Tesla Model Y (EV) vs. Toyota Mirai (Hydrogen): Range, Performance, Fueling Cost, and More

Comparing two cars is a tricky thing and hangs tightly on a seesaw. Of course, you cannot compare stones to apples and say apples are better. There has to be a legit and thoughtful comparison that does not make you form an opinion but simply informs you on the matter.

When comparing two cars, it is vital to consider all of the features that could be or are important to you. This might include the price, size, performance, fuel efficiency, and more.

In recent years, the transformations in the automotive industry is phenomenally accelerated and galvanized by the people who are able to recognize the climate change threats. For all these years in the last two decades, the focus lies on the array of electric vehicles making their way into green cars. However, many still are not aware of all available options when it comes to sustainable zero-emission vehicles like hydrogen cars.

When it comes to electric cars, there are a few that stand out from the pack. The Tesla Model Y and the Toyota Mirai are two of the most popular options on the market. So, which is the better car? Here’s a look at how they compare the prime parameters of their features & performance.

Tesla Model Y vs. Toyota Mirai: Overview

The question of being better technology in automotive is going to stay for a long time as the world is evolving, and so are we. However, no one automaker can address all issues and challenges in front of them. Some are dealing with the challenges of carbon footprint some have supply chain issues, and so on.

Toyota Mirai is an impressive FCEV (fuel Cell Electric Vehicle) while Tesla has become a synonym for electric vehicles. However, BEVs too, have their issues and challenges to deal with. Here is a quick view of what both cars offer before grilling them later in comparison.

Toyota Mirai

• Hydrogen Sedan
• Luxurius Exteriors
• Silent Cabin
• $49,500
• 400+ Miles on a Single Tank

Innovation is power. As advertised by their maker owning a Toyota Mirai indeed is like having a superpower. It’s not just that you never have to visit a gas station again or worry about emissions – although those are both awesome benefits. With the Toyota Mirai, you also get to feel like you’re doing your part to save the world. How? Well, hydrogen is a clean fuel, or is it?

The Toyota Mirai is a hydrogen fuel cell car, which means it runs on electricity generated by converting hydrogen into water. That might sound complicated, but it’s actually quite simple. The only emission from the car is water vapor, so you can feel good knowing that you’re not contributing to air pollution. However, some have started quoting hydrogen cars as the vehicles that pee! Not very classy, but who cares.

The Mirai has a range of over 400 miles on a single tank of hydrogen, so you can road trip worry-free. And it only takes about five minutes to refill the tank, which is a lot faster than others.

The Toyota Mirai is also surprisingly affordable, with a starting sticker price of just over $49,500 (Excluding destination charge). That’s not bad for a car that comes with all of the latest driving assistance tech and safety features, plus the peace of mind that comes with knowing you’re doing your part to help the environment.

Tesla Model Y

• Electric Compact SUV
• 0-60 In Under 4 Seconds
• Spacious
• 330 Miles On Single Charge
• Luxurius Exteriors
• Clean & Minimal Interiors

Tesla cars are known for their high performance, versatility, and luxury features. From the day the first Roadster came out in 2008, Tesla has been pushing the boundaries of what an electric car can be. Tesla’s Model Y is an all-electric crossover SUV that was first unveiled in March 2019.

The Model Y is powered by two electric motors that send power to all four wheels. The standard battery pack gives the SUV an EPA-estimated range of 303 miles. The performance upgrade increases power and range to 330 miles.

Tesla Model Y has achieved a 5-star rating in safety ratings by NHTSA along with a top pick award for being the safer EV. Standard features include a panoramic glass roof, 19-inch wheels, LED headlights, and keyless entry.

Big Electric vs. Hydrogen Comparison Between Tesla and Toyota Mirai

The Tesla Model Y is a compact SUV that was first introduced in 2020. The Toyota Mirai is a midsize sedan that was first introduced in 2014. Both cars are very popular among consumers, but which one is better? In this article, we will compare the two vehicles and see which one comes out on top.

