In an earlier installment by DriveTribe, James May pulled the covers off his brand new Toyota Mirai, excited to get it out in the open for the very first time. Unfortunately, the busy city streets of London didn’t give the team much to work with, with James only able to report that it was “very, very pleasant up to eight miles per hour”.
So now, heading out of gridlock and on to the clear roads of West Sussex, how does May like his state-of-the-art, hydrogen-powered Japanese sedan? The first note is one we don’t often hear from car reviewers, and that’s the smell — or in the Mirai’s case, a lack of it. Other than that, the overwhelming impression is one of silence when behind the wheel, with just a hint of tire roar.
May says that the new Mirai feels firmer than the old car, which was “slightly floaty, slightly roll-y around the bends.” The interior is improved too with its comprehensive display giving the driver constant feedback on its big screen.
The Mirai features an air purification system that cleans what is fed into the fuel cell system. In theory, those driving the Mirai are not just doing their part to reduce carbon emissions; they’re cleaning it for the rest of us.
See: New Toyota Mirai Sets New Record, Travels 623 Miles On A Tank Of Hydrogen
Size-wise, the new Mirai is bigger than its predecessor and also has a slightly larger hydrogen tank, while the motor itself is smaller and lighter.
However, it’s by no means a cheap affair. In the UK, a Miraj will set you back a cool £65,000 (equal to $90,000). But, as May points out, it’s overall a better car than its predecessor, and yet, it costs less.
But it’s an expensive experiment into hydrogen car ownership, with the UK suffering from a severe lack of infrastructure for the clean energy source. As of now, there are only three functional hydrogen fuel centers in the UK, so potential owners will have to hope that the government pushes for their expansion.