Battery electrical autos are the trade’s huge wager on a zero-emissions automotive future. New EVs are popping up left and proper, hoping to courtroom a broader vary of shoppers who would’ve in any other case purchased a gas-burning automotive. Nonetheless, there are a number of corporations (three of them, truly) which might be working towards one other type of climate-friendly commuting: the hydrogen fuel-cell car.
The 2021 Toyota Mirai joins the Honda Readability Gasoline Cell and Hyundai Nexo crossover as the one gasoline cell autos at present obtainable to the general public. Redesigned for this mannequin yr, the second-gen Mirai makes a compelling case for itself, with much-improved styling and Lexus-like refinement. Hydrogen solely works for a small portion of shoppers – in accordance with the US Division of Vitality, there are solely 45 public hydrogen filling stations within the US, and 44 of them are in California – however for these few, the Mirai is completely price trying into.
A Gorgeous Transformation
Let’s not mince phrases right here: the first-gen Mirai is a very hideous car. However goodness gracious did Toyota outdo itself with this new automotive, which seems drop-dead beautiful. Gone are the chunky, mismatched proportions of the earlier automotive, changed by a protracted, elegant sedan.
Toyota wiped the board clear for this design, choosing a rear-wheel-drive platform borrowed from the Lexus LS flagship. The automotive’s entrance finish options an extra-long hood, complemented by triangular headlights with lengthy strips of LED operating lights. Beneath a Toyota badge is a fairly massive grille, not too far off the Avalon’s. Take a peek from the facet profile and there’s a pseudo-coupe design occurring, like a Japanese tackle the Audi A7. We additionally recognize the rear three-quarter view with its single taillight factor and broadened fender flares. The very best element, nevertheless, is that this Hydro Blue paint, which ties the design collectively fantastically.
Toyota wiped the board clear for this design, choosing a rear-wheel-drive platform borrowed from the Lexus LS flagship.
Toyota made huge adjustments inside, too. That is simply essentially the most Lexus-feeling Toyota (if that makes any sense) that we’ve ever examined. Each main touchpoint feels nice, coated in both gentle fake leather-based or textured plastic. This Restricted mannequin additionally consists of enjoyable rose gold trim – er, perhaps it’s copper – that traces the door panels, elements of the sprint, and even across the cupholders.
And but it’s the huge quantity of display actual property that catches the attention first. Each Mirai features a 12.3-inch heart touchscreen infotainment system that works alongside an 8.0-inch digital instrument cluster. Prime-range Restricted fashions additionally get a nicer vary of options reminiscent of three-zone local weather management, heated and ventilated entrance seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and a head-up show.
We’re eager on the infotainment’s show dimension, however similar to in different Toyota fashions, it isn’t our favourite system to work together with. Info is all over, and the menu layouts are tremendous complicated. Additionally, the purple-themed graphics look manner behind the occasions for an in any other case futuristic-feeling automotive.
Happily, there may be loads of inside consolation to calm down after interacting with the irritating infotainment package deal. Entrance seat occupants get 38.4 inches of headroom and 42.2 inches of legroom – each of that are plentiful for anybody not beginning for the Lakers.
With the sloping roofline, the backseat loses a little bit of headroom, to 37.4 inches, nevertheless it’s nonetheless strong in comparison with the Camry’s 38.0 inches. Likewise, the 33.1 inches of rear seat legroom is simply three inches shy of this automotive’s cousin, the Lexus LS. In distinction to the spacious cabin, the trunk measures simply 9.6 cubic-feet – manner down on the Camry’s 15.1 cubes – due to the Mirai’s onboard hydrogen tanks.
Complicated Propulsion
Hydrogen autos occupy the center floor between electrical and gasoline vehicles, a minimum of in that you just fill them up at one thing resembling a pump. The Mirai takes its go-juice from a hydrogen station – brimming the tank takes slighter longer than time spent at a traditional gasoline station.
Or tanks, fairly, as a result of there are three of them – every bolstered with carbon fiber and glass fiber-reinforced polymer to make sure they’re principally indestructible. Severely, Toyota engineers went so far as to shoot the tanks with weapons and set them on hearth to ensure they’re rock-solid. They did this, clearly, to make sure that the exceptionally flammable hydrogen provide is protected within the occasion of an accident.
Hydrogen autos occupy the center floor between electrical and gasoline vehicles, a minimum of in that you just fill them up at one thing resembling a pump.
