Jeep Grand Wagoneer vs Honda Prologue

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer presented a classic SUV aesthetic, sharing its frame and body shell with the standard Wagoneer. This resulted in a traditional design featuring a tall hood, broad shoulders, and trapezoidal wheel arches. The Grand Wagoneer distinguished itself with a black roof, a unique hood, front fascia, and a forward-leaning grille with laser-etched knurling. It offered 20-inch standard wheels, with 22-inch options available, and featured acrylic glass-covered wheel centre caps to protect the "Wagoneer" logo. The vehicle's body-on-frame architecture, shared with the Wagoneer, allowed for independent suspension and incorporated lightweight materials like an aluminum hood and doors.

Inside, the Grand Wagoneer shared styling cues with the Wagoneer, such as an integrated infotainment touchscreen and a two-spoke steering wheel. However, it elevated the experience with 24-way power front seats, Nappa leather upholstery, and optional Palermo leather. The interior featured aluminum and American Walnut wood trim, with seat controls positioned high on the doors. The dashboard prominently displayed "Grand Wagoneer" to remind occupants of the vehicle's identity.

The 2024 Honda Prologue, meanwhile, embraced a more understated design, appearing as a "normal" EV. It offered a range of colours, with the Touring trim adding Sonic Grey and Pacific Blue. The front end featured a smooth black panel with the Honda "H" logo, and optional accessories allowed for personalization. The Prologue's side profile appeared low due to its length, with large wheels enhancing its sleek appearance. The rear showcased a new font spelling "Honda," reflecting its innovative propulsion methods.

Inside, the Prologue's Touring trim offered a brown and black interior, while Canadian models featured a black-on-black scheme. The dash layout resembled other Honda models, with a notable omission of hidden air vents. Instead, piano black plastic and upholstery material adorned the dash. The interior leaned upscale yet familiar, with leather seating in higher trims and a focus on comfort and functionality.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer was powered by a 6.4-litre Hemi V8 engine, delivering 471 horsepower and 455 lb-ft of torque. It featured cylinder deactivation for improved fuel efficiency and was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. This setup allowed the Grand Wagoneer to accelerate from zero to 100 km/h in approximately six seconds, despite its hefty 2,900-kilogram weight. The vehicle came standard with four-wheel drive, including the Quadra-Drive II system with a two-speed transfer case and electronic limited-slip differential. The Quadra-Lift air suspension system, standard on the Grand Wagoneer, offered adjustable height for various driving conditions.

The Grand Wagoneer boasted 25.4 centimetres of ground clearance, enabling impressive approach, departure, and breakover angles. It could ford up to 60 centimetres of water and featured skid plates for off-road protection. While the cabin was quiet and the air suspension absorbed bumps well, the vehicle's size and imprecise steering made it feel ungainly at higher speeds. Off-road capabilities were promising, but the Grand Wagoneer's size limited its trail performance.

The 2024 Honda Prologue, available in Canada with standard all-wheel drive, featured a dual-motor setup producing 288 horsepower and 333 lb-ft of torque. The Touring trim offered a range of 439 kilometres, while the EX and EX-L trims achieved 452 kilometres. Honda focused on delivering familiar driving dynamics, with regenerative braking settings offering varying levels of deceleration. The Prologue's one-pedal drive setting provided a standard EV braking experience, while the lowest setting offered a typical driving feel.

With a 3,094-millimetre wheelbase, the Prologue delivered a comfortable ride, though road and wind noise were noticeable at highway speeds. Sport mode enhanced throttle, brake, and steering response, making the Prologue surprisingly fun to drive on winding roads. Overall, the Prologue offered a driving experience that belied its size and powertrain.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer accommodated seven passengers with standard second-row captain's chairs or eight with an optional third-row bench seat. It offered more third-row headroom and second-row legroom than competitors like the Cadillac Escalade, Lincoln Navigator, and Infiniti QX80. However, front-row space was more limited compared to these rivals. The Grand Wagoneer provided 775 litres of cargo space with all seats in place and 2,007 litres with the third row stowed. Folding all rear seats yielded 2,667 litres, slightly less than its competitors.

The Grand Wagoneer had a maximum towing capacity of 4,472 kilograms, slightly less than the standard Wagoneer due to its extra weight. It featured a standard sunroof, four-zone automatic climate control, and large storage bins. Forward visibility was somewhat limited, but the standard 360-degree camera system helped mitigate this issue.

The 2024 Honda Prologue featured traditional door handles, easing the transition to EV ownership. It offered up to 3,163 litres of passenger volume, surpassing its Cadillac platform-mate, the Lyriq. Legroom was impressive, with 1,000 millimetres in the second row and 1,052 millimetres in the first. Headroom was less generous, but reclinable rear seats and a panoramic moonroof added comfort.

Standard features included heated front seats and dual-zone climate control, with higher trims adding seat ventilation and a heated steering wheel. The cargo area offered 671 to 714 litres of space, with a flat load floor for easy loading. The Prologue lacked a "frunk" but had a deep compartment beneath the load floor for additional storage.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer featured a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, dual touchscreens, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and a McIntosh audio system. It supported simultaneous pairing for two Bluetooth-enabled phones and offered a 4G-LTE Wi-Fi hotspot. Second-row passengers had a 10.25-inch touchscreen for climate control, and an optional rear-seat entertainment system added 10.1-inch screens.

The Grand Wagoneer used the Uconnect 5 infotainment system with an Android-based operating system and over-the-air updates. While the screen response was slow, the head-up display was clear and legible. A separate 10.25-inch touchscreen for the front passenger allowed control of navigation and entertainment functions.

The 2024 Honda Prologue came with keyless access, remote start, and a wireless charger. It featured four USB-C ports and wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto on an 11.3-inch infotainment screen. An 11-inch digital driver-information display and an optional head-up display were also available.

Google Built-In provided native Google Maps with route-planning features for EV charging. EX-L and Touring trims included a 12-speaker Bose audio system with Active Sound Control, enhancing the driving experience with artificial sounds. The sound effects added to the sporty feel, particularly in Sport mode.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer had not yet been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA. Standard safety features included a 360-degree camera system, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Optional features included intersection collision assist, driver-attention monitor, night vision, and traffic-sign recognition. The Active Lane Management System combined adaptive cruise control with lane centring, with a hands-free version planned for future release.

The 2024 Honda Prologue featured the Honda Sensing suite of driver-assistance technologies, with new additions like rear cross-traffic braking and blind-zone steering assist. Higher trims offered front-park assist, surround-vision system, and rear pedestrian alert. Standard features included automatic emergency braking, forward collision alert, adaptive cruise control, and lane-keep assist. The Prologue aimed for top safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA.