Pricing Breakdown:

XLE: $35,000 discount, final price $15,190 (plus $1,095 shipping).
Limited: $43,000 discount, final price $24,115.

Even factoring in shipping and taxes, the Mirai XLE is now the cheapest new car in the U.S., beating the Nissan Versa’s $18,330 starting price

Hydrogen-Powered Performance

The Toyota Mirai uses hydrogen fuel cells to generate electricity, offering clean, efficient driving with emissions limited to water vapor and oxygen.

Specifications:

Engine: Hydrogen Fuel Cell.
Horsepower: 182 hp.
Fuel Economy: 76/71 MPG equivalent.
Range: 402 miles per fill-up.

Hydrogen fuel cells also provide a quiet ride and rapid refueling, with stations capable of filling tanks in just a few minutes.

Incentives and Challenges

Toyota’s aggressive pricing aims to overcome the challenges of low sales due to limited refueling infrastructure and the high cost of hydrogen fuel.

Key Issues:

Hydrogen fuel in California costs $14 per pound, equating to about $175 per fill-up.
Infrastructure remains limited, with only about 50 refueling stations statewide, concentrated in Southern California.

Sales of hydrogen-powered vehicles in the U.S. have seen a sharp decline, with only 441 units sold in the first nine months of 2024, compared to 2,791 during the same period in 2023 (an 84.2% drop). The downturn has been attributed to a hydrogen fuel shortage in California during 2023-24, which left nearly half of the state’s refueling stations offline for months.

Despite the challenges, Toyota President Koji Sato remains committed to hydrogen innovation, as evidenced by the company’s collaborations with automakers like BMW on hydrogen-powered vehicles.

Is the Mirai a Deal Worth Considering?

For those in Southern California, the Mirai represents an unprecedented deal with its discounted price and free fuel incentives. However, prospective buyers must weigh the challenges of limited infrastructure and high fuel costs after the free fuel runs out.

Long-Term Considerations:

Free hydrogen fuel is valid for five years.
Afterward, owners will face out-of-pocket costs of approximately $175 per fill-up.

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