5 Best Selling Kei Cars of 2023 in Japan: Rankings and Reviews

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  • Опубліковано 20 січ 2025

КОМЕНТАРІ • 122

  • @ringomoko3762
    @ringomoko3762 9 місяців тому +38

    I owned kei car 18yrs.now. no problem,no stress and Iove it.

  • @colinrenfrew48
    @colinrenfrew48 Рік тому +88

    Most cities in the U.K. would benefit from this class of car. It’s not always about an £80k suv!

    • @larrikinjapan
      @larrikinjapan  Рік тому +25

      I think most cities around the world would benefit. Good mileage, small easy to park, cheap and the list goes on.

    • @TokyoHomes
      @TokyoHomes 11 місяців тому +3

      100% agree but SUV sometimes better in winter driving like in Canada lots of snow on Mountains but for warmer place I love to have Kei cars, I own few Kei cars in Canada before I'm thinking to buy it again.

    • @Mobik_
      @Mobik_ 11 місяців тому +8

      every time I visit America and take an Uber... I feel like I have to climb a mountain to get into one of those SUV. It's crazy and unnecessary!

    • @andrewgraham6339
      @andrewgraham6339 3 місяці тому +3

      The cheapest one I can find is £9,000 in Britain.

  • @eronedalessandria5914
    @eronedalessandria5914 Рік тому +61

    I am Italian and I live in Rome. I have a 2004 Suzuki Wagon r+ and I love it. If I wanted to change it for a similar one I couldn't do it. In Italy they don't sell these types of small cars derived from Japanese kei cars. If there was one like this kei car. I would buy it tomorrow. It makes me angry that the diffusion of this type of car is limited by prejudices regarding their aesthetics. I find them marvels of technology and pragmatism. It makes me angry that I can't buy one because I don't like their shape. I hope that one day a Japanese car manufacturer will have the courage to export a kei car model to Europe and Italy. I looked into importing one into Italy but the problem is not getting it delivered but rather that it cannot circulate because it is not approved to European safety standards. How stupid. There are many videos on UA-cam that demonstrate the opposite. These cars are as safe as those on European roads. Suzuki! Nissan! Honda! Courage! Export these cars to Europe! Or make sure they are approved for the European Highway Code. Ah! I forgot! Put the driver's seat on the left.

    • @larrikinjapan
      @larrikinjapan  Рік тому +4

      It is crazy. They are great little cars. I don’t think they will ever make them left hand drive. Check out the new video on the Delica mini it’s a great car.

    • @DerpEye
      @DerpEye Рік тому +7

      I'm italian too. I used to own a Daihatsu Copen, the eurospec one with the 1.3l toyota engine. That car was incredible. Fast, nible, and very fun to drive in the mountains.

    • @larrikinjapan
      @larrikinjapan  Рік тому +4

      That would be fun one of them with a 1.3 engine in it.
      @@DerpEye

    • @joedbulotano7494
      @joedbulotano7494 3 місяці тому +2

      ​@@larrikinjapan in the Philippines we buy right hand cars from Japan. Dismantle everything and convert it to left hand drive 😂

  • @flicker031
    @flicker031 Рік тому +30

    I recently bought an N-WGN! Its not on the top 5 though but I love it very much.

    • @larrikinjapan
      @larrikinjapan  Рік тому +3

      I think they all good. Have fun with your N-WGN

  • @xporkrind
    @xporkrind Рік тому +6

    Outstanding video. Incredibly informative !

  • @MasonHoward-t1l
    @MasonHoward-t1l Рік тому +14

    Damn I got to wait 25 years to get one of these sweet vans… we will be of the ground by then lol I got a 97 acty street I love it

    • @larrikinjapan
      @larrikinjapan  Рік тому

      I had a feeling that they changed that law. You should check.

    • @nmatthews7260
      @nmatthews7260 Рік тому +3

      The 25 year law only applies to our emissions and crash testing rules, but I’m pretty sure a lot of these fit those requirements. Not all tho.

    • @larrikinjapan
      @larrikinjapan  Рік тому +1

      Good to know. Probably is different from country to country.

