWD in Canada, featured a dual-motor setup delivering 288 hp and 333 lb-ft of torque. The Touring trim, equipped with 21-inch wheels, offered a range of 439 kilometres, while the EX and EX-L trims with 19-inch wheels extended the range to 452 kilometres. Honda emphasized maintaining familiar driving dynamics, and the Prologue delivered with its regenerative braking settings and one-pedal drive option. Its long wheelbase contributed to a comfortable ride, though road and wind noise were noticeable at highway speeds. The Prologue's Sport mode enhanced throttle, brake, and steering response, making it surprisingly enjoyable to drive on winding roads.

The 2025 Lexus RX Hybrid offered three distinct models, each with unique performance characteristics. The RX 350h, with 246 hp and 233 lb-ft of torque, was the most efficient, while the RX 450h+ PHEV provided 304 hp and a 0-100 km/h time of 6.5 seconds. The RX 500h, with a turbocharged 2.4-litre engine, delivered 366 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque, achieving 0-100 km/h in 6.2 seconds. It featured a sport-tuned adaptive damping suspension, 21-inch wheels, and Lexus's Direct4 AWD system. Despite its power, the RX 500h's fuel efficiency was disappointing, averaging 13.5 L/100 km during testing. The RX 500h excelled in straight-line acceleration but lacked dynamic communication, making it less rewarding on twisty roads.

The 2024 Honda Prologue offered traditional door handles, easing the transition for new EV owners. Its cabin provided up to 3,163 litres of passenger volume, with impressive legroom in both rows. Headroom was adequate, and the panoramic sunroof added brightness. Standard features included heated front seats and dual-zone climate control, with additional amenities like driver’s seat memory and a heated steering wheel on higher trims. The cargo area ranged from 671 to 714 litres, with a flat load floor and a deep compartment beneath for extra storage.

The 2025 Lexus RX Hybrid focused on occupant comfort and practical cargo space. The RX 500h's front seats, though snug, offered heating and ventilation, while the rear seats provided ample room and comfort. Interior storage was practical, though the rear centre armrest lacked lining. The RX Hybrid's cargo space measured 838 litres, with hooks for bags and a small storage area under the load floor. Folding the second row expanded the cargo volume to 1,308 litres, though the cargo cover could be cumbersome when loading larger items.

The 2024 Honda Prologue came equipped with keyless access, a wireless charger, and four USB-C ports. Its infotainment system featured an 11.3-inch screen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while a separate 11-inch screen displayed driver information. Google Built-In provided native Google Maps and route planning for EV chargers. Higher trims included a 12-speaker Bose audio system with Active Sound Control, enhancing the driving experience with artificial sounds.

The 2025 Lexus RX Hybrid boasted high-tech features, including digital key functionality, a camera-based digital rearview mirror, and a hands-free power liftgate. The RX 500h featured a 14-inch touchscreen with the Lexus Interface infotainment system, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM, and cloud-based navigation. The system included a conversational digital voice assistant and a 21-speaker Mark Levinson audio system. However, the steering wheel controls were distracting and challenging to use while driving.

The 2024 Honda Prologue featured the Honda Sensing suite of advanced driver-assistance technologies, including new additions like rear cross-traffic braking and blind-zone steering assist. Higher trims offered front-park assist, a surround-vision system, and rear pedestrian alert. Standard safety features included automatic emergency braking, forward collision alert, adaptive cruise control, and lane-keep assist. While not yet rated by safety organizations, Honda aimed for top safety ratings.

The 2025 Lexus RX Hybrid included Safety Connect, offering automatic collision notification and emergency assistance. Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 provided forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. Proactive Driving Assist monitored forward progress, while a surround-view camera was available. The RX received a five-star safety rating from the NHTSA, though the IIHS rated it poorly in a frontal-impact test.