Updates on our long-term fleet MT GARAGE
Arrival: 2021 Toyota Mirai XLE
EPA City/Hwy/Comb Fuel Econ
76/71/74 mpg-e
“It’s time to spend another year cruising the hydrogen highway.”
Aaron Gold
Base Price $50,495 As Tested $52,330
Hydrogen as a motor fuel: alive or dead? While some are already shoveling dirt on the grave, others say hydrogen is finally on the cusp of long-promised growth. Five years ago, we put a hydrogen-powered 2016 Toyota Mirai in our long-term fleet, and much has changed in the world of alternative fuels since, including a an intriguing new 2021 Mirai. So we thought it was a good time to sign up for another long-term Mirai and reassess hydrogen’s place in our rapidly electrifying automotive world.
The 2021 Mirai is a much nicer car than the outgoing model—bigger, more luxurious, more affordable, and way more attractive. The Mirai is available in XLE and Limited trim levels, and we opted for the lesser. Why? Both cars share the same hydrogen-powered electric powertrain, but the XLE offers 402 miles of (theoretical) range versus 357 for the Limited, which Toyota attributes to the latter’s additional weight and more aggressive wheel and tire setup. Given the finite availability of hydrogen fuel stations, we figured more range is a good idea.
Also, the $50,495 Mirai XLE is a surprisingly lavish car. Standard equipment includes heated front seats upholstered in buttery-soft fake leather, a 14-speaker JBL stereo, navigation, and a comprehensive safety/driver assistance suite that includes dynamic cruise control and lane keeping assist. The Limited adds a panoramic roof, rain-sensing wipers, front-seat coolers, a rear-seat climate control panel, and a few other odds and ends, but we didn’t think it was worth the outrageous $16,500 price premium. One thing we will miss is the Limited’s optional interior with white seats, dash, and headliner, and copper-colored armrests. The XLE cabin only comes in black, but with dogs in many of our households, that’s probably the smarter choice.
We did select the $1,410 Advanced Technology package, which adds front and rear parking sensors with auto-braking and a bird’s-eye-view camera. We also opted for the $425 Supersonic Red paint, because, well, why not?
Total list price for our Mirai is $52,330, but that’s not the bottom line. Buyers of hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) like the Mirai qualify for an $8,000 federal tax credit, and California—the only state where the Mirai is sold—offers a $4,500 tax credit if your income isn’t crazy-high. (If it is, you have to choose between the rebate and a carpool lane sticker, which, to an Angeleno, is worth its weight in rhodium.) That brings the overall price down to $39,830.
But wait, as the late-night TV ads say, there’s more: Toyota also includes a $15,000 fuel card (good for three years if you lease