  • @tron520
    @tron520 8 місяців тому +2

    Hi, thanks for the reviews, do like these, seem to have everything you need in a compact vehicle, wish they did these for the UK, would make parking a breeze and just so practical for every day driving.

    • @larrikinjapan
      @larrikinjapan  8 місяців тому +1

      People from all round the world say the same thing.

  • @georgekrpan3181
    @georgekrpan3181 Рік тому +20

    1.738 mil yen is $12,257 US. The average transaction price for a new car in the US is $48k. Americans are being bled.

    • @larrikinjapan
      @larrikinjapan  Рік тому +3

      That’s crazy. For big cars here like Prius that size car would cost about 28 - 35k US

    • @georgekrpan3181
      @georgekrpan3181 Рік тому

      @@larrikinjapan Cheers!

  • @peterdavis1820
    @peterdavis1820 Рік тому +27

    Why are these not available everywhere. I live in London and they’d be perfect.

    • @larrikinjapan
      @larrikinjapan  Рік тому +4

      Because they are built for the Japanese market. Some countries are importing good used ones don’t know about England.

    • @raymondramos7670
      @raymondramos7670 10 місяців тому

      Is importing brand new one possible?

    • @deutschlanddendeutschen849
      @deutschlanddendeutschen849 10 місяців тому

      @@raymondramos7670yes

    • @keithhooper6123
      @keithhooper6123 9 місяців тому

      Certainly Honda N Box is available in the UK,from at least two suppliers.

  • @RealToji
    @RealToji 4 місяці тому +1

    Great video, i enjoyed a lot thank you

    • @larrikinjapan
      @larrikinjapan  4 місяці тому

      I am glad. Thank you for watching.

  • @daciamcv1026
    @daciamcv1026 8 місяців тому +6

    Should be the only car for cities

  • @kaleygoode1681
    @kaleygoode1681 11 місяців тому +9

    Mad that they don't sell these in the UK!
    They'd sell loads!

  • @jayce704
    @jayce704 Рік тому +5

    Is it possible to buy one wirh a stearing wheel on the left for the European countires?

    • @larrikinjapan
      @larrikinjapan  Рік тому +3

      No they are all right hand drive because they are made for Japan.

    • @2fastGEO
      @2fastGEO Рік тому +2

      you can import, but it can be expensive

  • @GeorgeStar
    @GeorgeStar 3 місяці тому +1

    Some specs on engine, transmission, height, weight, length, legroom, etc. would have been nice.

  • @svetaosik
    @svetaosik Місяць тому +1

    Why it not selling in USA..

  • @asiaticonaeuropa
    @asiaticonaeuropa 10 днів тому +1

    Very interesting video. I like it very much. Thanks a lot! Could you please tell the prices of these 5 cars (new ones)? Since they are all similar, I would go for the cheapest new one....

    • @larrikinjapan
      @larrikinjapan  9 днів тому

      They are all about the same price from around 2 million to 2 and a half million yen.

    • @asiaticonaeuropa
      @asiaticonaeuropa 9 днів тому +1

      @@larrikinjapan i am already addicted to kei-cars although I have not even touched it or even smelled it. Geezzzz.... I could afford 5 of them right now but cannot relocate to Japan at the moment....🤯

    • @larrikinjapan
      @larrikinjapan  9 днів тому

      They will still be here when you come and they are getting better every year

    • @asiaticonaeuropa
      @asiaticonaeuropa 5 днів тому +1

      I've been researching about cars in Japan. It turns out that my dream of owning one Kei-car will likely never come true. Why? Japan does not let foreigners buy/register/own the car easily. If one is foreigner, he must have: resident card, japanese driving license, parking,... to register the car. I only want to spend about 4-5 months in Japan. I do not mind to buy a storage to keep the car. But to have residency and driving license in Japan is mission impossible. People mention about the cost of insurance/maintance/inspection. However, for me if those costs together are less than 2k-3k usd/year or 10-15k/ 5years, then it is still cheap because the initial cost of the car itself is already low.
      Now, it's time to keep dreaming that Japanese govt will change rule in next 10 years and by that time foreigners will be able to buy the car easily.

