TOYOTA MIRAI SALOON Hydrogen fuel cell 182 Design 4dr CVT

With the Mirai, Toyota pioneered hydrogen fuel cell motoring. Can this MK2 model further develop it? Jonathan Crouch takes a look.

Ten Second Review

The second generation version of Toyota's Mirai is a model the brand wants you to choose on its own merits, not just because it's a hydrogen fuel cell car. Its predecessor was first to market with this technology and this replacement design aims to play a key role in popularising it amongst forward-thinking ordinary buyers. Ultimately, this contender needs a far more developed hydrogen station infrastructure for popular acceptance. But it's a fascinating glimpse into all our motoring futures.

Background

Are you ready for a hydrogen fuel cell car yet? Probably not. But Toyota wants you to be. Any really switched-on industry analyst will tell you that electrification is a short-term fix to the environmental impact of the motor vehicle and that hydrogen fuel cell tech is a far more sustainable route to long term global mobility. As you'd expect it might be given that a hydrogen fuel cell car emits nothing more deadly than pure water and can be recharged in a matter of minutes. Unfortunately, many manufacturers and governments have yet to grasp this concept - but Toyota does. The Japanese maker was first to market with a volume-produced hydrogen-powered car, launching the first generation version of its Mirai model back in 2014, since when around 17,000 examples have been sold worldwide, mostly to research institutes, government organisation and companies involved in the growing hydrogen economy. This second generation design is tasked with attracting real customers to the fold and wants to be a car you'd choose to own on its own merits, not just because of its futuristic powertrain. Lofty ambitions then.

Driving Experience

With the first generation Mirai, Toyota was so focused on making the fuel cell technology actually work that thoughts of drive dynamics were somewhat secondary. This MK2 model is different. Chief Engineer Yoshikazu Tanaka wants the Mirai now to have 'the kind of dynamic and responsive performance that can bring a smile to the driver's face'. The starting point in achieving that goal was the installation of a much stiffer and more sophisticated TNGA platform shared with the Japanese market Toyota Crown executive saloon. And a switch away from the front-driven format of the MK1 model to a rear-driven drivetrain. More power was also needed, the previous car's 152bhp output increased here to 180bhp, a level now deemed more appropriate for the Mirai's more up-market aspirations. And of course, Toyota knew that future buyers would want this car to go further between hydrogen cell refills - hence a 30% range increase: this car will now go over 400 miles between top-ups. The chassis changes won't be enough to create really rewarding handling - the car's really too heavy for that. The updates instead have been targeted at creating the kind of elegant, luxury feel that's been benchmarked by Tanaka-san and his team against conventional luxury models from BMW and Mercedes. The engineers worked on creating light and easy handling on winding roads and a linear, smooth response when pulling away.

Design and Build

Just as the dumpy turn-of-the-century first generation Toyota Prius turned from ugly duckling into something of a swan in second generation form, so it is with this Mirai. With this MK2 model, the stylists were given the freedom to create a more emotional and head-turning design with low lines, elegant proportions, sleek, taut bodywork, a deep rear diffuser and large 20-inch wheels. There's a more rakish profile, thanks to a sloping rear roof line and a long bonnet. And there's a bit more overtaking presence at the front, thanks to a wide grille and a large chin spoiler. This is also now a significantly larger car too, the 4,975mm total length being 85mm longer than the previous car. The interior benefits from a 140mm wheelbase increase (to 2,920mm) and features the predictable step up in quality in line with this Mirai model's more up-market aspirations. The cabin was conceived as a simple modern space with a warm, comfortable ambiance. Key elements include a 12.3-inch centre display and an instrument panel that wraps around the driver, with a digital screen for the gauges you view through the redesigned steering wheel. Plus you get leather upholstery, a wireless 'phone charger and a soft-touch dashboard. There's a significant change at the rear, which can now seat three people rather than two thanks to changes in the design and packaging of this second generation model's updated hydrogen storage system.

