Everything Is Heated - 2016 Toyota Mirai Long-Term Road Test

Edmunds.com

Everything Is Heated - 2016 Toyota Mirai Long-Term Road Test

There is no shortage of heat in our 2016 Toyota Mirai. From the seats to the windshield wipers, this car is ready for the cold.

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ebeaudoin

Toyota does make some great seat heaters.

tom_in_mn

ebeaudoin said:

Toyota does make some great seat heaters.

And I put them to good use when the high for the day is -20. I'd like to have a heated wheel on those days too.

Had the front grill on my 88 Jeep ice over in an ice storm in NC once. I don't suppose a heated front grill will ever be an option.

thgir_evom

Well, the bad news is that when its really cold outside, the engine "exhaust" (water) freezes across the proton exchange membrane, giving a new meaning to "my engine has frozen." I am sure the engineers, have a back-up exchange heater as well, but I understand this is one of the reasons for the California only release!

thgir_evom

I guess I am saying the seat heaters and steering wheel heater may be superfluous!

legacygt

I'm not sure "extravagant" is the right word. It's actually very sensible. Internal combustion engines generate a lot of heat that can be used to warm the cabin. This is not the case with the Mirai which would need to use electric heat to warm the cabin. It is more efficient to heat the seats and steering wheel than the cabin with electric heat. If they can get drivers to keep the cabin a few degrees cooler by warming the seats and steering wheel they will have made the car more efficient.