    • @larrikinjapan
      @larrikinjapan  5 днів тому

      I didn’t know about that

  • @JamesShearer-r4i
    @JamesShearer-r4i 2 місяці тому +1

    Love these cars I've had several Wagon r`s but I can't afford the latest one's 😢😢

  • @JohanRongdi
    @JohanRongdi 2 місяці тому +1

    Wow very nice

  • @player1tales
    @player1tales 10 місяців тому +4

    I live in Japan and thinking of buying a kei. What do you think about EVs like Sakura?

    • @larrikinjapan
      @larrikinjapan  10 місяців тому +2

      I think it is pretty good a bit expensive and you don’t have a lot of range. You can buy other Kei like the N Box of the Suzuki and save around 1 million yen that will buy a lot of petrol.

  • @joeaquino1433
    @joeaquino1433 3 місяці тому +1

    I’m looking at the auction and probably get the Spacio Gear Hybrid Turbo

    • @larrikinjapan
      @larrikinjapan  3 місяці тому +1

      That is what I would get. I prefer Suzuki to Honda.

    • @joeaquino1433
      @joeaquino1433 3 місяці тому

      Yeah it’s a better choice I reckon

  • @КириллД-с5я
    @КириллД-с5я 10 місяців тому +1

    Good day! Why did you give 1st place to Honda? Is it somehow better than other options? Which one accelerates faster from a standstill? The dynamics are interesting to me. Thank you!😊

    • @larrikinjapan
      @larrikinjapan  10 місяців тому

      Honda N BOX is the number 1 selling car for the last 8 years. It sold 231,385 car 2nd was Daihatsu Tanto selling 159,392 cars. Daihatsu sells the most cars Honda is number 3.

    • @КириллД-с5я
      @КириллД-с5я 10 місяців тому +1

      @@larrikinjapan Thanks!

    • @larrikinjapan
      @larrikinjapan  10 місяців тому

      You’re welcome

  • @Lakshan_JB14
    @Lakshan_JB14 3 місяці тому +1

    Kei car for life..

  • @boris035..4
    @boris035..4 Рік тому +7

    Best cars ever!!!!
    This is how all cars should look like!!!!

    • @larrikinjapan
      @larrikinjapan  Рік тому +2

      They do look good

    • @boris035..4
      @boris035..4 Рік тому +3

      @@larrikinjapan Actually they do look ok, but who the fuck cares about how vehicle looks like?!?!?! Why?!?!?!
      Or how much does it take from 0 to 60?!?!?
      If you wanna racing car buy a racing car!!!?!!!
      I mean bro, just look at the space they have!!! When i ride in audi, bmw, wv and alike I get claustrophobia!!!!The glass is right on my face and I need to lay down when I'm in a car like that... :(

  • @sandunjayasinghe6481
    @sandunjayasinghe6481 4 місяці тому +1

    Very good

  • @AnthonyJohnson-gw8sh
    @AnthonyJohnson-gw8sh 23 дні тому

    They should all be on sale in the UK. Besides suiting our road system better, they would help against the rip-off prices of standard cars over here.

  • @КириллД-с5я
    @КириллД-с5я 10 місяців тому +2

    Hello again! Please make a video about Honda N WGN!

  • @laindienlily
    @laindienlily 7 місяців тому +1

    I just was in Japan, great country with reasonable plans of mobility ! I wonder why we don't find those cars on the german market, but I guess why..... I'd buy a Kei Car immediately.

    • @larrikinjapan
      @larrikinjapan  7 місяців тому +1

      Me ,too. They would sell like hotcakes.

  • @blueleach13
    @blueleach13 Місяць тому +1

    Is there a genuine and reliable place to buy these in UK?

  • @KA9DSL
    @KA9DSL Рік тому +6

    The prices in the U.S. for cars has gotten stupidly high. Shame I wasn't living in Japan.

    • @larrikinjapan
      @larrikinjapan  Рік тому +2

      Every thing has got very expensive because the yen is so weak. Every time you turn around something has gone up.

  • @allnighterist
    @allnighterist Рік тому +2

    does these all kei cars have air bags?

    • @larrikinjapan
      @larrikinjapan  Рік тому

      All new ones have air bags I think they have had for many years.