Market and Model

With this MK2 Mirai, Toyota has slashed the price by 24%, seeking to gain more traction in the hydrogen fuel cell segment. The asking figures now begin at around £50,000, which gets you the base 'Design' version. The mid-range 'Design Plus Pack' variant costs around £54,000 and the top 'Design Premium Pack' model costs around £65,000. That's still a lot of money for a saloon of this size but even at this level, the brand is probably not covering the cost of this technology. It won't always be like this. Rivals Hyundai are working with Audi to cut the cost of a fuel cell powertrain by half and reduce the overall cost of a fuel cell car by 30%, so Toyota will have to follow suit. Mirai buyers won't of course be forking out the total sum prior to a drive away from the showroom. Not usually anyway. Virtually all sales will be done on finance deals, usually to eco-minded corporations wanting to make a green statement. From launch, Toyota was asking £435 (ex Vat) a month on BCH finance for the base 'Design' model, £450 per month ex-VAT on BCH for the mid-range 'Design Plus Pack' variant and £609 ex Vat per month on BCH for the top 'Design Premium Pack' model. As a Mirai customer, you shouldn't come expecting too many options: there's no need as all the key luxuries will come as standard. At least you won't find the process of market comparison too taxing. For the time being, there's actually only one other hydrogen fuel cell car on sale in our market, the Hyundai Nexo, which costs around £70,000.

Cost of Ownership

With this second generation Mirai, Toyota's 'FCEV' ('Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle') needed a bit of a re-think if the design goals in enhancing driving range and increasing interior space were to be realised. The hydrogen fuel load is now split between three tanks rather than two, these fashioned from carbonfibre and aluminium, with a longitudinal one positioned between the front seats and two transverse ones under the rear bench and cargo area floor. The gas is stored at 700 bar (10,000psi). Together, these tanks improve the car's fuel capacity to 5.6kg, 1kg more than the original model - hence the longer 400 mile driving range (up from 300 miles before), a distance also boosted by various drivetrain efficiency improvements. A hydrogen refill takes no longer than around five minutes. That's the good news. The bad news is that finding a hydrogen station to facilitate that process is likely to be a challenge. At the time of writing, there were just 13 operational hydrogen fuel stations in the UK, with four more being planned. Those already operational are mainly located around London and the M4 corridor, but there are also stations near Sheffield and Birmingham, plus two in Aberdeen and one on Orkney.

Summary

It's disappointing that since the launch of the original Mirai, so little progress has been made with improving the hydrogen filling station infrastructure - and that's a particular problem in the UK. Unless you happen to live near a refuelling point and have another somewhere near your regular journey destinations, it's difficult to see how a hydrogen fuel cell car could make any sense to an ordinary family or business buyer. Even one determined to early-adopt themselves to this far more sustainable brand of automotive propulsion. One day, hopefully that will change, but in the meantime, Toyota is getting on with perfecting this car and has done a thorough job here. Even if you happened to actually own a hydrogen filling station, you might have had trouble justifying the original Mirai, with its awkward looks and compromised cabin. There are no issues of that kind with this second generation design. Toyota has again set the standard here. Other brands should watch and learn.

Body Glass

Electric front/rear windows with one touch

Front wiper de-icer

Auto wipers

Auto up and down function on all power windows

Anti-jam protection on power windows

Rear window defogger

Variable intermittent windscreen wipers

Rear quarter glass

UV-filter on side windows

Brakes

Traction control

Anti lock brake system + Electronic Brake force Distribution

Electronic parking brake with auto hold

Downhill Assist Control (DAC)

Hill start assist control (HAC)

Pre collision system with pedestrian detection

Brake assist

Emergency brake light signal (EBS)

Toyota safety sense with over the air updates

Carpets/Rugs

Front and rear floor mats

Chassis/Suspension

Vehicle Stability Control (VSC)

Front and rear suspension

Communication

Voice recognition

Smartphone integration compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

Bluetooth connectivity

Driver Aids

Electric power steering

Reversing camera

Blind spot monitoring

Rear cross traffic alert

Driver attention alert system

360 degree panoramic view monitor

Road sign assist - RSA

Lane trace assist

Front Cross Traffic Alert

Lane departure alert with steering control

Intelligent adaptive cruise control

Front and rear parking sensors with intelligent clearance sonar and automatic braking