Range

The Tesla Model Y has a range of up to 330 miles, while the Toyota Mirai’s range is over 400 miles on a single tank of hydrogen. Toyota Mirai does come out as a clear winner on this one.

The bigger problem with Mirai is the fact that it is a hydrogen car and suffers from a meager fuel station network. However, that does not take away from the fact that Mirai is indeed doing ten on ten on the range.

Interiors

Both the cars are luxe in looks and features. Tesla Model Y boasts of its minimal industrial design in its interiors. The calm, clean, and carefully done interiors are sure to take anyone’s breath away. However, some don’t understand the concept of everything you need and nothing you don’t in the EV’s cabin. The Model Y is also packed with features like a giant touchscreen display, heated seats, and a premium sound system.

Many complain about it being too smart or dependent on the control center screen. For one, juggling through the display for simple things like wipers or lights can get annoying for some. Why? Because we have spent a long time adjusting and becoming accustomed to having everything around the wheel like in traditional gas cars. However, Tesla lovers see this as a primitive way of doing things and a way of the past. The car is designed to be as efficient and unobtrusive as possible, with controls that are as simple and straightforward as possible and are a way to the future.

The Toyota Mirai is a comfortable and capable car that is well suited for everyday driving. The infotainment system and interior controls are easy to use though and the cabin is absolutely quiet and refined, making it a pleasant place to spend time.

The interiors of Mirai are a bit underwhelming but the seats are supportive, making it a great choice for families. However, Mirai is not even half as spacious as Model Y as the legroom and headroom both take a hit because of the massive hydrogen storage tanks. Also, Mirai lacks tiny details like wireless charging for both front rows and a messy-looking dashboard.

Boot Space

The Tesla Model Y has more than twice the amount of boot space as the Toyota Mirai. This makes it the perfect car for long road trips or carrying around lots of gear. The Model Y also has a much larger cargo area, so you can fit more stuff in it without having to worry about space. Imagine being able to fold and shift to make space for anything that you need to fit inside your car with Model Y.

Mirai on the other hand struggles with the hydrogen tanks placed under the floor in a T shape. There’s no way to fold down or split the back seats to expand cargo space, and even with 9.6 cubic feet of trunk space, Mirai feels inadequate. It barely suffices.

Exteriors

The exterior of the Tesla Model Y is a work of art, with sleek lines and a sporty look that is sure to turn heads. When it comes to the exterior of the Tesla Model Y, there’s a lot to love. However, some don’t consider it an SUV because of the sedan-ish exteriors.

This sleek and stylish SUV has a modern look that’s sure to turn heads. And with its impressive range of colors, you’re sure to find one that suits your style. The beautifully designed all-glass roof of the all-wheel drive is a benchmark in its class and looks incredible.

The Toyota Mirai, on the other hand, has a more traditional yet captivating exterior design. Mirai exteriors shout Lexus legacy with long lines and largely built sedan looks with a remarkable resemblance to the plush sedan Lexus, giving it a unique sporty feel. The Toyota Mirai is a stylish car that looks great from the outside. It’s available in five different colors in limited trim white, black, blue, grey, and red. The car has a sleek design that makes it look very modern. The headlights are LED, and the taillights are also LED. The car has 19-inch alloy wheels as standard and 20-inch super chrome aluminum alloys on the Limited variant.

Performance

In terms of performance, the Tesla Model Y is much faster than the Toyota Mirai. It can go from 0 to 60 miles per hour in just 3.5 seconds, while the Mirai takes around 9.1 seconds to reach the same speed. Emm, a bit too slow if you compare it with the already faster Toyota Camry and Toyota Corollas, if not Tesla Model Y.

Mirai electric motor can produce 182 horsepower set in a rear-wheel drivetrain. Nothing compared to the massive 390 horsepower of Model Y.

Toyota has used a 1.2kW lithium-ion battery pack to initially boost the hydrogen fuel system which feels sophisticated. However, Tesla Model Y clearly beats Mirai with its ultra-responsive and rapid fast dual motor all-wheel drivetrain.

