Back in 2018, we drive a vehicle as wide as a vehicle fuel cell hydrogen hydrogen fuel (FCEV) with MrMobile, and while the technology is interesting, the car is not interesting to drive, and refueling is the main challenge – even in the friendly California hydrogen .
Basically, while the original Mirai finished work, it was no more than a hydrogen-powered Toyota Corolla which was too expensive and compromised.
Fast forward to 2021, and the second generation of Mirai Hydrogen FCEV is on us, with a sharp new look, lower prices, better platforms, more ranges, and updated technology.
So, whether Mirai has repaired a compromise of driving and old car packaging, and – more importantly – Having a gloomy hydrogen refueling infrastructure increased over the past 3 years? We drove Toyota Mirai 2021 for a week to find out.
The Mirai 2021 starts from $ 49,500 before the incentive – it’s $ 9,050 less than the previous generation – and is still equipped with six years (or $ 15,000) complementary hydrogen.
Now bigger, built on the same RWD platform as the Lexus LS sedan, with a seat for five people. The range has increased 30% increase in its predecessor, while power slightly rises, with 182HP and 300ft-lb torque.
Modern and sophisticated exterior, and extraordinary RWD proportions. It’s a beautiful car from every corner. You basically get an exterior like Lexus without an ugly spindle grille.
Inside, this is a different story. There is nothing wrong with building materials and quality, but appearances like interiors like camry busy and not inspired. Even though the whisper is quiet, the cabin does not have the luxury of modern Lexus.
The 2021 Mirai is quite spacious inside, but the taste of this space is hampered by high COWL, and by one of the hydrogen tanks, which requires valuable real estate, and makes the back center seat very narrow.
The infotainment system consists of a 13.2-inch touch screen with a navigation and a 14-speaker JBL branded audio system. Unfortunately, the user interface feels quite slow, and it seems to come from a decade ago.
Fortunately, 2021 Mirai featuring Apple Carlay and Android Auto (both wired), which is the perfect antidote for the innate infotainment user experience. Amazon Alexa integration is also available, along with QI wireless charging pads that are compatible with QI, and four type-a USB ports.
Mirai must be tuned for comfort. If that’s what you are looking for, this Toyota provides. It’s just that, don’t expect a lot of performance – 0 to 60mph happens with a relaxed 9.2 seconds.
But let’s talk about elephants in the room, and that’s the infrastructure filling hydrogen fuel – or the shortcomings. Although the San Francisco Bay region has more than a dozen hydrogen stations, most of them run out of fuel for a week we spend to review Mirai. Hydrogen is also expensive: the price is around $ 100 to refuel completely.
Overall, Toyota Mirai was a very comfortable and competent vehicle that looked fantastic, but was disappointed by the infrastructure filling in abysmal hydrogen fuel.
Although it must be interesting, it’s not interesting. This is a car from an alternative reality where Tesla does not exist (or fail), the Battery EV never takes off, and Hydrogen FCEV is “the next big thing”. The problem is, nothing – except Toyota seems – live in that fact.