More and more buyers are comparing the VinFast VF8 to electric offerings from older, more established brands. This is because the VF8 is only a couple of years old at this point. We have looked at so many EVs up against the VF8, and so far, none of them have been able to offer more than the VinFast does for its amazing lease price, and none of them can match the warranty. With that said, let’s welcome this week’s challenger, the 2025 Honda Prologue.
The Honda Prologue is similar to the VF8 in that it is a first-time offering from Honda. Buyers can choose the Prologue in three trim levels: EX, Touring, and Elite. All models have an 85-kWh battery that delivers different power depending on the trim level. EX and Touring models come standard with single-motor front-wheel drive that puts out 212 horsepower and 236 lb-ft of torque. If buyers choose to option their EX or Touring with all-wheel drive or spring for the AWD-only Elite trim, they will get a dual-motor setup with 288 horsepower and 333 lb-ft of torque. While the top Elite trim gets 273 miles of range, the FWD EX and Touring will deliver 296 miles, which falls to 281 when equipped with AWD. Honda says that any Prologue trim level will charge from 10% to 80% in 35 minutes when using a Level 3 DC fast charger.
Honda prices the base Prologue EX FWD from $47,400, with the Touring FWD coming in at $51,700, and the Elite has a base price of $57,900. If you’d like an EX or Touring model with all-wheel drive, Honda adds an additional $3,000 to the starting price. In testing by Car and Driver, the Prologue Elite was able to get to 60 mph in 5.9 seconds. They have yet to test the base models with less power, but it’s obvious they will be quite slow.
Now, we come to the familiar challenger in the red and yellow shorts (the colors of the Vietnamese flag): the VinFast VF8. There are just two trims available so that customers won’t get confused with all sorts of packages and options: the Eco and Plus. The VF8 Eco has a base price of $47,325, and the Plus trim starts at $51,800. Both VF8 trims have dual motors with 87.7-kWh batteries, giving Eco models 349 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque and 402 horsepower and 457 lb-ft of torque for the Plus trims. While the Honda makes AWD an option, VinFast offers it as a standard feature on all VF8 models. The EPA says drivers can expect 264 miles for Eco models and 243 miles for Plus models between charges. According to VinFast, the VF8 will reach 60 mph in just 5.9 or 5.5 seconds for the Eco and Plus, respectively. Charging times are similar to the Honda, with about 35 minutes to charge from 10-70% on a DC fast charger.
Amazingly, like the VinFast, the Prologue has a Head-Up Display (HUD). Not so amazingly, though, it’s only available on the top Elite trim, whereas the VF8 comes standard with HUD no matter which trim you choose. So, good try, Honda, but we’ll have to deduct some points for you not offering HUD as a standard safety feature that buyers need with the ever-growing number of distractions in a car. VinFast understands that anything can happen the more you take your eyes off the road to look at other screens, including for directions. With a proper Head-Up Display, every piece of information you need is right in your eyeline.
Speaking of screens, the Honda Prologue comes standard with an 11.3-inch infotainment touchscreen display that compares unfavorably to the VF8 with its 15.6-inch touchscreen display. While the Honda also has an 11-inch digital gauge cluster display, VinFast forgoes this as all of the information can be seen and accessed on both the infotainment screen and the standard HUD.
As always, there is one specific feature that is standard on the VF8 that you can’t get on any other EV: Sony RIDEVU. With RIDEVU, owners can watch as many as 2,000 TV shows and movies on the in-car 15.6-inch infotainment system when the car is parked. Or, if you are driving, passengers can watch content on a device connected to the in-car Wi-Fi.
Honda recommends that you tow no more than 1,500 lbs with your Prologue, making it a little difficult to travel with a camper or anything of the sort. The VF8, however, offers up to 4,000 lbs of towing ability when properly equipped, which makes the VinFast a much better option for families that enjoy a good outdoor vacation where they can bring a boat, jet skis, camper, or anything like that. It’ll be easier to tow a U-Haul if you need to move between homes, cities, or states.
Both the Honda Prologue and VinFast VF8 offer solid lease specials, however, with a twist. Buyers can lease the base EX with AWD Prologue for just $279 per month… with $3,099 due at signing. The Elite trim offers a 36-month lease for $407 a month with $3,312 due at signing. Sadly, those are just okay leasing deals. VinFast is currently offering the VF8 Eco for $279 per month for 24 months, with $974 due before you drive off. Or, if you would like the top Plus trim, that will cost just $1,024 down with a $329 monthly payment for 24 months.
When it comes to vehicle warranties, so far, no one can even come close to how good VinFast customers have it. The base, bumper-to-bumper warranty covers you for 10 years or 125,000 miles, and the battery comes with a 10-year, unlimited-mile warranty. What does Honda think is appropriate for Prologue customers? A simple 3-year, 36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper and 5-year, 60,000-mile powertrain warranty. Another EV bites the dust in the warranty department.
We have now seen the VinFast VF8 come out ahead of offerings from Cadillac, Mercedes-Benz, Genesis, Rivian, Volkswagen, BMW, Tesla, and now Honda. While these are all nice EVs, it just goes to show how hard VinFast has worked to provide a first-ever model that can compete so easily with vehicles from some of the best automotive brands in the world.
Why Choose Ewing VinFast
At Ewing VinFast of Plano, we have the best prices on dozens of new VinFast EVs and used cars. Our well-educated sales staff and finance department will happily assist you with your EV questions and needs. Our fantastic service department will ensure your vehicle stays in the best condition.
We look forward to serving you.