    • @mopar392V8
      @mopar392V8 Рік тому +3

      日本語で申し訳ないですが、20年以上前から装備されています。
      現代の軽自動車ならば全方位にエアバッグが装備された車種もあります。

  • @jawadawais2919
    @jawadawais2919 4 місяці тому +1

    Good. ❤

  • @EbubeIgwe-fd1db
    @EbubeIgwe-fd1db 4 місяці тому +1

    Please I love this car
    Is it available to buy

  • @yansenmaruli7758
    @yansenmaruli7758 Рік тому +4

    I wish this car available in Indonesia

    • @larrikinjapan
      @larrikinjapan  Рік тому

      A lot of people wish they were available in different countries.

    • @PlatinumNath
      @PlatinumNath Рік тому +1

      Indonesia technically already got kei cars in the past, but the bigger internstional versions, not the kei spec ones. Think of the Suzuki Karimun's of the old which are basically international spec Suzuki Wagon R's and RR's.

    • @larrikinjapan
      @larrikinjapan  Рік тому

      @@PlatinumNath You might be right

  • @AlexLopez-yk8xo
    @AlexLopez-yk8xo 11 місяців тому +1

    What about the engines?

  • @ManFromYaksh
    @ManFromYaksh 8 місяців тому +4

    My dream to purchase kei car

  • @wenxichen7672
    @wenxichen7672 11 місяців тому +1

    I wish I could get one of this kind of cute boxy car in Bolivia.

    • @larrikinjapan
      @larrikinjapan  11 місяців тому

      People all around the world wish they could get them.

  • @icerblue2472
    @icerblue2472 5 місяців тому +1

    hm & location plz!

    • @larrikinjapan
      @larrikinjapan  5 місяців тому

      Location is Nishio Aichi Japan. I don’t know what hm is

  • @malcolmorton-o7g
    @malcolmorton-o7g Місяць тому +1

    crazy price

  • @shinnyspace
    @shinnyspace 4 місяці тому +1

    they all see like having same platform

    • @larrikinjapan
      @larrikinjapan  4 місяці тому

      very similar. I think it comes down to what make you like.

  • @anonymousmc7727
    @anonymousmc7727 5 місяців тому +2

    You can pick up a 2021-22 for 5k

    • @larrikinjapan
      @larrikinjapan  5 місяців тому

      I don’t think so. It depends on the make and model and how many km. I would think around 1 million yen $10 k AUD $7k USD

    • @anonymousmc7727
      @anonymousmc7727 5 місяців тому +1

      @@larrikinjapan I have friend that exports cars all over the world from Japan he just picked up. 2022 Suzuki spacia custom for 4,700.00 it’s not what you know it’s who you know;)

    • @larrikinjapan
      @larrikinjapan  5 місяців тому

      He is probably buying from the auctions not everyone can buy from there. Different price if you are buying from car yards.

  • @charles2411-i8f
    @charles2411-i8f Рік тому +1

    I like but it won't drive over American speed bumps for snow over 4 in because it'll be a plow.

    • @larrikinjapan
      @larrikinjapan  Рік тому +1

      I don’t think they are suited for America they are great here in Japan. Small roads, tiny parking spots.

  • @florianwagner7279
    @florianwagner7279 8 місяців тому +1

    Unfortunately those type of cars is not shipped to Europe anymore .

    • @larrikinjapan
      @larrikinjapan  8 місяців тому +1

      It is unfortunate they would sell.

    • @florianwagner7279
      @florianwagner7279 8 місяців тому

      @@larrikinjapan Those cars has been sold here, but not any longer. Last one was the Daihatsu Hijet Truck, sold as the Piaggio Porter. Vans and Panelvans has vanished years ago.

  • @sonh788
    @sonh788 4 місяці тому +1

    The Honda satys at #1 even with a base cost of $22k ?!?? Defeated the point of a cheap kei car😂

    • @larrikinjapan
      @larrikinjapan  4 місяці тому +1

      The price of Kei cars is crazy. You can buy a Suzuki Swift or Toyota Yaris for around the same money.

  • @Grahamplaysgo
    @Grahamplaysgo 8 місяців тому +1

    The Suzuki was not a Kei car. The license plate was white

    • @larrikinjapan
      @larrikinjapan  8 місяців тому +1

      Some Kei cars do have white plates. You can choose.

