The Wonderful World of Kei Cars

"carcrasher88" (carcrasher88) 10/04/2014 at 17:15 • Filed to: Japan, Kei Cars

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What is it about these little cars from Japan that make them so desirable?

[Nissan Dayz Highway Star - !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! ]

Some reasons are obvious.

Government regulations on engine displacement and vehicle size, the basis for the Kei class.

Other reasons likely have to do with what's on the outside.

Along with being very easy to park, Kei cars tend to sport adorable looks, or in some case rather sporty looks.

[Honda Beat - !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! ]

Currently, there is a large selection of Kei cars on the Japanese market. Four companies manufacturer kei cars: Honda, Daihatsu, Mitsubishi, and Suzuki.

Toyota, Mazda, Nissan, and Subaru also sell kei models that are rebadged versions of the other four companies' models.

For example, Mazda's Kei lineup consists of rebadged Suzuki models, Toyota and Subaru offer rebadged Daihatsu models, and Nissan offers a lineup of rebadged Suzuki and Mitsubishi models.

[smart K - !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! ]

The kei market has been dominantly Japanese, though there have been two examples of outside efforts.

The German smart brand offered a version of the ForTwo from 2001-04 that met government regulations for Kei cars, the smart K, with little success.

A South Korean company called CT&T United offers their !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! electric car under Kei regulations via importer NAFCA.

[Daihatsu Mira Cocoa - !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! ]

Kei cars tend to have a rather 'cute' look to them. It mainly results from the size limitations of the class.

The current regulations for Kei vehicles were put into place on October 1, 1998.

- maximum engine displacement: 660cc

- maximum power output: 47KW/63hp

- maximum load capacity: 350kg/771.6lb

- maximum passenger capacity: 4

- maximum height: 2m/6.6ft

- maximum width: 1.48m/4.9ft

- maximum length: 3.4m/11.2ft

[ !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! ]

The most well-known of the original Kei cars is the Subaru 360. The car that Malcolm Bricklin brought to America and began the Subaru story in this country.

[Subaru 360 ad - !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! ]

'Cheap and Ugly', the slogan used to advertise the car.

After that, came the Honda N600, an enlarged version of the popular N360 kei car.

That model began what became the Civic.

Since then, the Kei car wasn't really present in the US...

[2014 Mitsubishi i-MiEV - !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! ]

...until very recently.

In December 2011, the first deliveries of the Mitsubishi i-MiEV occured.

The i-MiEV isn't offered in it's normal ICE version, simply called the Mitsubishi i, which meets Kei regulations in it's home country, making this the first Kei model to be officially be sold in the US in decades.

Of course, if you ask someone from Japan what comes to mind when they think of a Kei car, the response will likely be Suzuki Wagon R.

[Suzuki Wagon R - !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! ]

That's because the Wagon R has been the best selling Kei car in Japan since 2003.

Unlike most Kei models, though, the Wagon R is built and sold in many other countries and under various brands.

In many parts of the world, you'll find versions of various Wagon R generations with Maruti, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Opel, Vauxhall, or Chevrolet badging.

For example, the Wagon R has been built and sold in India by Maruti Suzuki since 1999, where it is one of the best selling cars in the country.

Five generations, over 2 decades of sales, and one of the most internationally known Kei cars on the planet...even if the international versions wouldn't meet Kei regulations.

The Kei class is a very fascinating one. In this age of higher cost fuel, some further advancement in safety could give these cars more international appeal for their thrifty fuel economy, low price, and surprising interior room.

Of course, the best way to understand these cars would be to make the journey to Japan and experience them first hand.

Jedidiah > carcrasher88 10/04/2014 at 17:18

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Best advertising I have ever seen

carcrasher88 > Jedidiah 10/04/2014 at 17:20

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Yep, and it was successful. They sold about 10,000 360s and other variants, and started America's love affair with Subaru's quirky products.

Jedidiah > carcrasher88 10/04/2014 at 17:22

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Probably because it was honest advertising unlike everything else.

Chevrolet said the Camaro handled good because it had "road hugging weight."

carcrasher88 > Jedidiah 10/04/2014 at 17:25

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Indeed. The 360 was ugly.

But it was a kinda Pug-like ugly, if you ask me.

Honesty in advertising, seems to be a thing of the past.

Now it's all about flaunting things about the product that's 'better' than the competition.

Tohru > carcrasher88 10/04/2014 at 18:01

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What is it about these little cars from Japan that make them so desirable?

Part of it, at least for the US, is because we can't have them. With the global economy we have nowadays, the US needs to get with the times regarding vehicle regulations. If it passes Japanese or European crash & emissions it should be allowed in.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > carcrasher88 10/04/2014 at 19:11

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It's no secret that I also love Kei cars I love everything about them and have posted about them on many occasions. I really wish we had them here I would totally use one as me daily cruiser. The thing is that they are just as spacious as a bigger car if not more. this misconception that you are squished in these is totally false. Ever sat in a new Ford Taurus? now that is what I call small inside.

here is a really great review of the Honda Nbox

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2012/07/review…

I love the tiny things.Don't believe me? see for your self:

http://lucallain.kinja.com/search?q=kei+c…

NaturallyAspirated > carcrasher88 10/04/2014 at 21:56

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I recently hosted a business associate from Nagoya. He drives a manual transmission Subaru Stella. He seemed rather mystified that anyone would think it was an interesting car.

Pictured is a random Stella image from GIS; my friend didn't have a picture of his car.

carcrasher88 > NaturallyAspirated 10/04/2014 at 22:06

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That's a really nice looking car. Shame Subaru doesn't build their own kei cars anymore, instead selling rebadged Daihatsus.