A niche car within a niche segment - 2023 Toyota Mirai Review
2Overview
As an electric car that runs off hydrogen, the 2023 Toyota Mirai is a niche car within a niche segment. Its handsome design and luxurious cabin are as unexpected as its fuel-cell powertrain, which produces 182 horsepower and can motor on for more than 400 miles before needing a refill of hydrogen. It’s not as quick as EV rivals that use charging stations to fill their batteries, but the Mirai at least offers a refined ride and lively handling. Why aren’t more of these finding homes among the motoring public? Well, right now only the state of California has a reasonable infrastructure of hydrogen fueling stations, a fact that severely limits the Mirai’s—and its chief rival, the Hyundai Nexo’s—appeal.
What's New for 2023?
Not a thing has changed for the Mirai for 2023. Even the pricing for the hydrogen-powered electric car is the same as last year.
Toyota offers the Mirai in either the base XLE trim or the loaded Limited guise, but we'd stick with the less expensive of the two. Standard interior features include heated and power-adjustable seats, keyless entry and ignition, faux-leather upholstery, and a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen. All Mirai models come with a $15,000 fuel credit and 21 days of complimentary vehicle rentals for when travel dictates drives away from areas with hydrogen fueling stations.
EV Motor, Power, and Performance
The Toyota Mirai relies on what’s called a fuel-cell electric powertrain, meaning that hydrogen (which could actually come from cow manure, among other sources) is converted into electricity by the onboard fuel cell—essentially a chemical laboratory on wheels. Fuel cells create electricity by stripping electrons from hydrogen atoms; the hydrogen then bonds to oxygen to create water, while the electrons power the electric motor. The result is an electric vehicle that relies on hydrogen fueled from a pump rather than electrons drawn from the nation's electrical power grid. The electric motor powering the Mirai produces 182 horsepower, and a direct-drive transmission sends those ponies to the rear wheels. Although Toyota claims the Mirai requires a leisurely 9.1 seconds to reach 60 mph, the immediate nature of the electric motor's power delivery makes it feel perkier than that when driving around town. Likewise, the rear-wheel drive chassis delivers a surprising level of athleticism while preserving a refined and composed ride.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPGe
The EPA hasn't released estimates for the 2023 Mirai's fuel economy yet, but according to Toyota, the Mirai is good for up to 402 miles per fill-up of hydrogen. This matches the EPA's estimated range for the 2022 XLE model, which is rated at 76 MPGe city and 71 MPGe highway. Fuel economy figures for the 2022 Limited model fall to 67 in the city and 64 on the highway. For more information about the Mirai's fuel economy, visit the EPA's website.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
The Mirai boasts a snazzy cabin that matches its swoopy exterior. Copper-colored trim pieces highlight several curvy elements on the dash and door panels while the nearly all-digital instruments and large infotainment screen dominate the upper part of the dashboard. It's a futuristic and rich-looking design that's appropriate for a car with a $50,000 starting price. The more expensive Limited trim brings even more niceties than the standard XLE, including a moonroof, heated-and-ventilated front and rear seats, three-zone automatic climate control, and more.
Infotainment and Connectivity
The Mirai comes standard with a large 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Features such as a Wi-Fi hotspot, a 14-speaker JBL audio system, SiriusXM satellite radio, and in-dash navigation are all standard, as are Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
Like most of the rest of the Toyota lineup, the Mirai offers a standard suite of driver-assistance features. For more information about the Mirai's crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:
Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection
Standard lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist
Standard adaptive cruise control
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
The Mirai's standard warranty package is the same as what you'll find on any other Toyota model, including three years of complimentary scheduled maintenance. The Mirai also carries the added purchase incentive of three years or $15,000 of free fuel.
Limited warranty covers 3 years or 36,000 miles
Powertrain warranty covers 5 years or 60,000 miles
Complimentary scheduled maintenance is covered for 3 years or 36,000 miles