JAPANESE CAR BRANDS: A Complete List of the Best Options in 2023

The Japanese car brands rank among the world’s largest and most well-known brands in the international market. Japanese automakers have always made high-quality cars and trucks that do well in many ways, such as reliability, dependability, crash-test scores, safety innovations, technology, and resale value. That explains why you will always see Japanese car brands in the USA, including their luxury brands. There are reasons why Japanese automobiles are dominating the international market. These include their hybrid innovations as well as their eco-friendly and fuel-efficient engines. Compared to their non-Japanese counterparts, they are still people’s choice. Today, the fastest electric car, the Owl, is owned by the Japanese brand, Aspark, and costs about $4 million.

At the moment, Japanese car brands that sell cars in the United States also make up a big part of those cars there. Japanese manufacturers are responsible for nearly a third of all automobiles sold in the United States. Any list of the most popular American vehicles will include several Honda and Toyota models. Anyway, if you intend to launch a new ride in 2023, you should consider making that choice from a list of Japanese car brands in the USA.

What are Japanese Car Brands?

The Japanese car brands are automobile companies that are owned by the Japanese nation. It doesn’t mean their company is only found in Japan, it only means the owners or founders are from Japan.

Best Japanese Car Brands

There’s something else that makes Japanese car brands exceptional. It is a fact; they are known for creating affordable and reliable vehicles, and they have also expanded into the high-end and performance sectors. The following are some of the renowned Japanese car brands;

#1. Subaru

Subaru, one of the most well-known Japanese automakers, is more than just a vehicle. One of the most prestigious names in Japanese automobiles is Subaru. They also rank highly in terms of sales volume. Subaru is a firm whose cars have won multiple World Rally Championships, so naturally, people are going to like them. The Subaru package includes great off-road performance, a history of rally wins, and that distinctive flat-four engine growl.

In terms of total production, Subaru is the twenty-second largest automaker in the world. Since the company started making cars in 1953, its market share and sales have grown quickly. It is expected that putting out cutting-edge products will boost sales and solidify the company’s place in the market.

#2. Toyota

The hidden truth about Toyota is that behind its mind-boggling international sales figures, legendary reliability, and groundbreaking hybrid technology is a group of car nuts at the helm. What that means is that they are a band of crazy innovators that are obsessed with automobiles.
Toyota automobiles cater to a wide range of consumers, not only in terms of aesthetics but also in terms of cost, performance, and environmental friendliness. There are many major automakers in Japan, but Toyota stands head and shoulders above the others because of its ubiquitous name recognition. In addition, it is one of the most widely purchased automobiles in the world.

#3. Nissan

When you think of well-known Japanese automakers, Nissan probably comes to mind.

Nissan has survived the decade, and its vehicles are truly legendary. It has become one of the best automakers in the world by focusing on new ideas and, more importantly, making sure customers are happy. Nissan’s success stems from its focus on providing customers with a high level of convenience, good looks, as well as refinement.

The Nissan Motor Company Ltd was established in 1933 and is Nissan’s parent company. Company-owned sub-brands also include Infiniti and Datsun. However, Infini is it luxury brand. Nissan’s sales have been trending upward for the previous few years. to a great extent, the brand’s local and international market share has been steadily growing over the past few years. A rise in sales has been credited to Nissan’s commitment to cutting-edge research and development.

#4. Mazda

Mazda is another major player in the Japanese auto industry. The Japanese car company has always been a little different, like when it wouldn’t give up on the gas-guzzling, sometimes unreliable rotary engine.

In its original form, the name Mazda means “wisdom.” As amazing as that may be, it’s only because of the Fast and the Furious movies that I’ve become such a fan of the brand. “The Fast and the Furious” included a scene with a Mazda RX-7. Mazda is another top-tier manufacturer from Japan. Mazda’s Kodo design concept is well-praised for its clean lines and understated aesthetic.

#5. Isuzu

Isuzu is a corporation that is dedicated to offering unbreakable transportation for people who actually want to go off-road. They specialize in diesel-powered off-roaders that are hardy enough to see down any hillside, except for the steepest and most treacherous ones. The fact that the manufacturer is willing to invest in research and development makes the company’s products more durable.

This firm, which was established as a commercial vehicle and diesel engine manufacturing corporation, has its headquarters located in Tokyo. Manufacturing, marketing, and customer service are the three core focuses of Isuzu. It is a worthy rival to the other famous Japanese brands in the market today. The name of the company, which literally means “fifty bells pealing in harmony and delight,” was inspired by the river that flows by the Japanese temple in the area.

#6. Lexus

Aside from being a luxury brand, Lexus is another Japanese automaker. Lexus is a luxury brand, so it naturally has high-quality interiors and quiet rides. It’s true that Toyota offers a few other high-end brands outside Lexus, but none of them come close to Lexus.

