When you stand on any corner and watch the traffic pass by, it will become evident that most cars in the United States are made by Toyota or Honda. This isn’t just anecdotal evidence, as both Toyota and Honda are among the top four car brands in America. Ford and Chevy round out the list, but their strength relies on truck sales. It’s fair to say that the Japanese brands dominate the car segment.

Toyota and Honda are incredibly successful because they make solid, reliable cars that appeal to the car-buying public, but there are other Japanese imports that are equally impressive. Subaru, Mazda, and Nissan make great vehicles as well, but there are other amazing rides from across the Pacific that may have been forgotten. At some point, Isuzu, Mitsubishi, and Suzuki all sold fantastic rides in the States. Even Daihatsu had a brief stint in the American market.

It’s important to remember that Nissan used to be Datsun and brought their popular Z-cars to our shores for generations. Japanese imports are as much a part of American car culture as Ford, GM, and Mopar. This is not to say that American cars aren’t great, but there’s plenty of room and love for the great cars that have defined our lives. While Toyota and Honda are the top dogs of Japanese imports, they aren’t the only ones to make iconic rides for the U.S. market.

The 20 Most Important Classic Japanese Cars

To provide the most up-to-date and accurate information, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturer websites and authoritative sources, including Automobile Catalog, Fastest Laps, and ConceptCarz. In the interest of fairness and history, these imports have been ranked in chronological order from the least powerful model to the most powerful.

10 1968 Subaru 360

Power: 25 Horsepower

The 1968 Subaru 360 may be considered a great Japanese import despite its diminutive size. Weighing under 1,000 pounds, this sub-sub-compact had impressive gas mileage of 66 miles per gallon, although it wasn’t designed to survive a crash due to not adhering to U.S. highway safety regulations.

Performance Specifications

Notably, in 1968, businessman Malcolm Bricklin imported 10,000 Subaru 360 cars despite the absence of a market for such vehicles in the U.S. This move was akin to his introduction of the Yugo to America. Despite the lack of market appeal, the Subaru 360 was sold for an MSRP of $1,300.

• Malcolm Bricklin founded Subaru America
• MSRP for a 1968 Subaru 360 was $1,300

9 1985 Suzuki Samurai

Power: 63 Horsepower

In 1985, the Suzuki Samurai was introduced to the U.S. market. Although it faced allegations of being prone to rolling over, the allegations were later refuted in a Suzuki lawsuit. Consumer Reports had to admit that the car was safe during normal operations. Despite this, the allegations tarnished the image of this fun, quirky off-road vehicle.

Performance Specifications

During its time in the U.S. market, the Suzuki Samurai garnered attention from various groups, including zombie apocalypse survivors, Power Rangers, and even Scooby Doo. It also outsold the Jeep Wrangler upon its introduction in the U.S., but its image was ultimately marred by safety concerns, leading to a decline in sales.

• Known popularly as the Jimny in the rest of the world
• A dedicated fan base remains hopeful for the rebirth of the Jimny in the U.S.

8 1978 Subaru Brat

Power: 67 Horsepower

The Subaru Brat, popularly known as a “Bi-drive Recreational All-terrain Transporter,” was introduced in the U.S. as a compact coupe utility that competed with the Ford Ranchero and Chevrolet El Camino. It was best known for its unique feature: rear jump seats in the truck bed.

Performance Specifications

The Subaru Brat’s unique ability to avoid the “Chicken Tax” on imported pickups by installing rear jump seats contributed to its appeal in the U.S. market. The model gained popularity and eventually became a cult hit, selling over 100,000 units in the U.S. between 1978 and 1987.

• A popular choice for President Ronald Reagan, who utilized it on his ranch
• Featured in the Burt Reynolds movie Hooper

Suzuki Samurai: History, Generations, And Everything We Know

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7 1979 Mazda RX-7

Power: 100 Horsepower

The 1979 Mazda RX-7 was a game changer in the North American sports car market, being lightweight, fast, and affordable. It was much cheaper than its closest rival, the 1979 Porsche 928, making it an attractive option.

Performance Specifications