In the green car world, hydrogen fuel cell cars are a rare option, but they have some notable advantages over EVs and hybrids. This might change in the future, but for now, there are only a handful of hydrogen cars that customers can choose from, and many of them are exclusive to California. In any case, here’s a comparison between two of those hydrogen options, the 2022 Hyundai Nexo and the 2022 Toyota Mirai.

A look at the 2022 Hyundai Nexo

According to Car and Driver, the Hyundai Nexo is a hydrogen fuel cell SUV that starts at just over $60,000. Currently, Hyundai is only selling the Nexo in California. Its electric motor gets 161 horsepower and 291 lb-ft of torque, but it won’t allow the compact SUV to go very fast. It takes the Nexo about 8.4 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph, and this won’t make it a very thrilling car to drive.

In terms of range, the Nexo gets about 380 miles on a full tank of hydrogen, though drivers who equip their Hyundai with bigger, 19-inch wheels will only get about 354 miles of range. In terms of fuel efficiency, the Nexo gets about 61 MPGe. However, as an incentive, anyone who buys or leases a Nexo will get three years of free refueling or $13,000 worth of hydrogen, whichever comes first.

The Nexo also has a nice interior, as it has a 12.3-inch touch screen display and a lot of smart safety features. The best part, though, is that it’s spacious like other compact SUVs. It’ll have enough room for adults, and it can get up to 57 cu. ft. of cargo capacity, which is on par with other SUVs in its class.

An overview of the 2022 Toyota Mirai

According to Car and Driver, the Toyota Mirai is a hydrogen fuel cell sedan that starts at about $50,000. Like the Hyundai Nexo, the Mirai is currently only sold in California. Its electric motor gets 182 horsepower and 221 lb-ft, allowing it to go from 0 to 60 mph in about 9.1 seconds. As a result, the Mirai will not be a very fun car to drive.

However, thanks to its small size, the Mirai is very fuel-efficient. The Mirai gets about 67 MPGe combined, and, on a full tank of hydrogen, it can go about 402 miles. Like other hydrogen fuel cell cars, refilling the Mirai is pretty easy. As a result, the Mirai has the world record for the longest trip taken in a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle.

Car and Driver wrote that the Mirai has a futuristic and “snazzy” cabin, too. It comes with a 12.3-inch touch screen display and a long list of standard smart safety features. On top of that, Toyota gives Mirai owners a $15,000 fuel credit and 21 days of complimentary vehicle rentals if drivers take a vacation in areas without hydrogen fueling stations.

Here’s how those two hydrogen fuel cell cars compare

Although the Toyota Mirai has more power than the Hyundai Nexo, the Hyundai has a faster acceleration time. However, both hydrogen fuel cell cars are rather lackluster in terms of speed. There is a noticeable $10,000 price difference, but most of that price difference is due to their size difference. 

Since the Mirai is a sedan and the Nexo is an SUV, they are cars that are suited for different customers. The Nexo has far more space and will be great for families, but the Mirai is more fuel-efficient, and it gets more range. In terms of incentives, Toyota wins there, as its fuel incentive is larger and Toyota offers free vehicle rentals, too.