10 Japan Market Cars We Need Right Now

I’ve just returned home following the 2025 Japan Mobility Show and folks, there are a lot of cool cars on the other side of the world that we’re missing out on.

The streets of Tokyo were brimming with variety—where else would you see a Ferrari 12Cilindri, an old K5 Blazer, and Skyline GT-R within minutes of each other? And yes, the kei cars were numerous and adorable.

There’s a lot of forbidden fruit to admire. From across the show floor as well as out in the wild, here are 10 JDM models that we’d like to see roaming the streets of North America. We’ve also included a score out of 10 on the likelihood of these models ever arriving here, based on nothing more than a mix of market knowledge and a little hope.

Topping the list is the Subaru Levorg, because who wouldn’t want what is essentially a more practical WRX? Heck, the Aussies don’t even pretend, calling this the WRX Sportswagon.

The Levorg comes with a turbocharged 1.8-liter version of the usual Subaru Boxer-four, which provides similar horsepower to the 2.5-liter found in the Crosstrek but a good deal more torque. There’s also the STI Sport R model, which nicks the WRX’s 2.4-liter. The one catch? There’s currently no manual transmission model, just CVTs. Don’t forget the “Layback,” an off-roady trim with more ground clearance and extra cladding. So an Outback, now that the Outback has morphed into a hard-to-look-at SUV.

The Levorg’s chances of ever showing up here are high: it’s based off an existing and well-liked model, and fills a gap in the lineup. 

Likelihood score: 8/10

Toyota brought the Crown over here a few years ago, and then expanded the lineup with the Signia in 2024. Yet we’re still missing half of the models found in the home market!

As pretty as the Crown sedan is—think Mirai with a hammerhead frontend, instead of the odd high-riding model we got—this spot on the list goes to the Crown Sport, which is ostensibly an SUV. But just look at it! An incredibly attractive exterior has all the drama of a Ferrari Purosangue, not to mention taillights seemingly inspired by one of the prettiest Japanese cars of the last 40 years (Mazda RX-7). Big 21-inch alloys fill the arches, giving the Sport a very different feel from the upmarket Signia.

In its home market, the Crown Sport comes with the usual 2.5-liter hybrid setup, but also the plug-in hybrid version that is currently only available on the RAV4 on this side of the pond. Bringing the Sport to North America would be tricky due to all the overlap with the Signia; the PHEV could be the way to help it stand out. You know, as if the looks aren’t enough.

Likelihood score: 6/10 

You know who needs a hit? Mitsubishi. The Outlander is far and away the brand’s best vehicle, and a genuinely great choice in its class. But the rest of the lineup is old and uncompetitive on anything outside of warranty. We remember when Mitsubishi was known for its daring and left-field approach, and the latest Delica would be a great flagship to remind folks.

Okay, so the Delica D:5 isn’t actually very new, either. Truth be told, the GS platform that underpins it dates back to a joint venture with DaimlerChrysler. It’s also underneath the Eclipse Cross. No matter. We think the market is ready for an off-roady minivan, especially given the current trend of rugged three-row SUVs. The Delica’s boxy shape, short overhangs, and sliding doors just make it more useful!

Likelihood score: 6/10

In case you didn’t catch it, Lexus is contemplating a van-shaped successor to the LS. What better way to get folks onboard with the idea of sliding-door luxury than bringing in the existing LM, a swanky van for those who understand what luxury can really be about.

Available in four-, six-, and seven-passenger arrangements, the LM introduced Lexus’ Rear Climate Concierge system, which ties together climate controls, sunshade, lighting, and seating position for ultimate comfort. There are heated armrests, fold-out ottomans, and even a 48-inch screen. It truly does feel like a lounge on wheels.

Best of all, the LM shares its platform with most every other Lexus model. The 500h rolls with the same powertrain as the one found in the RX, meaning 360-ish horsepower and four-wheel steer.

Likelihood score: 5/10

Remember when Prius was a whole family of models? The littlest model was the Prius c, essentially a Yaris hatchback with a hybrid powertrain. Unfortunately, even a palette of funky exterior colors couldn’t make the Prius c a hit, and the introduction of the Corolla hybrid likely didn’t help.

