2020 Toyota Mirai Electric

The 2020 Toyota Mirai comes loaded with a whole set of creature comforts that will suit the taste of everyone. You get standard features like steering mounted Audio, Cruise and Voice Controls and Dynamic Guidelines for navigation and Rear View Camera.

Trim	Toyota Mirai
MSRP	$59,285
Features	LED Headlights with Auto On/Off and Auto High Beam Assist and LED DRL's
	17" Machine Chiseled Alloy Wheels
	Body Colored, Heated, Powered ORVM with Memory, Turn Indicators, Blind Spot Warning
	Rain Sensing Variable Intermittent Heated Windshield Wiper with De-Icer
	Keyless Entry with Push Button Start and Soft touch Entry
	7" Touchscreen infotainment system with JBL Speakers and Entune Audio with Clari-Fi
	USB, AUX, SiriusXM, Bluetooth, Android Auto and Apple Car Play Compatibility
	Power adjust Front seats while Heating functionality in Steering and all other seats

Some of the other features that haven't been listed below includes Dynamic POI searching in the Navigation system, SofTex Seats, Power Lumbar Support, powered door locks, Qi Wireless Charging Pad for compatible phones, Touch Control, LED Stoplights.

Trim to Choose

The Mirai comes in only one trim, we recommend you get it in the Nautical Blue Metallic color as it complements the futuristic design of the exterior shell of the car. 

The Mirai will accelerate decently from a stop to perhaps 30 mph, making it useful in city and suburban driving. :-Thecarconnection.com

Engine and Transmission

The 2020 Toyota Mirai, sources its powertrain from the Camry Hybrid which is a Permanent magnet AC Synchronous motor that delivers 151hp and 247lbs-ft of Torque. The Engine feels slow to react and respond at low speeds but becomes slightly more engaging to drive at higher speeds.

Behind the Engine sits 2 High-Pressure Carbon Fiber Hydrogen Tanks that store and expand Hydrogen respectively and a High Voltage Nickel-Metal Hydride drive Battery that allows for Regenerative Braking and some added boost of performance. This boost tends to somewhat mitigate the slow responding fuel cells and makes the Mirai perform like a normal city car.

Models	Toyota Mirai sedan	Honda Clarity fuel cell*
MSRP	$58,500	$58,490
Engine	Permanent magnet AC Motor	Hydrogen Fuel Cell Stack w/Electric Motor
Transmission	1-Speed Automatic	1-Speed Automatic
Horsepower	151 hp @ 4700rom	174 hp@ 4500rpm
Torque	247 ft-lbs @ 3500rpm	221 ft-lbs @ 3500rpm

* 2018 Model Used for Reference

Channeling the Power to the Front wheels to the front wheels is a Single Speed Transmission. Since there are no transmission losses, the power transfer is near-instant. However, the slow responsiveness from the Fuel Cells means one has to be pre-prepared for performing an overtaking maneuver on the highway or the city.

Acceleration

The near 4000lbs of the weight of the Toyota Mirai does translate into a lethargic performance from the 151hp motor. What worsens the case for the Mirai are the Fuel Cells that are not as quick to respond to throttle responses as one would expect from them.

Models	Toyota Mirai sedan	Honda Clarity fuel cell*
0-60 MPH	8.6	8.1
Quarter mile	17.2	16.4
Engine	Permanent Magnet AC Synchronous Motor	Hydrogen Fuel Cell Stack w/Electric Motor
Emission (Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year)	-	-

The Overall difference in performance, however, tells a different story. The Mirai falls short of the Clarity by a very small margin. That's due to the fact that the regenerative power stored in the Batteries of the Mirai, provides an extra boost to the engine when the driver steps on the gas hard.

Ride and Handling

In terms of the Ride front, the Mirai offers a quiet and comfortable ride on most occasions while the Big Glass Area, adds to the roominess of the cabin. Another reason for the smooth drive comes from the fact that the wheels are powered by an Electric Motor and has no transmission system as such. This eliminates the Transmission Vibration or any kind of sensations that you would normally associate while changing gears.