#7. Honda

When you learn that the name of the Honda brand is frequently used as a shorthand for other concepts like sophistication and cutting-edge technology, it is much simpler to understand Honda automobiles. This should not come as a surprise given that the brand continues to meet the standards it set for itself. It is also one of the well-known car brands produced in Japan. When Soichiro Honda first began his automotive manufacturing company, he had two distinct ideas in mind: the road and the track. Through the years, it has not strayed from these fundamental ideals. In spite of the fact that the brand was damaged to the point that Toyota purchased what was left of it after the Second World War, the company has maintained its commitment to the principle of constant innovation.

#8. Suzuki

The quality of Suzuki’s cars shows that the company is one of the best in Japan when it comes to making cars. Since they are so successful, there is no good reason not to include the Suzuki brand on the list of Japanese automakers. Even though it is one of the most popular car brands in Japan, it is often overlooked. Motorcycles have always been Suzuki’s area of expertise, but the business has always had a reputation for being a bit unconventional when it comes to the four-wheeled vehicles it manufactures and sells.

The following is a list of a few reasons why you should have faith in Suzuki. When it comes to sales of well-known Japanese automobile companies, Suzuki is far and away the market leader. This is mostly due to the fact that their automobiles are mostly attributed to their compact size, low weight, and, most significantly, come in an economically friendly and user-friendly design for families. Japan is also known as the place where the compact car was invented, which is a big deal. It shouldn’t be a surprise, then, that Suzuki is one of the top car companies in Japan.

#9. Infiniti

Infiniti is a well-known brand name in the world of luxury cars. It was founded in Japan. Despite this, Infiniti is a Nissan product, and Nissan is a company that never stops investing in its luxury range of vehicles. In spite of the fact that the brand is not very well known in Europe, more than 125,000 of its high-end highway crushers are sold every year in the United States as a direct result of all of the attention that has been given to it there. People who want to live luxuriously on, well, not a lot of money continue to make second-hand purchases of these items because of their popularity.

#10. Mitsubishi

The Japanese name for the company, “Mitsubishi Shokai,” translates to “three diamonds,” and these diamonds serve as the insignia for the massive industrial conglomerate that is Mitsubishi Motors, which also has holdings in finance, plastics, and a wide variety of other fields. The Mitsubishi Motors logo features three diamonds. The Mitsubishi brand has been known for producing high-performance automobiles throughout its history. Your new Mitsubishi might be a very capable and dependable off-roader because the Outlander PHEV is the plug-in hybrid model that has sold the most units anywhere in the world.

Mitsubishi is a well-known car brand in Japan, and the company is often thought of as one of the best in the country. When it comes to the production of automobiles in Japan, Mitsubishi is the sixth-largest manufacturer. Even though they sometimes have a drop in sales, they are still the eighth-best-selling automaker in Japan. This is despite the fact that they sometimes see a dip in sales.

#11. Daihatsu

It is safe to say that Daihatsu is one of the most recognizable names in Japanese automobile manufacturing. The Mira, Move, Tanto, Mebius, and Copen from Daihatsu are some of the most sought-after automobiles in all of Japan. One of Japan’s oldest automakers, Daihatsu, has endured regional rivalries for decades. The off-road Hijet, Tanto, and Mira are some of the most well-known cars that the company makes. Daihatsu is one of Japan’s best-selling brands internationally, and its popularity is on the rise.

#12. Hino

Hino Motors, Ltd., or just Hino, is a company in Japan that makes diesel engines and commercial vehicles like trucks, buses, and other work vehicles. This company was established in 1942 as a spin-off from an older industrial enterprise.

Hino Motors is included in the Nikkei 225 index, which monitors the 225 most valuable stocks in Japan. In 2001, Toyota Motor Corporation bought all of Hino’s shares. This made Hino a subsidiary of TMC that TMC owned in its entirety. It is a company that is completely owned by Toyota Motor Corporation and is one of the 16 main companies that make up the Toyota Group. Hino started making Renaults under license in 1953, and by 1961 it was making its own Contessa 900 sedan with an 893 cc engine in the back and the Hino Briska pickup truck with a bigger version of the Contessa engine in the front and rear-wheel drive.

