The new Mirai has swapped the airy but unsporting Prius-derived cabin of its forebear for something that exists far more in the traditional GT car mould. This is hardly surprising, given the underpinnings are now related to the Lexus LS.
The scuttle, therefore, sits high and the driver low. The effect is augmented by the additional height of the broad digital screens and the substantial ‘transmission’ tunnel, underneath which sits one of three reinforced fuel tanks, designed to store hydrogen at a pressure of 10,000psi. The Mirai even borrows the asymmetric centre console sweep found in the GR Supra sports car, which serves to enclose the driver even more securely.
The SofTex-trimmed seats (both heated and ventilated) then strike an appealing balance between softness and support, and the leather steering wheel has plenty of adjustability, allowing it to be brought out towards the driver’s chest. All in, this is an environment you wouldn’t be surprised to find with a long-snouted eight-cylinder tourer, and the supple upholstery lavished on the dashboard and door cards emphasises the feeling of if not luxury then premium quality.
Beyond the gloss black trim used for the centre console, display surrounds and switchgear (of which there is a good level, all clearly marked), you will struggle to find hard plastics inside the Mirai, which just about manages to feel its £60,000 asking price, despite the costs the powertrain must entail. In the words of one tester, material quality is “high-end Toyota, rather than Lexus”, and that’s no bad thing.
