If hydrogen fuel cell cars are your thing, there are a lot of good reasons to buy the all-new 2021 Toyota Mirai over the outgoing model. Now that Toyota has announced pricing, you have almost 10,000 more.
The 2021 Toyota Mirai XLE starts at $50,495, which is almost $10,000 less than its forebear. Toyota has also added a second model to the Mirai line, the Limited, which features upgraded interior trim, rear-seat climate control, a panoramic moonroof, and a few other odds and ends, and lists for $66,995.
Regardless of trim, every 2021 Mirai includes complimentary maintenance for three years or 35,000 miles, as well as $15,000 or three years’ worth of hydrogen fuel, whichever you burn through first. Mirai drivers also get 21 days of free car rentals should they need to travel somewhere with limited hydrogen fueling stations (i.e. most places).
The 2021 Toyota Mirai benefits from an improved driving range, too, which the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) claims can travel up to 402 miles between refills in XLE guise. The Mirai Limited, which is about 80 pounds heavier than its XLE counterpart and features grippier tires, is EPA-rated at 399 miles of range. Still, it tops the outgoing Mirai’s 357-mile figure.
The best argument for the new Mirai over the old one comes down to its looks. Like the original 2001 Prius, the first-generation Mirai is … how can we say this politely … really friggin’ ugly. Few cars in history have managed to look quite as dorky. The new 2021 Toyota Mirai stands in sharp contrast—a genuinely attractive car that could easily pass for a Lexus. The new Mirai’s proportions remind us of a rear-drive luxury sedan, and that’s not a totally false pretense, as the car’s 182-hp electric motor does indeed drive the rear wheels.
If you’re ready to spend that 50 large on some hydrogen fuel cell-powered sexiness, your wait is almost over, as the new Mirai is scheduled to go on sale before the end of the year. One caveat. If you want one, you’ll have to make your way to California. It’s the only state Toyota plans to sell the Mirai in. No surprise, it’s also the only state with a halfway-decent hydrogen fueling infrastructure.
