2024 Toyota Mirai

Even if you live or work near one of the 60 or so public hydrogen refueling stations in California, there’s still a lot to consider before committing to a fuel cell vehicle. But if you’ve done your homework, weighed the pros and cons, and think hydrogen might be a match for you, let’s talk about the Toyota Mirai.

Because of the low sales numbers, Toyota doesn’t invest much time, money, or energy into updating the Mirai, which launched in 2021. Consequently, there are no notable changes for this year.

The only other hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) on the market is the Hyundai Nexo compact SUV, which starts at around $61,000. If we were shopping the Toyota Mirai, we’d stick with the XLE. It provides more range, plus most of the more popular convenience and safety features. It’s also the better selling of the two trim levels. One perk for which both grades qualify: Toyota tosses in $15,000 of free hydrogen over the first six years of ownership.

Although the Toyota Mirai isn’t eligible for the federal tax credit because it’s built in Japan, it does qualify for a California rebate of up to $4,500. Also, keep your eyes open and your ear to the ground because Toyota has run some serious Mirai sales for as much as 65% off the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP). But given a variety of factors, we’d be more inclined to lease a Mirai than purchase one.

Before buying a Toyota Mirai, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should really pay.

Toyota squeezes 181 horsepower from the Mirai’s electric motor. Although it’s a fairly large sedan to be making less than 200 horsepower, we’re content with the moderately quick acceleration courtesy of the instantaneous burst of torque from the electric motor. We appreciate the enthusiastic launches, as well as the smooth power spool-up when not burying the throttle in the floorboard. However, as with the Hyundai Nexo, the Mirai doesn’t offer the same level of accelerating excitement as the average battery-powered EV in this price range.

The Toyota Mirai drives like an electric car because that’s technically what it is. Although the fuel source is hydrogen rather than a big battery pack, the Mirai is powered by an electric motor mounted at the rear wheels. Ultimately, the Toyota Mirai is an alternative fuel car that prioritizes plush over performance, excelling in the comfort category. We love the deliberate power delivery and the comfortable, library-quiet ride.

Although it’s a Toyota, a Lexus badge would look right at home on the Mirai’s steering wheel. Because this interior feels like it belongs in a luxury car, it somewhat helps justify the Mirai’s luxury-car price tag. SoftTex faux leather seats come standard, and on the tech front, you get an 8-inch digital gauge cluster and a 12.3-inch infotainment screen.

The front seats have plenty of room, but the Toyota Mirai has a deceptively small interior for its size. This becomes obvious in the second row, where legroom is a stingy 33.1 inches. Compare that to the Honda Accord Hybrid (40.8 inches) or the Toyota Camry Hybrid (38 inches). That’s because of the hydrogen fuel cell powertrain packaging, which requires big fuel tanks. This space shortage trickles into the trunk area, too, where a mere 9.1 cubic feet of space welcomes cargo. Most midsize hybrid sedans offer around 16 cubic feet.

The name “Mirai” comes from the Japanese word for “future,” and that’s sort of the vibe we get from the exterior design of this hydrogen fuel cell sedan. We think the styling walks the line between subtle and futuristic. Furthermore, we love the liftback look and sharp light signature. In terms of size, the Mirai has dimensions almost identical to the Lexus ES.

Hydrogen fuel cell powertrain
The Toyota Mirai is one of only two hydrogen fuel cell cars in the U.S. market. Its only tailpipe emission is water.

Lexus-like luxury
If the Mirai seems expensive for a Toyota sedan, we believe getting in the driver’s seat may change your mind. The Mirai is a premium sedan with interior quality on par with Lexus.

Up to 402-mile range
The Mirai XLE achieves an impressive range of up to 402 miles between fill-ups, a better range than the average EV’s 300 miles.

5-minute refuel time
Even under the very best conditions, charging a battery electric vehicle from empty to full can take about an hour. Refueling the Mirai is about as fast as refueling a gas-powered car. In other words, five minutes or less.

Toyota Audio Multimedia
The standard infotainment system in the Mirai has a 12.3-inch touchscreen, navigation, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and a JBL 14-speaker premium audio system.

$15K in complimentary fuel
Toyota offers $15,000 in complimentary hydrogen fuel for up to three years for new Mirai leases or up to six years for new Mirai purchases.

We like the idea of an electric car generating its own electricity, and that’s exactly what the Toyota Mirai does. It achieves this bit of science using compressed hydrogen and a fuel cell stack. This system transfers the manufactured power to a battery, a much smaller one than those in BEVs, and then the electricity feeds into the electric motor. The Mirai’s range is estimated to be as much as 402 miles, with hydrogen fill-ups requiring no more time than topping off the gas tank for a car with an internal combustion engine. We’d like to say the short refueling time, in concert with the relatively long range, eliminates range anxiety, but that wouldn’t be true. There are just over 60 hydrogen refueling stations in California, with nearly all of them concentrated in and around Los Angeles and San Francisco. Tracking down one that’s available and has hydrogen is no easy feat. One reader complained of his Mirai spending days in the garage because of the lack of available hydrogen, while another quipped that half-full was the new empty when it came to looking for a hydrogen station. A co-worker who drives a Hyundai Nexo has echoed those same sentiments.

For a fully electric sedan, the Toyota Mirai is a bit on the sluggish side. Published accounts put the Mirai’s time at just over 9.0 seconds.

3-Year/36,000-Mile Warranty

The Toyota Mirai is backed by a bumper-to-bumper limited warranty for three years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. A 5-year/60,000-mile warranty covers the powertrain. Additionally, it comes with an 8-year/100,000-mile warranty on key fuel cell components and a 10-year/150,000-mile hybrid battery warranty. You also get enhanced ToyotaCare complimentary maintenance for three years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first.

Safety Ratings

No third party has safety/crash tested the Toyota Mirai. However, Toyota arms it with a bundle of advanced safety tech like automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control.