Dynamic guide lines on reversing camera

Pitch and bounce control

Safe exit assist

Emergency driving stop system

Proactive driving assist (PDA)

Emergency steering assist with active support and pre collision system

Driver Convenience

Power tailgate

Electric fuel cap release

eCall emergency system

Remote boot door release on key

Smart entry and push button start

Water release switch

Driver Information

Speed warning indicator

Touch 2 Go navigation system

ECO-driving indicator

My T Connected services

Colour multi information display

Fuel-cell system indicator

Hydrogen consumption indicator

12.3" multimedia display screen

Battery capacity indicator

Digital speedometer (mph)

Driving Mirrors

Automatic dimming rear view mirror

Body coloured door mirrors

Door mirror integrated indicators

Electric heated door mirrors

Power adjustable door mirrors

Reverse tilting door mirrors

Memory function for door mirrors

Power retractable door mirrors

Framed rear view mirror

Embellishment Trims

Gloss black centre console

Black lower dashboard

Black upper dashboard

Satin chrome deco line on doors

Entertainment

Steering wheel mounted controls

DAB Digital radio

2x USB sockets in rear

Wi-fi connectivity

Toyota touch 2 multimedia system

USB type C port

JBL Premium sound system with 14 speakers

USB device charger

USB in front armrest

Gloss black surround on multimedia display

Switches on steering wheel (audio, adaptive cruise control, lane trace assist,multi info, multimedia, speed limiter, telephone, voice recognition)

Exterior Body Features

Body colour door handles

Body coloured roof

Body colour front bumper

Black lower front grille

Shark fin antenna

Black diffuser

Black and body coloured rear bumper

A-pillar in body colour

Black front and rear door insert

Rear side wing doors

Rear boot

B - Pillar in Black

C- Pillar in body colour

Chrome front bumper liner

Plastic door scuff plates with MIRAI branding

Exterior Lights

Rear foglights

Automatic headlamp levelling

Follow me home headlights

Puddle lights

LED daytime running lights

LED Headlights

LED Indicators

LED rear combination lights

Auto headlights

LED front light guide

LED rear light guide

LED rear brake lights

Headlight cut-off reminder

Automatic headlights cut-off

LED High mounted stop light

Clear headlights design

RHD aiming

Indicators integrated into front bumper

Auto high beam [AHB] with on/off switch

Adaptive high beam

Heating/Cooling/Ventilation

Clean air filter

Rear passenger air vents

Humidifying NanoeTM air purifier

Dual zone manual air conditioning

Remote air-conditioning system

Pollen air filter

Interior Features

Front door pockets

Front/rear assist grips

Chrome interior door handles

3 spoke leather steering wheel

Fabric upholstery

Sunglasses holder

Hard tonneau cover

12v power outlet - front

Footrest

2x Rear coat hooks

Power tilt telescopic steering wheel

Rear door armrests

Front cup holders

Front bottle holders

220v power socket in boot

Boot underfloor storage

Rear cup holders

Ticket holder on driver sun visor

Single compartment glovebox with lights

Side storage in boot

Chrome surround on air conditioning buttons

Soft touch rear door trim

Soft-touch texture on upper dashboard

Leather like door trim, front door armrests, armrest, gear stick

Leather like texture on lower dashboard

Grey stitching on front and rear door armrests and seats

Black stitching on steering wheel

Leather rear armrest

Black armrest on center console box

Satin chrome insert on front cup holders and upper dashboard

0.5 litre bottle holder

Gloss black gear shift console

Synthetic leather armrest

Gloss black insert on steering wheel

Gloss black insert on gear shift

Black front door armrest

Low position boot deckboard

Power window switches with gloss black inserts

Standard opening on lower glovebox

Interior Lights

Front footwell lights

Illuminated entry system

LED boot light

LED centre room light

Rear passenger personal lights

Door courtesy light

Driver and front passenger personal LED lights

Ambient lighting in front cupholders

Ambient lighting on dashboard, front and rear doors and interior door handles

LED front room light

Safety

Rear door child safety locks

Tyre pressure warning

Front and rear seatbelt reminder

Adjustable front driver and passenger seat belt extender

3x3 point rear seat belts

Pre-tensioners and force limiters

Driver and front passenger airbags

Supplemental restraint system (SRS) 7 airbags - dual driver, dual side curtain, side impact and driver knee airbags

