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Toyota Mirai -

DR

Some may indeed remember that the first Mirai, launched in 2016, relied on a very "futuristic" design, reflecting the very avant-garde technologies it was carrying.

But this look was rather indigestible, and even if the manufacturer managed to sell about 11,000 copies of this almost experimental car, it was imperative, for the hydrogen car to really gain momentum, that a wider audience. can be attempted.

But before we come back to it, let's remember what it is all about.

Electricity and water

For those who don't know yet, a "hydrogen car" is actually an electric car that gets its power not from batteries, but from a fuel cell.

This battery is a system which, by chemical reaction between the oxygen in the air and the hydrogen contained in the tanks, produces its own electricity and… water vapor.

Advantage over batteries: a very realistic range (some 650 km for the new Mirai), which can be fully recovered in less than 5 minutes, time to fill up with hydrogen.

Disadvantage: hydrogen stations are still extremely rare.

There are currently around 25 public stations in France (plus a dozen private stations), but already nearly 140 in Germany.

Finally, it should be remembered that Toyota is not alone in this market: Hyundai has been marketing the Nexo since 2018, a large SUV also running on hydrogen.

Toyota Mirai - DR

Almost premium

As we said, Toyota understood that to popularize hydrogen, you have to sell cars.

The new Mirai contrasts radically with its predecessor.

Once odd, today it takes the form of a large, statutory and athletic sedan, in our opinion very successful.

Even inside story, the universe is more that of a premium car and of course, the technological equipment is top of the range.

Toyota Mirai - DR

Only one thing shocks: livability.

The good news is that the new Mirai offers 5 seats, compared to 4 in the previous one.

This is thanks to the repositioning of certain components, in particular the batteries (because it takes a little too) which cut the bench in two.

They are now behind the back of this bench, but remain bulky.

Clearly, in this majestic sedan nearly 5 meters long, the knee room at the rear is smaller than in… a Yaris!

As for the trunk, it is reasonable (volume not communicated), but nothing more, especially for a vehicle of this size.

Avant-garde technology therefore still requires some compromises.

On a cloud

Otherwise, the Mirai is an admirably normal car.

Its 184 hp and 300 Nm electric motor has no trouble carrying the 1,900 kilos of the car (it's lighter than an electric with equivalent batteries), the chassis guarantees both high performance behavior and limousine comfort, all in almost absolute silence.

It is therefore like on a cloud that we travel the 650 kilometers authorized by the 5.6 kilos of hydrogen in the tanks.

In France, this is priced at € 13 / kg, which means that driving a Mirai is not much more expensive than driving a large petrol sedan.

Toyota Mirai - DR

And the last good news is that Toyota has managed to significantly reduce the production costs of the car, which will be 20% cheaper than the previous one.

Suffice to say that if it weren't for this concern for refueling, the battery-powered electric car would have found someone to talk to.

And that could soon be the case.

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The Toyota Mirai in a few figures

  • Motor: electric;

    182 ch;

    300 Nm

  • Transmission: to the rear wheels.

  • Gearbox: 1 speed auto

  • L / w / h (mm): 4.975 / 1.885 / 1.480

  • Empty weight (kg): 1.900

  • Boot space (l): NC

  • Tank (kg / l): 5.6 / 142.2

  • Range (km): +/- 650

  • 0 to 100 km / h (sec.): 9.2

  • Max speed (km / h): 175

  • Combined consumption (kg / 100 km): NC

  • Price (€): +/- 63.000

  • Car

  • Toyota

  • Automotive

  • Electric car

  • energy

  • Energetic transition

  • Fuel