  • @midnightchannel111
    @midnightchannel111 Рік тому +2

    You show no pictures of the back of the car, the most important area to women (and these cars would sell like wildfire in the US if the rear can be folded down for hauling stuff).
    The back is the only area I want to see.

    • @larrikinjapan
      @larrikinjapan  Рік тому +1

      I do open up the back door and have a look inside there is not a lot of room in there. The Honda N Box had the seats folded down. From what I have heard you can only import ones over 25 years old. I would not buy a 25 year old Kei car there are not made to last that long.

  • @PakisoMpele
    @PakisoMpele 5 місяців тому +1

    We stay free State i want this car..

  • @わわ-l8w
    @わわ-l8w 5 місяців тому +1

    愛知ですか?自分名古屋です

  • @tktmc
    @tktmc 8 місяців тому +2

    トランクの広さを紹介するならリアシートをスライドすべきです。

    • @larrikinjapan
      @larrikinjapan  8 місяців тому

      True but most of the time you would have the seats pushed back.

  • @nileshpotdar3599
    @nileshpotdar3599 Місяць тому +1

    Sell it in india

  • @stephenhall3515
    @stephenhall3515 7 місяців тому

    What a miserable review! Name a car that isn't "1 BOX" -- unless it got stuck on a level crossing and cut in half by a train. Really, this man talks BS. But I shall subscribe in case he tells of wonders of rural life.
    He entirely fails to mention engine size, performance in town and countryside, transmission systems, MPG, emissions and is plain misleading about the Toyota. It is a 'mild hybrid', designed to supply extra power from an electric motor to smooth out some of the drawbacks of high revving low cc engines. MPG advantages are not significant but ride quality certainly is without making the suspension expensive. Tested in Nordic countries and the UK, the Spacia is deemed to have moderate off road capabilities and abilities in snow which many a grandiose EV SUV would fail in. Indeed, the presenter fails to show rear seat folding increasing boot/trunk space on all but one the cars.
    Manufacturers in north west Europe only seem to offer SUVs and 'executive cars' at silly prices and Asia is trouncing our motor industry -- rightly, because it forgot about real people and forgot about what private motor transport actually is. Asian attitudes are different and automotive economists a decade ago predicted that there would be a single generation of pure EVs only, followed by hybrids using the same body dies (naturally saving a lot in weight, battery costs and disposal) then some EVs would be made for strict urban utility use.
    Hybrids in the Report (commissioned by Japan, S.Korea, China and some BRICS funds) factored in colored hydrogen IC hybrids mainly on a Toyota set of patents licensed to China and S.Korea and the latter two countries are experimenting with ammonia as a fuel. GAC Group, China is 50% owned by Toyota and research into ammonia engines takes advantage of China's ammonia manufacturing targeted to be green, even where using the Haber-Bosch process -- which itself is being phased out. Ammonia engines favor haulage, plant and locomotive power units more than cars at present.
    The popular argument that supplying filling stations with 'new fuels' is fallacious because it is a matter of will, demand and supply and minor modifications to road tankers in the case of gaseous hydrogen. The fact that hydrogen is a by product of many industrial processes at scale would more than pay for refrigerated tankers from the point of production.
    Hydrogen fuel cell storage dates back to the 1930s in Japan and appears to be a separate development by Toyota Group for performance vehicles.
    Perhaps hydrogen fuel cells will find a place in KEI cars using the swap system in due course.

    • @larrikinjapan
      @larrikinjapan  7 місяців тому

      In Japan they call these type cars one box for cars that look like a box. There are small ones like kei cars and big ones like Toyota and Honda have. I don't know what BS I was talking. It was not a review of the cars it was more a look at what the 5 best selling kei cars were. The hybrid systems in these cars is nothing like in the Toyota's. We have a Suzuki Solio it has a 1.2 engine in it the battery is under the front seat it's tiny they don't have an electric motor like the Prius. I hope this clears up a few points for you. I don't want to get into a fight over this. I have enough problems at the moment with a sick wife looking after her taking her to the hospital and doctors is draining me. If your interested have a look at this ua-cam.com/video/Fc35LK4a27I/v-deo.htmlsi=H5g8x7GK7fGY-wp8