The sedan produced 60 horsepower (44 kW) when equipped with two SU-type carburetors, while the coupé produced 70 horsepower (51 kW). However, after signing a strategic alliance with Toyota in 1965, Hino abruptly ceased production of private automobiles in 1967.
Hino has been doing business in the United States since 1984. Hino Motors Manufacturing U.S.A., Inc. has a plant in Williamstown, West Virginia, where it makes medium-duty trucks. They opened a second facility in Mineral Wells, West Virginia, near the end of 2018. Toyota Tacoma, Tundra, and Sequoia axles, knuckles, and other suspension components are made in the company’s operations in Ontario, California, and Marion, Arkansas. Genuine Hino service parts are available from the Parts Distribution Center in Mira Loma, California, to distributors across Latin America and the Caribbean.

#13. Mitsuoka

The Mitsuoka Motor Company is a diminutive automaker that is a part of the Japanese car brands. It is known for making one-of-a-kind cars with unique designs. Some of these cars are cutting-edge, while others pay homage to classic cars from the 1950s and 1960s in the United States, Europe, and the United Kingdom. In Japan, Mitsuoka Motors is also the primary distributor of the legendary TD2000 roadster.

Mitsuoka is well known for its custom design coachbuilding services, which include modifying and replacing various parts of the bodywork of production automobiles like the Nissan March. The Orochi, a high-performance vehicle, has also been created by the company.

Mitsuoka became the tenth Japanese automaker to be officially registered in Japan after Honda in 1963. They did this by building on the success of the Nissan line of cars.

At the 2016 London Motor Show, Mitsuoka Motor introduced the Mitsuoka Roadster (Himiko), which had its UK debut in 2015 under the exclusive distribution of T.W. White & Sons. One of the fascinating things about this brand is that its car bodies are made by hand, and this exudes originality.

#14. Yamaha

As a Japanese multinational firm, Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. produces motorcycles, maritime products like boats and outboard motors, and other powered products. Iwata, Shizuoka, Japan, is home to the firm’s headquarters since its establishment in 1955. In that year, the company broke away from Yamaha Corporation and became an independent entity; now, Yamaha Corporation holds 9.92% of the company’s private shares. In 2012, the company had 109 subsidiaries that worked together to do research and development, production, and marketing.

Genichi Kawakami started Yamaha Motor in 1955 as a branch of Yamaha Corporation, which made musical instruments. Under Kawakami’s guidance, the firm produced its first product, the YA-1 125cc motorcycle.

Along with importing and selling a wide range of goods, the company also manages leisure and recreation facilities and related services. Yamaha is number two in motorcycle sales worldwide and number one in the sale of watercraft.

Luxury Japanese Car Brands

Luxury cars are overly expensive than the normal conventional. A conventional car’s purpose is primarily to is to move from one place to other. When compared to more affordable vehicles, luxury automobiles give a higher standard of living in terms of interior design, standard features, quality, and performance. The word represents the individual’s opinion of the car’s qualities and the reputation of the manufacturer. The following are some of the luxury Japanese car brands in the market;

#1. Aspark

First on our list of luxury Japanese car brands is the Aspark brand. The company was established in Osaka, Japan, in 2005 and has since grown to become an industry-leading automaker and engineering pioneer. At this time, the Aspark brand encompasses more than 25 locations and has more than 3,300 employees spread out over the world. Most people agree that the Aspark Owl, which is made by the Aspark Company, is one of the most expensive luxury cars ever made. It takes the vehicle less than 1.7 seconds to go from 0 to 60 miles per hour, making it the quickest full-electric hypercar in the world.

Over the course of its history, the company has made a name for itself as a top provider of technical services to the automotive, industrial, and electronics industries.

In the middle of the second decade of the 21st century, Aspark started developing an electric supercar with the intention of giving record performance (less than 2 seconds to 100 km/h; 62 mph) and the ability to move the vehicle in traffic. After being shown for the first time at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2017, the Aspark Owl’s pre-production prototype was shown for the first time at the Dubai International Motor Show in November 2019, where the serial version of the car was shown for the first time anywhere in the world.
The company that makes the Owl says that it has the fastest acceleration of any car in the world.

#2. Acura

Acura is a popular Japanese luxury car brand in the United States. It is a luxury brand that was founded by Honda in 1986. Acura was the first luxury, high-end automobile manufacturer in Japan. Acura offers cars in the compact to mid-size range, including sedans, coupes, and sport utility vehicles, for lower prices than its Japanese and German premium rivals. However, Acura’s emphasis is more on sports cars than pure luxury cars. The MDX and TLX are just two of the SUVs and sedans in its portfolio, respectively.

#3. Lexus

Lexus has been making a wide range of sedans, SUVs, coupes, and hybrids in Japan under the Toyota brand name since its start in 1989. Well, it is one of the luxury Japanese car brands in the USA. People like the brand’s cars because they have quiet, high-quality interiors and are safe and reliable.