In terms of the Handling, the Mirai handles pretty much like an ordinary city Car, without any exceptional characteristics. The Low Profile Tires don't inspire confidence around corners but do contribute to the overall fuel efficiency of the Car. It is light steering and well-weighted chassis makes for a good handler at city speeds but compromises on-highway stability.

Braking

The 2020 Mirai's low profile and skinny tires contribute to high MPG figures but compromises on Handling and Braking performance, as is evident from the table below. What also hampers the braking performance is the near 4,000lbs weight of the Mirai that weakens the overall braking performance.

Model	Toyota Mirai sedan	Honda Clarity fuel cell*
Brake Front (in.)	11.6	12.3
Brake Rear (in.)	11.4	12.2
Curb Weight (lbs.)	4075	4134
60-0 MPH (ft.)	130	N/A

In terms of the feel and feedback from the brakes, we are happy to report that the responsiveness from the brakes is quite satisfactory and predictable for normal day to day driving. The Responsiveness from the brakes tends to be jittery while stepping hard on the brakes at times of emergency.

Considering the fact that the Mirai uses an Electric Motor to power itself and with Hydrogen being the fuel of choice, The Mirai does exceptionally well in providing good Fuel Economy as compared to its Gas-powered rivals. The best part from the burning of Hydrogen is the fact that the only gas that is emitted out of the Tail Pipe is Water Vapor.

Model	Toyota Mirai sedan	Honda Clarity fuel cell*
MPG (city)	66	69
MPG (highway)	66	67
MPG (combined)	66	68
Tank Capacity (gal)	32.3	37.3

In terms of the Competition, the Clarity has a marginally higher fuel economy than the Toyota and what makes the Honda, sneak ahead is the overall tank capacity. On the other hand, Toyota delivers the same mileage figure in all conditions while the Clarity varies in the City and Highway but not by a huge margin.

The controls actually work well enough, but you have to learn their peculiarities and quirks. :-TheCarConnection.com

Seating and Comfort

The 2020 Toyota Mirai can only seat 4 adults inside it but despite this, the passengers won't complain about the space on offer. The Seats have been sculpted nicely and they can be power adjusted as well on the front. There is a good amount of Headroom and Legroom on offer while the big glass area, accentuates the overall roomy feeling inside the cabin.

Model	Toyota Mirai sedan	Honda Clarity fuel cell*
Passenger capacity	4	5
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	38.5/54.3/42.5	39.1/59.6/42.2
Second (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	36.8/53.5/30.1	37.1/57.2/36.7

The Individual Cushioning of the seats is top-notch while the rear seats themselves come in a bucket seat type configuration. The Seats also come with a Heating Functionality while the Cabin doesn't allow many roads or tire noise, to filter into the cabin even at high speeds.

Infotainment and Interior Features

Just like the Future Ready powertrain of the Mirai, the Infotainment System of the Mirai is ready for the future as well. You get features like a Premium Entune Audio System with 11 JBL Speakers that includes subwoofer and amplifier, Dynamic Real-Time Navigation that can guide you to the nearest Hydrogen Filling Station and an App Suite that supports multiple Apps from the Phone via Apple Car Play or Android Auto Integration.

The Other Features inside the Mirai includes

• Multiple Charging Sockets that includes 1 12V rear auxiliary power outlet, 2 rear USB 2.1A charging port and one USB Media port
• Touch Controls to modulate the Audio and Climate Control System
• Verizon powered 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot
• Wireless Charging Pad for compatible phones
• Push Button Start and remote Illuminated Entry
• 2 Cup Holders in the Front
• Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control
• Heated Steering Wheel and Windshield Wiper/De-icer
• Dynamic Voice Recognition with Sirius XM Radio compatibility
• Integrated Rear View Camera with Adaptive Guidelines
• Power Adjust for the Heated Driver Seats and Lumbar support in the front
• Heated Rear Seats with Soft-Tex Trimming

Cargo Capacity

There isn't much to talk about when we come to the topic of Cargo Space. The Toyota Mirai offers around 12.8 cubic feet. of space in its trunk and manages to beat the Spacious Honda in this respect, albeit by a very small margin.

