JDM cars are models sold exclusively in the Japanese Domestic Market, so it’s not just any Japanese car sold in the States. That being said, some JDM cars were identical in all the markets, and we’ve also mentioned some of those in this article.
The JDM market is among the hottest trends today, and some of the more desirable models have seen their prices skyrocket in the last decade. Part of the price jump is due to the US 25-year rule regarding import cars. Americans have been buying everything from Japan’s golden era, and wealthier car enthusiasts are now among the few who can afford models that were once readily available to the masses.
However, some affordable JDM cars are still available to those of us on strict budgets. Granted, they may not be the fastest and most powerful models, but there’s plenty to choose from. This list is far from exhaustive and is just meant to give you some pointers to what you could look for.
Suzuki Swift Sport
The Suzuki Swift Sport is one of the most underrated hot hatches on the market, which is a shame because these cars are hysterical to drive on a twisty, narrow road. The first two generations used a 1.6-liter VVT-i engine that produced around 125–135 horsepower.
Suzuki’s little Swifts aren’t powerful, but like the original Miata, they are momentum machines that are oh-so-rewarding on the right road. The selection of aftermarket parts is also pretty decent. The Swift is not yet eligible for US import, and that’s probably why they’re so cheap.
Toyota MR-S
Toyota sold the MR-S as the MR2 Spyder in the States, so there’s only a need to import a JDM car if you crave authenticity and want the steering wheel on the wrong side, which happens to be the right side.
Just like the American MR2, the Japanese MR-S packs a 140-horsepower 1.8-liter engine found in many other Toyotas from the late 90s and early 2000s. Swapping in the 190 horsepower unit from the Celica and its 6-speed transmission is a popular mod. The MR-S has a healthy selection of aftermarket parts, and Techno Pro Spirits built a togue monster that can be seen in the Best Motoring videos.
Mazdaspeed Axela / Mazdaspeed3
The Mazdaspeed Axela was sold in Stateside as the Mazdaspeed3, so you can find a local car rather than a Japanese one. It isn’t dirt cheap, but considering what you get for your money, it’s well worth the price.
Edmunds compared the Mazdaspeed3 to the likes of the Mitsubishi Evo and Subaru WRX, two of the most iconic heavyweights in the JDM performance car game. The Axela has a turbocharged 2.3-liter engine and a manual 6-speed transmission – and they’re available for under $10,000.
Nissan Figaro
The Nissan Figaro belongs to Nissan’s Pike cars, a group of retro-styled models from the late 80s and early 90s. The Figaro is getting more expensive nowadays, as enthusiasts seem to like its quirky looks. However, it’s still possible to buy one without remortgaging the house.
The Nissan Figaro had a small 1.0-liter turbo engine, so it’s certainly not fast. However, what it lacks in speed and power, it gains in charm and everyday fun.
Nissan 300ZX / Fairlady Z
The Nissan 300ZX was very technologically advanced for its time, and it was fast, too. It’s highly desirable but also high-maintenance, which means plenty of affordable cars are available. If you want a proper JDM car, not the American version, you should know it was called Fairlady Z in Japan.
Top-spec models had a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 engine, and Japanese tuners extracted ridiculous amounts of power from it, making it popular with Japan’s infamous street racers.
Nissan 350Z / Fairlady Z
Like its predecessor, the 300ZX, the 350 Z was sold under the Fairlady Z in Japan, but this Fairlady was a much more basic sports car.
Gone was all the fancy tech that made the 300ZX great — but also a pain to own and maintain. The Fairlady Z used a naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 engine and offered excellent handling even without four-wheel steering.
Infiniti G35
The Infiniti G35 is a Nissan 350Z in a fancy dress, and they can be found for even less money than the more famous Nissan model. The Infiniti G35 can even be had as a four-door sedan if you want to be genuinely unique while saving even more money.
A G35 sedan with the right bodykit and wheels can be a proper head-turner, and the engine is highly tunable, making it a fun car for the whole family.
Suzuki Cappuccino
Japan is known for its kei cars; few models are as revered as the Suzuki Cappuccino. Kei cars are popular due to reduced tax on cars with tiny engines that measure 660cc or less. Even with such a small powerplant, the little Cappuccino sports car still offers endless fun.
The Suzuki Cappuccino probably won’t be great for a daily commute on the highway, but darting through city streets will be more fun than ever.
Toyota Crown
Toyota used to sell the Crown in the States, but it was discontinued there after the fourth generation. While the latest 16th generation brings the moniker back to the US of A, we think importing one of the older generations of this stylish JDM sedan would be cooler – especially if you want to do a VIP build.
The 10th generation Crown is eligible for US import already, and early 11th gen cars can also be brought in by the end of 2024. The Crown had plenty of engines to choose from, but the ones fitted with the legendary 1JZ and 2JZ units are the ones to go for.
Mazda RX-8
The Mazda RX-8 could’ve been one of the JDM greats, but because of its reliability issues, it’s one of the cheapest Japanese sports cars on the used car market instead.
All is not lost, though. If you’re a decent mechanic who can keep the RX-8 running and don’t mind doing so, we definitely recommend this Wankel-engined toy. The RX-8 has an excellent chassis, and you can turn it into a proper beast with a few mods.
Mazda RX-7 (FC)
Unless you buy a total wreck, there’s no way you’ll get your hands on the excellent third-generation FD RX-7. However, all is not lost, as the second-generation FC RX-7 is still attainable.
