2020 Toyota Mirai Review

　　

2020 Toyota Mirai Review

byKurt NiebuhrSenior Vehicle Test Editor

　　Kurt Niebuhr has worked in the automotive industry since 2005. A automotive photographer by trade, Kurt is now one of zzdcar' high-performance test drivers. He's driven and photographed hundreds, if not thousands, of vehicles all over the world, so Kurt's library of automotive experiences would certainly make for a good book. When not dreaming about getting his racing license or trying to buy out-of-date film for his cameras, Kurt can usually be found cursing at his 1966 Mustang.

　　If you keep score of your green points and absolutely love to talk about your car to total strangers, the 2020 Toyota Mirai should be on your short list. A hydrogen-powered electric vehicle, the Mirai is sort of a rolling science experiment that you can buy — provided you live in the states of California or Hawaii. Those are the only states with enough of a hydrogen fueling infrastructure to keep you rolling.

　　All of the Mirai's futuristic technology is wrapped in styling that's, well, unusual-looking. But the driving experience is one that electric car owners will be familiar with. It's not fast, but it is smooth and plenty comfortable even after hours of rush-hour traffic.

　　Not a lot of other manufacturers are tackling fuel cell vehicles on this scale. Honda's Clarity sedan is the Mirai's closest competitor. Hyundai, for its part, has recently introduced its Nexo SUV. Compared to the Mirai and Clarity, the Nexo offers a longer range and more traditional styling both inside and out. It's also worth knowing that Toyota is introducing an all-new Mirai for the 2021 model year that's sleeker-looking and promises more than 400 miles of range.

　　

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 Toyota Mirai long-term test to see what we think.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Below Average

　　7.1

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

8.0/10

　　How does the Mirai drive? There's nothing wrong with the way the Mirai drives if you stay within the confines of its green-car mission. There's acceleration off the line, and its electric propulsion system is as smooth as blended yogurt. But it never quite feels speedy. In our testing, our Mirai test car accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 8.8 seconds, which is slower than most battery-powered EVs by at least a second.

　　Around turns, the Mirai can feel overweight and under-tired. It generally goes where it's pointed without delay, but it lacks the feedback that lets you know exactly how much to turn the wheel to carve the intended path.

　　

Comfort

8.5/10

　　How comfortable is the Mirai? Reminiscent of an older 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 — the exception are a few odd and fairly unobtrusive background noises from the fuel cell. Tire and wind noise is present in small amounts that most people won't notice.

　　The ride quality is mostly smooth but can get a little bouncy when driving over bigger bumps. We'd expect a little more polish at this asking price.

　　

Interior

7.5/10

　　How’s the interior? At first the Mirai seems as spacious as a Toyota Camry or Avalon, but it is narrower. The gauges and climate controls have been designed to reinforce the Mirai's futuristic image, but that comes at the expense of ease of use. Thankfully, it's easy to get in and out. The story is much the same for the backseat passengers, but the roof does slope down a little more back there. As for visibility, it's pretty easy to see out of the Mirai thanks to the slender roof pillars and large windows.

　　

Technology

7.5/10

　　How’s the tech? The touchscreen system is easy to use. But the touch-sensitive climate temperature sliders and Prius-like central gauges are questionable. Toyota includes automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assist with the Mirai. Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert is nice to have.

　　

Storage

5.0/10

　　How’s the storage? The trunk is moderately sized, but the rear seats do not fold down and there is no pass-through to the trunk. What you see is all you get since the fuel cell system limits trunk space and console storage.

　　

Fuel Economy

5.0/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? The EPA says you can expect to drive about 66 miles per kilogram of hydrogen used. The Mirai's range is about 300 miles, which is less than the Hyundai Nexo's. But as with all hydrogen-fueled vehicles, filling up can be comparatively expensive compared to regular gasoline or battery electric cars.

　　

Value

5.5/10

　　Is the Mirai a good value? Do not buy a Mirai to save money. The car itself is expensive to buy as well as to drive on a per-mile basis. And it's going to be a hassle to find fuel. As such, Toyota will only sell one to select individuals in specific geographic areas.

　　

Wildcard

8.0/10

　　The Mirai drives pleasantly enough, and this car is a conversation starter. We hope you like to talk about your car with strangers. It's a must-have car for those who want to score the most green points.

　　

Which Mirai does zzdcar recommend?

Your paint color is the only thing you'll need to decide on when it comes to buying the Mirai since no trims or options are available.

　　

2020 Toyota Mirai models

The 2020 Mirai isn't offered with any trim levels. And other than exterior paint and interior color choices, there are no options. It comes fairly well equipped with many features you'd expect at this price. Hydrogen is stored in onboard tanks, converted to electricity via a fuel cell, stored in a small battery and run through an electric motor making 151 horsepower. With its tanks full, the Mirai can go about 300 miles before you'll need to refuel.

　　Mirai

　　Highlight features include:

　　LED headlights with automatic high beams 17-inch wheels JBL audio system Wireless phone charging Real-time navigation Dual-zone climate controlThe Mirai also comes standard with:

　　Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios) Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Mirai and the car in front) Blind-spot monitor (alerts you if a vehicle in the next lane over is in your blind spot)

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2020 Mirai Highlights

　　

Base MSRP	$58,550
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