Model	Toyota Mirai sedan	Honda Clarity fuel cell*
Cargo Volume (ft.3)	12.8	11.8

Other than the space you see in the Cargo, there aren't many avenues of increasing the space behind as the rear seats can't be folded for providing additional space. In terms of keeping smaller items like phones or bottle, Toyota has provided sufficient Cubby holes and bottle holders for keeping the same.

The Toyota Mirai was the first vehicle to use a new Toyota styling idiom when it launched for 2016, and the results were peculiar at best. :-TheCarConnection.com

Design and Dimensions

In terms of the Exterior Design, the Designers at Toyota haven't done their best in terms of styling the Mirai handsomely. The Mirai resembles its other siblings when it comes to the front end while the side profiles would look "Hideous" to most.

Bits of the Mirai's fastback shape seem to glide over different bits, with a black recess isolating the hood from the bumpers and progressively glossy black on the back columns, to give the rooftop a suspending appearance over the windows. The big intakes feed air to the compressor and other auxiliaries for the fuel cell powertrain.

The 2020 Toyota Mirai resembles other Gas-powered sedans in terms of the exterior dimensions. It doesn't look small or overly big and has decent proportions overall. The Mirai is taller than the Clarity and has a lesser wider stance than the same. The width, however, doesn't make a lot of difference as on the inside, the Mirai is spacious and offers generous space.

Model	Toyota Mirai sedan	Honda Clarity fuel cell*
Curb weight (lbs.)	4075	4134
Length(in)	192.5	192.7
Width(in)	71.5	73.9
Height(in)	60.5	58.2
Ground clearance (in)	5.1	N/A
Wheelbase (in)	109.4	108.3
Track width (in) F/R	60.5/61	62.2/62.5

In terms of the Wheelbase, the Mirai has a higher specification than the Clarity and that gives it an edge while doing high-speed stints on the motorway. The Elongated wheelbase liberates more space for passengers in the back and adds to the overall stability of the Car.

Exterior Features

The Futuristic looking Exteriors of the Mirai looks not only "Out of the Box" but packs in a host of clever features in various parts of the Car. Some of the features include

• Automatic LED Low and High Beam Headlamps with Auto On/Off
• LED Daytime Running Lamps and Stop Lights
• Auto-Dimming Heated Outside Powered mirrors with Memory Function, Turn Indicators and Blind Spot Warning Indicators
• 17" Machine Chiseled Alloy Wheels
• Rain Sensing, Variable Intermittent Windshield Wipers with Heated Windshield and Wiper De-Icer
• Noise Reducing Windshield on the front, rear, and side glass
• Keyless Entry
• Touch Sensor Lock/Unlock door feature

Toyota puts Safety as one of its Top Priorities when designing and bringing new Cars into the Market and the 2020 Mirai is no exception to the same. You get a lot of State of the Art safety features bundled inside the Mirai.

The Standard Safety Features include

• 8 Airbags
• LATCH Setting on Rear Seats
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System
• Vehicle Proximity Notification System
• Front and Rear Parking Assist SONAR
• Anti-Theft System with Engine Immobilizer
• Toyota Safety Sense
• Star Safety System
• Safety Connect System

Toyota RAV-4 vs Honda Clarity

It should be made clear that both Honda and Toyota have taken a Big Step in possibly showing us a future that involves Hydrogen rather than charging stations. The Honda Clarity was one of the first few cars in the segment, to usher in the change with the Fuel Cell Technology. With the Current Generation of the Clarity, you get a more superior and sophisticated powertrain and Fuel Cell Technology with an even higher amount of efficiencies. Both the Honda and Toyota are equally matched in terms of what they offer but if you have to make a choice, it just comes down to the exteriors and which one you like the most.

The Toyota Mirai has been named the Mirai as it does show us, what the future can actually look like. With just Water Vapor coming out of the Tail Pipe as the residue from the combustion of a Fuel, it's a dream come true for everyone who cares for the Environment and the future of the Earth alike. Keeping aside the Exteriors that wouldn't appeal to all, the Mirai offers everything that a normal Gas-powered Modern sedan offers. So, if you are a person who really wants an Environment-friendly car that drives like a Normal modern-day sedan but doesn't give you the guilt feeling within the inside of polluting the Environment, the Mirai is just the Car for you.