2020 Toyota Mirai

Toyota mostly fulfills its reputation for building efficient and exceptionally reliable vehicles. Most of their models do well in our testing, thanks to their impressive fuel economy, comfortable rides, quiet cabins, and ease of getting in and out. All of this makes Toyotas among the best options for used vehicles. The brand was a hybrid pioneer, starting with the original Prius. Toyota has evolved and expanded that technology, and most vehicles in its lineup are available as a hybrid. Toyota also sells a number of plug-in hybrids, which were once called Prime but are now simply referred to as Plug-in. The company also knows how to add a dose of excitement into its lineup. The GR86, GR Corolla, and Supra are legit, fun-to-drive sports cars. However, some models we’ve tested have been disappointing. The company’s EV, the bZ4X SUV, is mediocre.

The Mirai is the first hydrogen-powered fuel-cell vehicle available for consumers to own. It has a range of nearly 275 miles on a single fill-up of 5 kg of hydrogen (the energy equivalent of 5 gallons of gas). It takes only a few minutes to fill the tank as opposed to hours of charging an electric car. The Mirai is sold only in areas near existing or planned fueling stations on the U.S. coasts, but even so, these stations are few and far between. Acceleration from the 153-hp electric motor feels sluggish, but otherwise it feels like driving any other electric car. It's about the size of a Camry and seats four people. Handling is rather clumsy but still feels secure; the ride is comfortable and the cabin is quiet.