Front passenger airbag detector

Passenger airbag on/off switch

Occupant detection

Driver and passenger side airbag

Seats

Heated front seats

Front headrests

3 rear headrests

3 seat rear bench

Power height adjustable driver seat

Power reclining driver seat

Manually adjustable lumbar support on driver seat

Adjustable rear headrests

Power tilting cushion on driver seat

Manually reclining front passenger seat

ISOFIX child restraint system

Power sliding driver and front passenger seat

Security

Immobiliser

Power door locks

Remote central door locking

Intrusion sensor and alarm

Tilt detection sensors

Speed detecting automatic door lock

Acoustic vehicle alert system (AVAS)

Anti tamper alarm

Vanity Mirrors

Driver/passenger sunvisors with illuminated vanity mirrors

Light on driver and front passenger sun visor

Wheels

Wheel centre caps

Wheels - Alloy

19" 5 double spoke silver alloy wheels

Wheels - Spare

Tyre repair kit

Electric Vehicle Data

Battery Type: Lithium-ion

Battery Capacity in kWh: 1.24

Emissions - ICE

HC+NOx: N

Particles: N

NOx: N

HC: N

CO: N

Noise Level dB(A): N

Standard Euro Emissions: EURO 6

CO2 (g/km): 0

Engine and Drive Train

Transmission: AUTO

Gears: 1 SPEED

Fuel Delivery: N

Compression Ratio: N

Engine Layout: N

Catalytic Convertor: 0

Cylinders: N

Cylinder Layout: N

Number of Valves: N

Camshaft: N

CC: 1

Engine Code: FCB130

Cylinders - Stroke (mm): N

Cylinders - Bore (mm): N

Fuel Consumption - ICE

EC Directive 1999/100/EC Applies: N

EC Urban (mpg): N

EC Extra Urban (mpg): N

EC Combined (mpg): N

General

Badge Power: 182

Alternative Fuel Qualifying: No

Generation Mark: 2

Vehicle Homologation Class: M1

Badge Engine CC: 0

Special Edition: 0

Did at least one aspect of this vehicle's safety give cause for concern?: 0

Based On ID: N

Special Order: 0

Coin Series: Design

Coin Description: Hydrogen fuel cell 182

Standard manufacturers warranty - Mileage: 60000

Standard manufacturers warranty - Years: 3

Performance

0 to 60 mph (secs): 0

Engine Power - PS: No

Engine Torque - NM: 300

Engine Torque - LBS.FT: 221

Engine Power - KW: 134

0 to 62 mph (secs): 9

Top Speed: 109

Engine Torque - MKG: 30.6

Engine Power - BHP: 182

Test Cycles

RDE Certification Level: N/A

Emissions Test Cycle: WLTP

Tyres

Tyre Size Spare: TYRE REPAIR KIT

Space Saver?: 0

Alloys?: No

Tyre Size Front: 235/55 R19

Wheel Style: 5 DOUBLE SPOKE

Tyre Size Rear: 235/55 R19

Wheel Type: 19" ALLOY

Vehicle Dimensions

Height: 1470

Wheelbase: 2920

Width: 1885

Length: 4975

Weight and Capacities

Fuel Tank Capacity (Litres): N

Max. Loading Weight: 515

Gross Vehicle Weight: 2415

No. of Seats: 5

Minimum Kerbweight: 1900

Exterior Body Features

Premium paint

Paint - Metallic

Metallic - Dark blue

Metallic - Precious black

Paint - Special

Premium paint - Frozen white

Premium paint - Scarlet flare

Premium paint - Sterling silver

Premium paint - Precious metal

Premium paint - Force blue

Trim - Cloth

Fabric - Black