The new Aqua wouldn’t need the Prius name were it to slide into the North American lineup. It’d have the Prius look, mind you: so much of Toyota does these days, and why not, since the hammerhead design works so well on different shapes? The Crown Sport works, and so does this, especially paired with the funky vertical taillights and aggressive window line.

The Aqua is still a hybrid-only affair, and that’s fine, too. It currently comes with a 1.5-liter engine and a combined 116-horsepower system output. That powertrain could stay untouched and help the Aqua act as an anchoring model in Toyota’s US lineup. Alternately, swapping in the Corolla’s 138-horsepower setup could reposition the Aqua as a slightly more premium, hatchback option for those wanting a little more style.

Likelihood: 4/10

We are big fans of Mazda’s CX-90 here at AutoGuide. It’s a smooth, comfortable three-row SUV that feels a distinct step up from the rest of the mainstream offerings in its swanky cabin and mature driving dynamics. So what if Mazda applied that to a size smaller?

The CX-60 would be the result. There’s much of the 90’s flavor here, including the rear-biased AWD system and silky-smooth inline-six powertrain. If its big brother is a value alternative to a BMW X5, then the CX-60 could take the fight to the X3, Audi Q5, and Mercedes-Benz GLC.

There’s just one problem: sibling rivalry. The CX-5 is Mazda’s best-selling model over here, and it already has the CX-50 as a similarly-sized complement. The CX-60 only has an inch or two in length on those models, so Mazda dealers would have an uphill battle trying to sell three seemingly similar vehicles. Even in our SUV-obsessed market, that’s a big ask.

Likelihood: 4/10

Did you like the Leaf’s old hatchback shape, but also aren’t entirely sold on a fully electric experience? The Note Aura could join the redesigned ’26 Leaf as Nissan’s two-pronged approach to the affordable end of the electrified market. It’s handsome, spacious for its size, and its unique powertrain could offer big savings depending on use cases.

Nissan’s e-Power system sounds complicated: in the case of the Note Aura, it pairs a 1.2-liter gas engine with an 134-horsepower, 220-pound-foot electric motor and a small 1.5-kilowatt-hour battery pack. Except in most situations, the gas engine never actually drives the wheels, acting instead as a generator.

As a family’s single-purpose city car, the Note Aura could sip fuel while still providing many of the advantages drivers get from an EV, namely quick responses and near-silent running. It’d have to come in pretty low to undercut the Leaf, which is arguably its biggest challenge.

Likelihood: 3/10

While Honda could likely print money with a modern-day rethink of the Element, the Stepwgn might be the next best thing. Roughly CR-V sized but sporting a blocky-chic look and sliding doors, the Stepwgn offers up acres of interior space.

Underneath, you’re basically looking at a CR-V or Civic too, with the availability of a 1.5-liter turbo or the excellent 2.0-liter hybrid setup that’s been spreading across the lineup.

Is this unlikely? Oh yeah. But we can dream!

Likelihood: 3/10

Otherwise known as the Daihatsu Rocky and Toyota Raize, the Subaru Rex is a humble little rough-n-tumble package that could slot in below the Crosstrek. Look, we all know cars are getting bigger every generation, and even the Crosstrek itself is much larger than the original Impreza was in the early 90s.

The Rex is even smaller still, measuring just 157.3 inches (3,995 millimetres) end to end. The Rex’s upright stance gives it a surprising amount of interior room.

There are two small issues facing the small Rex. Firstly, the Subaru version of this car doesn’t currently come with AWD, only its siblings. Not a problem; the BRZ doesn’t offer AWD, and the upcoming Uncharted won’t on some trims either. The second issue is a horsepower rating under 100, which is a tougher sell in power-crazed North America.

Likelihood: 2/10

Forget the Jimmy, we want this adorable lil’ guy. Who says only the big, burly body-on-frame models should have off-road trims? The Hustler is one of Suzuki’s many kei car offerings, but probably the one with the most smirk-inducing name. Now it’s acting tough, like a baby panda in hiking gear. That’s enough to put it on this list.

Likelihood: 0.5/10

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