Below the hood rests a gasoline cell stack, which seems considerably like a four-cylinder engine, a minimum of with the quilt on. A flurry of government-sanctioned vibrant orange wires route energy from the gasoline cell on to the floor-mounted lithium-ion battery, which has a capability of only one.24 kilowatt-hours – there’s a fixed move of vitality from the cell, so the battery will be small. From there, electrical energy strikes to a single electrical motor on the rear axle, finally sending energy to the again wheels.
The spotlight is an EPA-rated vary of as much as 402 miles per refill, which is a 30 p.c enchancment over the first-gen automotive. Much less thrilling are the is the electrical motor’s output of 182 horsepower and 221 pound-feet. This automotive weighs 4,335 kilos in Restricted spec, which is an enormous sum for that electrical motor to push round. With the go-pedal pinned, sixty miles per hour is available in 9.2 seconds.
Sluggish, However Tranquil
On the roads between Orange and San Diego Counties, the Mirai feels similar to any non-performance EV. Torque output is instantaneous, however relaxed after the preliminary punch. When greeted by an uphill freeway onramp, you’ll need to ground it simply to rise up to hurry. As us how we all know.
By way of the splendidly twisty Ortega Freeway, we switched from Regular to Sport driving mode, which heightens the Mirai ever so barely, with firmer steering really feel and a extra reactive throttle. The Mirai takes corners with vital physique roll, the place you actually really feel the automotive’s weight shift left and proper. The brakes do their greatest to gradual issues down, however the automotive’s 4,335-pound mass makes the job a tricky one. In the end, it is a huge, heavy sedan that doesn’t like to be pushed round.
As soon as up to the mark, the large sedan is serene as will be, with little or no noise coming by way of the chassis or tires.
However let’s pause for a second and do not forget that no person is shopping for this automotive to be a canyon all-star, which it’s definitely not. That is meant to be a non-polluting commuter automotive that takes you to and from work in consolation. And on this particular self-discipline, the Mirai excels.
As soon as up to the mark, the large sedan is serene as will be, with little or no noise coming by way of the chassis or tires. At freeway speeds, there may be some pronounced wind noise, however that must be anticipated of a automotive with out an engine notice to cover such issues. The Mirai does provide a man-made noise that pumps into the cabin below acceleration, although it form of appears like ghosts are haunting the automotive. Flip that off and as an alternative depend on the JBL sound system to drown out the wind.
Additionally making commuting somewhat simpler is commonplace Toyota Security Sense 2.5 Plus. Each XSE and Restricted Mirai’s come loaded up with every bit of security package Toyota affords, together with computerized emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure help, and adaptive cruise management. We threw on the cruise management for a stretch of freeway driving and got here away impressed with its conduct. That mentioned, on one event the lane-departure help kicked in so laborious that we thought we popped a tire.
Is Hydrogen The Proper Resolution?
The Mirai is a automotive that works for a really small faction of individuals on this planet, and Toyota is the primary to confess that. The US is the most important FCV market by far, and even right here, nearly each sale will happen in California. Toyota tasks that it could possibly promote roughly 3,200 models, making it extraordinarily low-volume, a minimum of by this firm’s requirements. Particular areas within the Northeast will get the automotive finally, however restricted to rear-wheel drive, we marvel how in style the Mirai shall be.
The Mirai is a automotive that works for a really small faction of individuals on this planet, and Toyota is the primary to confess that.
These within the Mirai have to satisfy a number of {qualifications} – specifically, proximity to fueling stations – and may both lease or buy the automotive. Beginning at $49,500, the 2021 Mirai is definitely $9,000 cheaper than its predecessor. For this technology, Toyota provides the Restricted mannequin, which is $66,000. Taking a look at rivals, the Hyundai Nexo prices $58,735, whereas Honda’s lease-only Readability Gasoline Cell begins at $379 per 30 days. For 3 economic system manufacturers, these aren’t low-cost autos by any stretch.
With that in thoughts, the Mirai units itself aside by providing a decidedly extra luxurious product for related cash. It isn’t loopy to counsel that, particularly with this automotive’s LS underpinnings, the Mirai deserves to put on a Lexus badge. And after driving the automotive for a number of hours, we would say so ourselves. The 2021 Toyota Mirai is a strong various tackle a zero-emissions product.
