Science fiction is on the way to becoming science fact, with the arrival of this all
new Toyota Mirai, a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle that produces just one type of emission,
water. We're here in Toyota's former manufacturing plant in Altona,
west of Melbourne to sample this exotic new powertrain technology.
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Unlike its predecessor, the new Mirai is not an eyesore. This new model is a dramatic improvement,
looking stylish, tidy, well-proportioned. The headlights may not be everyone's cup of
tea however, but compared with some of the eco-friendly monstrosities inflicted on the
general public in the past, the new Mirai is downright elegant. A large grill at the front
is a shout out to the current Camry, and while the rear roof line flanks and even the truncated boot
all recall the Camaro styling that was a popular theme for '60s muscle cars, the balanced styling
mirrors the new car's engineering. Previously the Mirai was a front wheel drive. This new model
is real wheel drive with weight distributed evenly just like the BMW 3 Series. While the motor is
located at the rear of the car, the lithium-ion battery pack is placed behind the rear seat,
with two of the three hydrogen tanks between the axles, the third one behind the rear axle and the
sophisticated fuel cells tech upfront where the engine would sit in a conventional car.
Toyota has a long history of over-the-top display graphics and quirky controls in eco-friendly cars
like the Prius. And to an extent, the new Mirai is no different. If you're familiar with the Prius
hybrid, the drive selector in the Mirai will be nothing new, but the Mirai does impress with lots
of Euro prestige style appointments inside. The big 12.3-inch infotainment touch screen
recalls the latest models from Mercedes-Benz and Audi, but through all its high-tech displays and
advanced computerised trappings, the Mirai is essentially no more difficult to operate
than any other Toyota. As standard, the Mirai comes with satellite navigation, a 14-speaker
JBL audio system with digital radio, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The front seats
are power adjustable and passengers are kept cool or warm with a dual-zone climate control system.
It's a large car, the Mirai. It measures nearly five metres in length, but rear-seat headroom is
not that generous for adults. And although Toyota claims the Mirai will carry five passengers,
the centre rear-seat position is for kids only. As a family car of the future, the Mirai is stingy
for boot space. At just 272 litres, this large car has the luggage capacity of a small hatch, and
the rear seat will not fold down for additional space as the car's lithium-ion battery pack sits
between the seat and the boot. This is a car with lots of powertrain components packed on board.
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The first thing a new driver will notice about the Mirai is just how quiet it is.
You won't hear anything until you put the foot down when the air compressor starts to work,
and even then, it's pretty subtle. That was a problem with the first generation
Honda FCX Clarity, an early rival to the Mirai, but even as long ago as 2009
when Toyota was experimenting with a fuel cell vehicle, based on the first-generation Kluger,
noise was never much of a problem.
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And the acceleration is adequate for staying ahead of traffic. Its performance is about equivalent
to a small six or a turbo four, but driving a car that weighs 1900 kilos. One thing about it,
the weight is evenly spread, with Toyota balancing the weight across the length of the TNGA
platform and a motor driving the rear wheels, the Mirai delivers pleasing cornering ability.
The Mirai turns you with that natural real-wheel dive agility
that places it up there with a prestige stable mate such as a Lexus IS.
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It's a credit to Toyota that the company has made this eco-friendly,
futuristic science experiment, a car that is also enjoyable to drive in the present. Unfortunately,
and as stunning as the Mirai is, the technology is still too expensive and the refuelling
infrastructure is too thin on the ground for Toyota to sell this car to private buyers.
Only 20 vehicles have been imported and the Mirai is presently destined for corporate customers
only, on lease. And that's a real disappointment because the Mirai is such a fabulous car.
If this hydrogen fuel cell vehicle is the way of the future, bring on 2024.