Price

Tesla Model Y starts at $62,990 MSRP and Mirai sticker price begins at $49,500 MSRP. The prices for both are not relevant to make the comparison as both are entirely different vehicles. However, both face competition from other automotive options with similar price tags.

Refueling

Tesla’s Model Y is one of the most popular electric cars on the market. And for good reason – it’s more efficient, stylish, and relatively affordable than the hydrogen car Mirai. The Tesla Model Y will cost you less than $15 to charge its battery, while it costs around $75 to fill up the Toyota Mirai fuel tank with hydrogen.

Toyota is giving away complimentary fuel for up to six years or $15,000, whichever comes first. Why? Well to boost sales and solve the eggs and chickens story.

However, the cost of refueling is a smaller issue in front of the scarcity of hydrogen refueling stations. Hydrogen is costly to store and transport and is not entirely green at present. Electric charging stations on the other hand are easily available globally.

Safety

When it comes to safety, both cars are very safe. The Tesla Model Y has a five-star safety rating from the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration). Both cars come with standard features like airbags and seatbelts, but the Model Y also has additional safety features like automatic emergency braking and lane keeping assists with an enhanced autopilot package.

Toyota Mirai is not having any standard safety rating from NHTSA so far. However, Toyota claims to have done hundreds of crash tests to prove the safety of their hydrogen car Mirai. One even involves firing bullets on the pressurized hydrogen tanks to show the safety level of Mirai.

Electric vs Hydrogen

When it comes to comparing electric and hydrogen cars, there are a few key things to keep in mind. Both have their obvious pros and cons, so it really comes down to what you prioritize when choosing a car. Hydrogen fuel cell car vs Electric car: Both the Tesla Model Y and the Toyota Mirai are emissions-free, but the Toyota Mirai emits water vapor instead of carbon dioxide.

So, which car is better?

Efficiency

Tesla cars are all electric and can use as much as 80% of the stored electric energy in the battery packs. However, FCEVs are usually only about 38% efficient, meaning that for every 100 watts of energy generated, only about 38 watts can be put to use.

Producing hydrogen requires numerous operations and is a time-consuming process. Because of the numerous procedures involved in both generating and maintaining hydrogen and converting it to electricity in fuel cells, hydrogen vehicles lack efficiency.

In terms of energy density, hydrogen is also less energy-dense than lithium-ion. However, in terms of environmental impact, hydrogen may have an advantage over lithium-ion. Both can co-exist since the electric charging station network is well-established globally and recycling can solve the sourcing materials for the battery pack. Similarly, green hydrogen could change the future of hydrogen cars or FCEVs.

Environment

If you’re looking for an environmentally friendly option, then an electric car is probably the way to go. They don’t produce any emissions(we are not talking about carbon footprint here), so they’re much better for the environment than hydrogen cars in the current scenario. Electric cars are also generally cheaper to operate and maintain than hydrogen cars. Thanks to the progress in the EV sector over the last two decades has helped electric vehicles in getting there.

However, if you’re looking for a car with a longer range and shorter refueling times, then a hydrogen car might be a better option for you. Hydrogen cars can travel further on a single tank of fuel than electric cars, and they can be refueled much faster than electric cars.

Which is the better option? Ultimately, it depends on what you find works for you. Some might love the idea of getting farther on a single tank, and some might feel on edge with the idea of having a highly flammable fuel and dealing with the scarce infrastructure for hydrogen stations.

Key Takeaway

If you’re looking for a luxurious, high-tech car with a ton of horsepower to show off, Tesla Model Y is a great choice. It’s one of the quickest cars on the market, and its all-wheel-drive system means it can handle just about any terrain or weather conditions.

Whichever is your bet, the future seems to have a designated place for alternative fuel and tech for vehicles. We are just in the initial stages of turning a new leaf in sustainable vehicle technology. Green hydrogen and recycled sourcing for the battery can change the paradigm of current alternative fuel sustainability. Here’s hoping for a great future and a better understanding of how we can do better for our future. Please share your views on how you think Mirai & Model Y performs on all crucial parameters.