2019 Toyota Mirai Review

　　

zzdcar' Expert Review

byCalvin KimVehicle Test Engineer

　　Calvin Kim is an automotive journalist at zzdcar.

　　

What's new

The Mirai is unchanged for 2019Part of the first Mirai generation introduced for 2016

　　For commuters who live in a region where the hydrogen fueling infrastructure is already built out, opting for the 2019 Toyota Mirai may make a lot of sense. For starters, it's a genuinely futuristic experience since the Mirai is powered by a hydrogen fuel cell that converts the stuff of stars into electricity and water. This electricity goes to a small battery that drives the motor while the water leaves the tailpipe as vapor.

　　Unlike battery electric vehicles that require lengthy charging to keep them going, the Mirai's hydrogen fuel tanks can be filled in about the same amount of time as a car's traditional gasoline tank. The process is just as easy, too — simply swipe your payment card. Toyota gives you three years' or $15,000 worth of fuel, so hook up the nozzle and let the hydrogen flow.

　　Beyond the futuristic powertrain, the Mirai drives a lot like any other sedan. Although there are some clicks and buzzes from the fuel cell, the Mirai is otherwise ultra-quiet, just like a battery electric vehicle. Performance-wise, it's not fast, but it is adequate for the day-to-day grind.

　　There aren't many hydrogen-fueled alternatives, so the Mirai is certainly one to check out along with the Honda Clarity and the new Hyundai Nexo. Pure battery-electric vehicles aren't nearly as futuristic, but the infrastructure for recharging is much further along than that for hydrogen. Our favorites include the Chevrolet Bolt EV, the Hyundai Kona EV and the Tesla Model 3. No matter what you choose, know that you're driving the wave of the future.

　　

What's it like to live with?

To learn more about the Toyota Mirai of this generation, read about our experiences from six months of living with a 2016 Toyota Mirai. We cover everything from seat comfort to real-world fuel economy, especially important given the Mirai's hydrogen fuel cell powertrain. Is a fuel cell vehicle worth the expense and inconvenience? Read through our 2016 Toyota Mirai to see what we think.

　　

zzdcar' Expert Rating

7.3 / 10

　　

Scorecard

Overall	7.3 / 10
Driving	7.5
Comfort	8.5
Interior	7.0
Utility	5.0

　　

Driving

7.5

　　There's nothing wrong with the way the Mirai drives if you stay within the confines of its green-car mission. There's decent pickup off the line, and its electric propulsion system is as smooth as blended yogurt. Push it a little too hard, however, and the hard, skinny tires struggle to keep up.

　　

Acceleration

7.5

　　There is a nice pickup off the line due to the electric drivetrain's immediate torque delivery. But it never quite feels quick, as demonstrated by its 8.8-second run from 0 to 60 mph. Chalk it up to a hefty curb weight of 4,097 pounds.

　　

Braking

7.0

　　We measured a 130-foot panic stop from 60 mph due to the skinny, low-drag tires and the aforementioned weight. The result is typical for an EV. The brake pedal feel is quite intuitive in typical driving — until someone cuts you off and you must act fast, at which point the response gets jumpy.

　　

Steering

7.0

　　The steering weight feels about right, neither too light nor too heavy. The Mirai generally goes where it's pointed without delay, but it lacks the feedback that lets a driver know exactly how much to turn the wheel to carve the intended path.

　　

Handling

7.0

　　The Mirai feels coordinated and balanced in daily use, and it is easy to maneuver in tight places. But it begins to feel like a heavy and somewhat narrow car on not-very-grippy tires if you quicken the pace. It's better to not be in a big hurry.

　　

Drivability

9.5

　　Direct-drive electric propulsion means acceleration is seamless with zero shifting. It just goes and goes. It isn't terribly quick, you understand, but it's very smooth.

　　

Comfort

8.5

　　Reminiscent of a last-generation Toyota Avalon, the Mirai has comfy seats and delivers a reasonably smooth ride. Most of the time it's a quiet place to pass the miles. At times, you'll detect a few odd, and fairly unobtrusive, background noises from the fuel cell.

