The Toyota Mirai, an electric car powered by an onboard hydrogen fuel cell, is sold only in California. You never need to plug it in. But you need to refuel it with hydrogen about as often as you might need to refill the gas tank of a conventional car.
It takes about five minutes to get a full load of hydrogen. Toyota sweetens the deal by making hydrogen complementary for six years or $15,000, whichever comes first.
This second-generation Toyota Mirai is a rear-wheel-drive luxury sedan based on the same platform as the luxurious Lexus LS.
It’s enjoyable to drive but not that quick. It hits 60 mph in a leisurely 9.2 seconds. That stated, the level of overall sophistication is at Lexus level. The driver may choose among Eco, Normal, and Sport driving modes.
The only natural competitor for the Mirai is the Hyundai Nexo, another fuel-cell electric vehicle (FCEV) sold only in California. But you might also consider a premium battery-electric vehicle (BEV) such as the Tesla Model 3 or a BMW i4 if you’re keen on switching from gasoline.
The 2023 Toyota Mirai continues to be available in two trims: the XLE and the Limited.
Let’s take a look at both, which we’re happy to report are the same price they were in 2023. Both, for the record, continue to employ the same hydrogen fuel-cell powertrain, which features a rear-mounted electric motor that endows the 5-seat Mirai sedan with 182 horsepower and a respectable 300 lb-ft of torque.
Mirai XLE
Starts at $49,500 | See listings
- Hydrogen fuel-cell powertrain with 182 horsepower
- SofTex faux leather upholstery
- Power front seats
- Dual-zone automatic climate control
- Four USB ports
- Apple CarPlay/Android Auto
- 14-speaker JBL audio system
- Blind-spot monitoring/rear cross-traffic alert
- Wireless smartphone charging pad
- Power-folding outside mirrors
- Available Technology Package
- Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+
- See more
Mirai Limited
Starts at $66,000 | See listings
- Head-up display
- Heated and power-adjustable front seats
- Perforated SofTex upholstery
- Three-zone automatic climate control
- Panoramic moonroof
- 19-inch alloy wheels, optional 20s
- Power rear sunshade
- Rear control panel for climate and audio
- Multicolor ambient lighting
- See more
2023 Toyota Mirai XLE: $49,500
In XLE form, the 2023 Toyota Mirai has a range of 402 miles. Its estimated efficiency is 76 MPGe city/71 MPGe highway/74 MPGe combined.
Standard infotainment features abound in the Mirai XLE. In addition to Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa, the XLE comes with a 12.3-inch touchscreen and a JBL 14-speaker, 1,200-watt audio system. You also get four USB ports (one for data, three for charging), a wireless smartphone charging pad, and LED lights front and rear.
SofTex faux leather seat upholstery, power front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, an 8-inch digital gauge cluster, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel highlight comfort and convenience features.
Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+, a thorough safety suite, is also onboard. It includes automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, automatic high beams, and road sign assist. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert also come standard on the XLE.
We recommend the Advanced Technology Package, available on the XLE, and it seems reasonably priced at $1,410. In addition to a handy 360-degree overhead camera, it includes front and rear parking assists with automated braking.
When you add the $1,095 destination fee, the 2023 Toyota Mirai XLE has a starting price of $50,595. If you get a 60-month loan with 5% interest and $0 down, you’ll have a monthly payment of about $955. See 2023 Toyota Mirai XLE models for sale near you
2023 Toyota Mirai XLE includes:
- Hydrogen fuel cell powertrain — The Mira is an electric vehicle with an onboard fuel cell that converts hydrogen into electricity.
- Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ — This safety suite has adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert (with steering assist), and more.
- Power-folding outside mirrors — These mirrors can fold tight against the Mirai body for extra clearance. They also feature integrated turn signal lights and puddle lamps.
2023 Toyota Mirai Limited: $66,000
The 2023 Toyota Mirai has a lower range of 357 miles in the heavier and more abundantly equipped Limited form. Its efficiency isn’t as good either, estimated at 67 MPGe city/64 MPGe highway/65 MPGe combined.
The Limited trim is significantly more luxurious than the XLE, a fact perhaps given away by its big jump in price. Some of that is the Advanced Technology Package, which comes standard on the Mirai Limited, but many other premium features are integrated.
These include a color head-up display, a panoramic moonroof, perforated SofTex upholstery, 19-inch wheels, and 3-zone automatic climate control. Moreover, the seats are heated and ventilated front and rear, with 8-way power adjustability in front and driver’s seat memory.
Folks in the rear of the Mirai Limited benefit from a power sunshade for the rear glass and manual sunshades for the side windows. Rear passengers even get their own touchscreen panel (in the fold-down center armrest) for the climate, sunshade, and audio controls.
With a 60-month loan at 5% interest, the starting monthly payment for a 2023 Toyota Mirai Limited is about $1,266. See 2023 Toyota Mirai Limited models for sale near you
2023 Toyota Mirai Limited includes:
- SofTex seats — Sure, it’s imitation leather, but the heated and ventilated seats are comfortable and easy to clean.
- Optional 20-inch wheels — The Mirai already looks good, but it’s even more head-turning with these optional 20-inch alloys in chrome.
- Multicolor ambient interior lighting — Unique to the Limited, this interior lighting makes the Mirai seem extra special at night.
