Toyota announces pricing for 2022 Mirai fuel cell vehicle

The new Mirai looks amazing and will turn in 400-plus miles of range on a single tank of hydrogen. So what's not to love? Toyota's second-generation Mirai hydrogen fuel-cell-powered vehicle represents a considerable improvement over the first-generation car, particularly when it comes to looks.

Toyotaannounces 2022 Mirai 
Mirai And while it's not a car that works for people all over the country (hydrogen availability is still a problem), for those people who live where there is a hydrogen infrastructure, it's a pretty compelling car. Only, how much does it cost? Well, according to an announcement made on Thursday by Toyota, we know that the base model Mirai XLE will start at $50,525, including destination, but not including any kind of subsidies or credits.

Mirai That's a fair chunk of change, but that price tag isn't the end of the story. As with the previous Mirai, Toyota will subsidize up to $15,000 in hydrogen purchases, which means that you'll be cruising for free in your sleek, silent fuel-cell vehicle for some time.

Toyota announces 2022 Mirai 
Toyota announces pricing for 2022 Mirai.

This week, Toyota announced that the prices for the new Mirai Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle have been announced and the vehicle will be available to consumers starting at $50,525. The new base model XLE trim level comes with a couple of special features that make it different than the previous generation car. For instance, the Mirai now comes standard with a total of four USB Ports, with a Charging Cable provided as a standard accessory.

Mirai Also, the XLE trim level adds a second pair of 12-volt power points, as well as heated seats and a 7-inch digital instrument cluster to the mix. And if you want more visual punch, the top-end trim level gets a special grille that adds some high-tech flair Toyota's new Mirai is available to consumers.

Why is this announcement important?

Right now, there aren't very many hydrogen-fuelled cars on the road. There are about 1,500 on the road in California, but that number's growing pretty quickly and with a dramatic reduction in the cost of fueling a Mirai (a refill is now a matter of a few minutes), there's a lot more opportunity for consumers to own a hydrogen car and an incentive to go all-in on a low-emissions vehicle. For those people, Toyota's Mirai represents a highly affordable vehicle that gives a lot of bang for the buck.

Toyota announces 2022 Mirai 
Toyota's Mirai Is it still a hybrid?

Mostly, yes. Yes, it has a gasoline engine to take care of the "extra stuff" when you're not making hydrogen. And, yes, it's still pretty darn quiet. But the Mirai does have a substantial energy storage component.

The new Mirai looks amazing and will turn in 400-plus milesof range on a single tank of hydrogen.

The new Mirai is bigger than the previous model, due to the need for a battery pack instead of a fuel tank. While the outgoing Mirai was designed for easy access to the hydrogen storage tanks, the new car is only accessible through the hatchback trunk.

Another benefit of the New Design is that there is enough headroom to comfortably fit four adults in the back seat, which the previous model only made possible by slightly lowering the roofline. Another notable improvement is the Mirai's exterior, which Toyota says has been made all-new and more aerodynamic, with a "high-intensity discharge internal lamp design.

What can we do to make it more affordable?

With more hybrids and EVs hitting the market every day, the playing field is changing rapidly in the automotive world. However, it still comes down to the fact that hydrogen fuel cells are quite pricey when compared to comparable cars.

For example, Toyota's Prius PHV, while not exactly the cheapest hybrid on the market, can be had for under $25,000, while the base price of the Mirai is $57,850. Even for those who are willing to wait a few years for fuel cell vehicles to become a viable option on the mass market, the time it will take to pay off that initial purchase and purchase another car is going to keep it out of reach for many people. That's where you come in, Toyota.

Toyota announces 2022 Mirai 
Toyota's Mirai Conclusion

In a lot of ways, Toyota was a pioneer in the use of hydrogen in the United States. It put the first hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in service in California back in 1997, before most of us had even heard of the technology. It was a bold move then, and it's even bolder now.

Toyota isn't attempting to replace gas-powered vehicles with hydrogen fuel cells overnight, but if it is to have any kind of long-term impact on the automotive industry, it's going to have to get its feet wet, and it's certainly willing to play the long game. The Mirai will certainly puthydrogen back on the map in the eyes of consumers, and there's a lot of opportunity for Toyota here.