Lexus NX Hybrid vs 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, was understated enough to blend into everyday traffic. The front featured a smooth black panel with the traditional Honda 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 if desired. The Prologue's side profile was elongated, giving it a low appearance, accentuated by large wheels and a new font spelling "Honda" across the back. Inside, the Touring trim offered a comfortable and familiar interior, with a layout reminiscent of other Honda models. The use of piano black plastic and upholstery material on the dash provided a subtle upscale feel.

In contrast, the 2026 Lexus NX Hybrid was characterized by its over-stylized design, typical of modern Lexus models. The front showcased a large, intricately patterned spindle grille, flanked by LED headlights and blacked-out air intakes, creating an aggressive and complex face. The profile was sporty yet less extroverted, with smooth, rounded edges and body-coloured fender flares. F Sport elements included dark trim and 20-inch wheels, while the fastback roof shape echoed coupe-like crossovers. Inside, the NX combined sportiness with modern technology, featuring a digital instrument cluster and a large touchscreen angled toward the driver. The F Sport 3 test car boasted sporty elements like dark graphite aluminum trim and Circuit Red synthetic leather upholstery, enhancing its high-quality and sturdy feel.

The 2024 Honda Prologue offered a standard all-wheel drive setup in Canada, with a dual-motor system producing 288 horsepower and 333 lb-ft of torque. The Touring trim's 21-inch wheels provided a range of 439 kilometres, while the EX and EX-L trims with 19-inch wheels offered 452 kilometres. Honda focused on delivering familiar driving dynamics, with a middle regenerative braking setting allowing for coasting and a one-pedal drive setting for immediate deceleration. The Prologue's long wheelbase contributed to 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.

The 2026 Lexus NX Hybrid, despite its sporty name, was not built for aggressive cornering. It featured adaptive dampers with Normal and Sport settings and a firmer suspension, but its 18.5 centimetres of ground clearance led to some body lean in bends. The hybrid powertrain combined a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with three electric motors, providing standard all-wheel drive and a total of 240 horsepower. The NX accelerated from 0 to 96 km/h in 7.2 seconds, but power delivery felt slushy, and the engine droned under hard acceleration. Steering wheel paddles allowed for simulated downshifts, though they didn't mimic regular automatic transmission gear ratios.

The 2024 Honda Prologue featured traditional door handles, easing the transition for new EV owners. It offered up to 3,163 litres of passenger volume, with impressive legroom in both rows. 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 additional amenities like a heated steering wheel and front seat ventilation 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 2026 Lexus NX Hybrid's front seats provided good bolstering and ample room, with power adjustments for comfort. Heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and dual-zone climate control were standard, with heated rear seats available on higher trims. The rear seat accommodated average-sized adults, though legroom was limited for taller passengers. The NX's cargo space was relatively low for its class, offering 643 litres behind the rear seats and 1,328 litres with them folded. The coupe-like roof shape limited cargo capacity but still allowed for practical use.

The 2024 Honda Prologue came 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 with route-planning features. Higher trims included a 12-speaker Bose audio system, enhancing the driving experience with Active Sound Control.

The 2026 Lexus NX Hybrid offered a 9.8-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14-inch touchscreen, with standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A head-up display and a 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system were optional. The NX included a three-year Remote Connect subscription, allowing remote starting and vehicle status alerts. The infotainment system was responsive, with physical controls for volume and temperature.

The 2024 Honda Prologue featured the Honda Sensing suite of 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. While not yet rated by safety organizations, Honda aimed for top safety ratings.

The 2026 Lexus NX Hybrid earned the Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS and received high marks in crash tests. It came with the Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 suite, including features like blind spot monitoring, lane keep assist, and adaptive cruise control. Optional features included automatic parking and a surround-view camera system.