2023 Toyota Mirai

The handsome 2023 Toyota Mirai hydrogen-powered sedan is almost one of a kind, seeing as not many automakers have seen the light. Electric vehicles are the future, that much is for certain, but when powered by hydrogen, they are even cleaner throughout their lifetime. The second-generation Toyota Mirai's powertrain develops a competent 182 horsepower and boasts an impressive 402-mile range. It also no longer has to compete with the Honda Clarity, though the Hyundai Nexo is still around, and BMW has some plans for hydrogen power, too. This alone should be enough to pique interest in the 2023 Mirai, but the $15,000 complimentary hydrogen fuel allowance certainly won't hurt, either.

The starting price for the new 2023 Toyota Mirai is $49,500 MSRP. And while this may seem a bit on the high side for an electric sedan of these proportions, it is worth remembering how much money you'll save on fuel and the extra $15,000 discount you'll get with the complimentary fuel card. The Limited goes on sale for $66,000. You do need to add at least $1,025 for the cost of destination fees, though.

If the handsome styling of the Mirai isn't enough to convince you, then you'll be left without a doubt that it shares a platform with Lexus cars once you get behind the wheel. There is a great balance between comfort and handling that only a masterful team could create. The suspension devours road imperfections without so much as a hiccup, and when you take a corner, the body doesn't roll so much as a fraction of an inch. On top of all that, the cabin is almost, but not quite, eerily noiseless.

While it can be genuine fun when driven spiritedly, the Mirai is not designed to be a speedy or athletic car. It has decent grip, but the rolling-resistant tires don't inspire true confidence, and the steering gives you only a general feel for what the tires are doing. No, the hydrogen sedan is definitely meant to be more of a pseudo-luxury cruiser that has just enough performance to make people take notice and look twice.

No matter how generous our review of the Toyota Mirai might be, the fact that you can only really buy it in one place in the USA is quite damning. But, if you are lucky enough to live in California, we can't recommend it enough. It is arguably the best hydrogen car on the market right now, though that may change if some of the rival concepts we've seen come to fruition.

The Mirai isn't perfect, though, with its relatively small trunk. But the thing really holding it back from mainstream success is its hydrogen powertrain and the lack of mass uptake of this technology in other parts of the world. If more refueling stations open up and their reliability issues are resolved, the luxurious sedan may well take off.

Even in its base guise, the Toyota Mirai is well-equipped, and considering the seemingly high price of the vehicle, many buyers will want to save where they can. You still get the $15k fuel card, regardless of trim. However, if you are willing to use that discount to offset the cost of jumping up to the Limited trim, you can enjoy everything the Mirai has to offer including the benefits of the Advanced Technology Package and all the luxuries that make it feel like a true Lexus vehicle.