It’s possible to pick one up for less than a third of what you’ll pay for its younger sibling. The third-gen RX-7 also came with a turbocharged Wankel engine, and plenty of go-faster parts are available for it. Granted, the FC is not as beautiful as the FD, but with the right bodykit, it can be quite the stunner.
Toyota Celica
There are seven generations of the Toyota Celica to choose from, and the last one is the cheapest. All Celicas are fun cars, but we’d opt for one of the three AWD GT-Four generations.
These aren’t cheap, but they’re much more affordable than other AWD turbocharged JDM cars from the same era. These rally hom*ologation cars all have a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine and manual transmission.
Subaru Sambar
The Subaru Sambar exists in both truck and minivan form. It’s been around since the 60s, and there are eight generations to choose from. The fifth generation can be imported to the States now and is an excellent choice for those who want a tiny, eye-catching company car.
With around 50 horsepower, the Sambar isn’t fast, nor can it haul much weight, but it’s the perfect delivery van for city use.
Nissan Stagea
Getting your hands on the legendary Nissan Skyline can be a costly affair these days. The best ones can fetch more money than a proper supercar. Luckily, the Nissan Stagea is essentially a Skyline wagon and is much more attainable.
Nissan introduced the Stagea in 1996, so you can import it to the US. It’s based on the R33 Skyline, and the top-spec version has a 235-horsepower RB25DET engine.
Nissan Pao
Nissan went down the retro-style route long before anyone even knew it was a thing. The Pao was manufactured between 1989 and 1991 as part of Nissan’s Pike cars, and it had design features that were common on models from the 1960s.
The Nissan March/Micra’s 1.0-liter engine powers the Pao, and while 51 horsepower isn’t much, it’s enough to put a smile on your face during a relaxed Sunday cruise.
Honda Civic EK
The Honda Civic EK has been a favorite among tuners and street racers since it first emerged in 1996. While the Type R is ridiculously expensive, you can find other versions for sensible money.
The “lesser” models came fitted with Honda’s D-series SOHC engines, and while they’re more economy-oriented, they can still be massaged to produce healthy power figures. You may wonder what the point of importing a Civic is, as tons of them are readily available. We’d try to find a proper Kanjozoku car, as some have been known to come up for sale occasionally.
Suzuki Alto Works
The Suzuki Alto Works may not look like much, but back in its day, this was one of the most exciting kei cars on the market.
Suzuki made the Alto Works a performance version of the rather slow regular Alto. The Alto Works was the first model to reach the government’s kei car 63 horsepower limit. There aren’t many around, but the Alto Works remains surprisingly cheap, so it’s a chance to drive something unique even if you’re on a strict budget.
Honda Beat
We have another kei car on our list, this time in the form of the legendary Honda Beat. Its 660cc engine only produces 63 horsepower, but the Beat is still a zippy little car thanks to its low curb weight.
As with all things JDM, foreigners are showing more interest in kei cars these days, which leads to inflated prices. If you want one, now is the time to get one.
NB Mazda MX-5
The original NA Miata is getting expensive, but the NB version is still affordable. While there are plenty of Miatas to choose from, a right-hand drive MX-5 for track use would be cool.
The MX-5 / Miata enjoys one of the largest selections of aftermarket parts of any car, so you can easily turn it into something unique.
Suzuki Jimny
The Suzuki Jimny has been around since 1970 and has earned quite a reputation as an off-roader. Its latest version arrived in 2018 and, sadly, isn’t available in the States, nor is it eligible for import. That’s a shame because it already has a cult following.
The good news is that there are plenty of older models to pick from, and they’re all great if you want to venture off the beaten path. Some were even sold in the States as the Suzuki Samurai.
Mitsubishi Pajero Mini
The regular Mitsubishi Pajero was sold as a Montero in the States, and as the name suggests, this is a miniature version of it, which, unfortunately, wasn’t available outside of Japan. This tiny SUV is similar to the Suzuki Jimny and looks like a proper off-roader but scaled down.
Adhering to kei car rules, the Pajero Mini has a 659cc engine that sends 51 horsepower to two or four wheels. We’d remove the rear seats and turn it into a low-budget off-road rig for two.
Honda Prelude
Honda produced the Prelude from 1978 to 2001, and it saw five generations. This two-door coupe was never as popular as certain other Japanese sports coupes from that era, and that’s why you can pick one up for very little money today.
The third generation had fancy pop-up headlights, so if you want a bit of retro style, that’s the one to go for. However, if you want the most power possible and the best driving dynamics, the fifth and last generation is the one to check out.
Mitsubishi Delica
The Mitsubishi Delica, or L300 in some markets, has been around since the late 1960s, but the third and fourth generations are the most interesting. Mitsubishi was clearly thinking outside the box as these two generations are proper 4×4 off-road minivans, which we rarely see.
Models made after 1986 offered plenty of ground clearance, beefy tires, 4×4, and a two-speed transfer case. The Mitsubishi Delica is perfect for those who want to go on an overland adventure on a budget, as you can pick one up for less than $10,000.
Subaru SVX
Subaru’s SVX looks odd, and we’re surprised it made it into production. Clearly, we’re not the only ones who think it’s a weird car because only a few people bought this Italian-styled Japanese grand tourer.
Subaru only sold around 14,000 cars; even though they are rare, people still don’t want them. Prices have increased recently, but finding a cheap SVX in good condition is still possible. Please don’t buy a rough SVX, as you’ll struggle to find parts for it.