#4. Infiniti

Infiniti is a Japanese vehicle brand that has become a household name worldwide. In any case, Infiniti is a brand of Nissan, and Nissan is a company that is always improving its high-end products. Even though the name isn’t very well known in Europe, it does very well in the US. Infini is renowned for its superior build quality, cutting-edge safety measures, and potent engines.

Aside from Acura and Lexus brands, Infiniti is also a Japanese luxury car brand in the USA. The question of who actually owns Infini is being hotly debated. Some people say that Infiniti is Nissan’s high-end brand, while others say that Nissan and Infiniti are owned by the same company.

Japanese Car Brands In The USA

Every product in the USA passes through specification tests to ensure it is up to the expected standards. That way you wouldn’t find all the Japanese car brands in the USA, only the ones that met these specifications. The following are some of the Japanese car brands;

#1. Honda

Honda, originating in Japan, is well-known for producing trustworthy and convenient automobiles. It is one of the Japanese car brands in the USA. In 1948, it first opened its doors for business. The first Japanese automobile to be manufactured in the United States was the 1982 Honda Accord. Honda has many different types of automobiles available, and they all place a premium on performance and customer pleasure. The Civic sedan, the CR-V sport utility vehicle, and the Odyssey minivan are all part of Honda’s extensive product portfolio.

#2. Infiniti

Infiniti is also one of the Japanese luxury car brands. There is an argument over the ownership of Infini. Some argue it is the luxury brand of Nissan, while others believe Nissan and Infini are both owned by another brand, so the first notion is not true. Wow, both stories share some similarities in their differences. Infiniti is known for its high-quality construction, innovative safety features, and powerful engines. The Q50 sports car, Q60 coupe, and QX60 crossover are all available from Infiniti.

#3. Mitsubishi

Next on the list of Japanese car brands in the USA is Mitsubishi. Its headquarters are in Japan, and it makes cars and sport utility vehicles (SUVs) like the Mirage and the Outlander. Though its current portfolio of cars isn’t as reliable or well-refined as its rivals’, they are cheaper. Mitsubishi made its formal debut in the US market in 1982 and has remained in the market since then.

#4. Toyota

Toyota is a Japanese company that has been around since 1937. It makes cars, pickup trucks, SUVs, and minivans. It is well known for manufacturing trustworthy and convenient automobiles. Toyota also produces an extensive selection of hybrid cars. Toyota first sold its cars in the United States in 1957. In the United States and around the world, the Corolla has been the company’s most successful vehicle. Popular Toyota models in the United States include the Highlander, Tacoma, Corolla, Camry, and RAV4.

Which Is The Best Japanese Car Brands?

In no particular order, the following are the best Japanese car brands;

Toyota.
Nissan.
Mazda
Lexus
Honda
Suzuki
Infiniti
Mitsubishi.

What Brands Of Cars Are From Japan?

There are several car brands manufactured in Japan. Many of them have made their way into the American market, while others have not made it to the international market. Check out the following as every brand below are already in the international market;

Aspark
Honda
Isuzu
Mazda
Mitsubishi
Nissan
Subaru
Suzuki
Toyota Motor Corporation
Ales
Nikken

What is a Famous Car Brand in Japan?

Toyota is a famous Japanese brand not just in Japan but also in the USA and the international market. With sales of over 1.42 million automobiles, Toyota was by far the most successful automaker in Japan. Toyota reported more than twice as many unit sales as the company that came in second place, despite the fact that their overall sales were down by 2.1 percent compared to the previous year.

What is Japan’s Best-Selling Car?

The best-selling Japanese car is Toyota Yaris.

Why Are Cars So Cheap in Japan?

Japanese new car prices are among the lowest in Asia and the world. This is because both the “scale economies” that Japan’s huge economy makes possible and the fact that cars made in Japan don’t have to travel as far to get to customers are to blame.
Because the Japanese are risk-averse, you can expect them to take few chances. The common belief in Japan is that an automobile is too old after it reaches a specific number of kilometers driven, at which point a replacement must be purchased. This idea emerged in the 1980s, Japan’s “golden era,” and has persisted to the present day. You may often find Japanese people selling their automobiles before they reach the 350,000-kilometer mark, despite the fact that many Japanese cars survive much longer.

There are several factors that contribute to the low prices and high quality of Japan’s used car market. Because of these “blessings,” people in Japan who want to buy old Japanese cars can do so for a lot less than what the cars are worth on the market.

Which Car Sells Most in Japan?

Honda N-Box and Toyota Yaris

What Is The Most Reliable Japanese Car?

The most reliable Japanese car may be the Toyota Yaris. However, the following cars are also very reliable

Lexus ES.
Lexus GX.
Toyota Corolla.
Lexus NX
Toyota Prius/Prius Prime
Acura TLX.
Mazda MX-5 Miata.