　　

Seat comfort

8.0

　　The handsome front seats are nicely sculpted and offer eight-way power adjustments, but the backrest could stand to have more give. The comfy rear seats are individual buckets with a console armrest in between. All four seats have two-stage seat heaters.

　　

Ride comfort

8.0

　　The Mirai provides a smooth but not plush ride. Drive over some rough pavement, and you'll notice busy body motion now and again. It's generally pleasing, but it could stand a little more polish.

　　

Noise & vibration

9.0

　　The electric motor is very quiet, but the fuel cell and regenerative braking systems do generate occasional odd clicks and keening noises. Tire and wind noise is present in small amounts that will pass unnoticed by most.

　　

Interior

7.0

　　At first, the Mirai seems as spacious as a Toyota Avalon, but it is narrower. The audio and navigation systems are fine, but the gauges and climate controls have been designed to reinforce the Mirai's futuristic image at the expense of ease of use. The fuel cell system limits trunk space, too.

　　

Ease of use

7.0

　　The touchscreen navigation-audio system is easy to use because of volume and tune knobs, and it responds quickly to touch commands. But its touch-sensitive climate temperature sliders and Prius-like central gauges are questionable.

　　

Getting in/getting out

8.0

　　The wide-opening doors are inviting, and it isn't necessary to duck low to climb in up front. The story is much the same for the backseat passengers, but the roof does slope down a little more back there.

　　

Roominess

7.0

　　You'll find ample head- and legroom in the front seats, but the cabin tends to feel a bit narrow at the hip and elbow. Rear legroom is reasonable, but headroom starts to feel tight for those taller than 6 feet, and there are only two rear seats.

　　

Visibility

8.0

　　The slender roof pillars, low door glass and rear three-quarter windows make for good forward and side visibility. A high cowl makes it hard to see the front of the car, but at least front and rear parking sensors and a rearview camera are standard.

　　

Quality

6.0

　　It's nicely put together, but the interior materials and general fit and finish look like the $32,000 car it would be if it had a gasoline engine, not the $60,000 one it is because of the fuel cell hybrid electric drivetrain.

　　

Utility

5.0

　　Limited small-item storage, an average-size trunk and no pass-through in the back seat make the Mirai better suited for moving people than stuff.

　　

Small-item storage

5.0

　　There is no front center console storage, so you'll need to use the modestly sized glovebox and small front door pockets to store your stuff. There is a rear console box, though.

　　

Cargo space

5.0

　　The trunk is moderately sized, but the rear seats do not fold down, and there is no pass-through. What you see is all you get.

　　

Technology

　　The Mirai comes with driver assist features, a JBL audio system, navigation, and Toyota's own Entune system. This system is Toyota's clunky version of smartphone integration.

　　

Which Mirai does zzdcar recommend?

　　There's no need to fret over which version of the 2019 Toyota Mirai is right for you since it's only available in one specification. All you need to do is pick your color.

　　

2019 Toyota Mirai models

　　Sales of the 2019 Toyota Mirai are restricted to California because the Golden State is the only state with a hydrogen refueling infrastructure sufficient to support a reasonable driving pattern. As a hydrogen fuel cell car, the Mirai is a laboratory on wheels. Toyota is limiting the production of Mirais to a relatively small number. So all Mirais will be equipped identically, with only one trim level and no options.

　　It comes pretty well-equipped, with keyless ignition and entry, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, parking sensors, a navigation system, premium audio, a heated steering wheel, and eight-way power-adjustable and heated seats. It's plenty comfortable.

　　The fuel cell electric powertrain develops 151 horsepower and 247 pound-feet of torque. The EPA gives the Mirai a 66 miles per kilogram of hydrogen (mpkg) estimate. The Honda Clarity Fuel Cell rates 67 mpkg. Read more about the Mirai's real-world fuel efficiency in our 2016 Toyota Mirai

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2019 Mirai Highlights

　　

Base MSRP	$58,500
Engine Type	Electric (fuel cell)
Seating	4 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	12.8 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles