February 21, 2026
From fuel cell to fire sale
Toyota Mirai hydrogen car depreciation: 65% value loss in a year
From $50k to $15k: Californians panic, the internet cackles, deal hunters pounce
TLDR: Toyota’s Mirai hydrogen car is losing value fast, with recent models dropping to $15k–$18k and some under $10k, thanks to scarce fueling stations and California-only practicality. Commenters feud over whether this is a true crash or a mirage caused by huge new-car discounts, while hydrogen optimists keep the faith
Toyota’s hydrogen darling just face-planted on the used market, and the comments are serving popcorn. The Mirai’s near-65% value plunge has the community calling it a “500-mile paperweight” — a car that can go far but has nowhere to refuel. Californians say it best: “stuck to LA and San Diego” with stations so rare they’re basically a scavenger hunt. One commenter swears they saw a Mirai in San Diego but “never did see a fueling station,” which became the thread’s running joke.
But the plot twist? A savvy crowd insists the “depreciation” story is overblown because new Mirais were sold with massive discounts. As one user points out, buyers snagged “$40,000 off” — receipts here. So is it a crash or just sticker-price theater? Meanwhile, the dreamers arrived: hydrogen could “power the entire world” if we tap underground supplies, argues another, while skeptics roll eyes at the “green hydrogen” fairy tale.
The vibe: high drama, low resale. With last year’s $50k cars now listed under $20k (some under $10k!), the thread split into three camps — stranded owners, bargain goblins, and hydrogen hopefuls — all asking the same thing: great idea, but where do you fill it
Key Points
- •Toyota’s Mirai is a hydrogen fuel cell sedan that remains in production but faces sharp depreciation on the used market.
- •The first-generation Mirai launched in late 2014 (2015 model year) with Toyota’s proprietary TFCS and a single electric motor.
- •The second-generation Mirai (introduced in 2020 for 2021) increased hydrogen capacity for ~30% more range, added ADAS/safety, and updated infotainment in 2023.
- •Second-gen performance changed to 182 hp and 220 lb-ft, with a single-speed transmission, compared to 152 hp and 247 lb-ft previously.
- •Used prices have fallen dramatically: recent models originally around $50k are now listing from under $10k to about $22k, with last year’s models at $15k–$18k; key reasons include limited California-only availability and insufficient hydrogen infrastructure amid BEV dominance.