Toyota Still Leading The Green Car Market: 2017 Toyota Mirai vs. 2017 Honda Clarity Fuel Cell

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Green car sales have risen sharply since the beginning of the 21st century, with hybrid-electric vehicle sales alone rising from a handful of novelty purchases in 2000 to over 3.5 million by 2014. It’s 2017 and green vehicle technology is now an established segment in the automotive industry and is poised to define the future of the automotive industry.

Arguably the first hybrid to capture public imagination was Toyota’s Prius, which first entered the US market in 2000. Since that debut, Toyota has established itself as the clear forerunner in automotive hybrid technology. While hybrid-electric vehicles (HEV’s) are the most prevalent green tech available on the market, next-generation Fuel-Cell Vehicles (FCV’s) are starting to enter the picture. The top contenders for FCV’s are Toyota’s Mirai and Honda’s Clarity, both of which feature zero-emission hydrogen fuel cell technology. While the two vehicles are very similar, there are some marked differences between them. Let’s take a look.

The most striking difference is availability. The 2017 Toyota Mirai is available for purchase, where the 2017 Honda Clarity is currently available only through a lease. This difference alone will make up the minds of many potential owners.

Aside from that key difference, there are a few technical details as well. The Toyota Mirai has less horsepower, with only 151 hp compared to the Clarity’s 174 hp. However, the Mirai makes up for it with 26 more lb-ft of torque that gives it a bit more pickup. Both vehicles have comparable figures in efficiency, with the Mirai achieving 67 estimated miles per gallon and a range of approximately 312 miles. When compared via price, the Toyota Mirai is about $2000 cheaper on MSRP.

Comparable in features, but cheaper and actually available for sale, the Toyota Mirai demonstrates its superiority to the Clarity. In addition to its efficiency technology, the Mirai also includes extensive safety features such as pre-collision notification and automatic shutoffs for the hydrogen tanks. This combined with an 8-year, 100,000-mile warranty on all fuel cell components and free factory maintenance for the first 35,000 miles makes the 2017 Toyota Mirai a highly desirable vehicle for those interested in the latest green tech offerings.

Hydrogen fuelled vehicles are currently only available in the state of California, but if you are interested in existing HEV offerings, Toyota has many options to choose from. If you are in the Marianna area, you can view these vehicles and more at Marianna Toyota. We’re located at 2961 Pennsylvania Avenue, come and by and take a look, we’d be pleased to serve you.

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