15 Best Kei Cars Of All The Time

“Kei” is an abbreviation for the Japanese word “keijidosha,” which translates to “light automobile.” Some people pronounce them as “key,” but the correct pronunciation is “kay.” The Japanese government created the kei car in 1949 with the intention of providing owners with insurance and tax savings by making the vehicle lightweight and tiny.

In 2016, the regulation was so successful that it accounted for over one-third of all sales of new Japanese cars. It gave rise to cars that were 3.39 m (11.1 ft) long, 1.48 m (4.8 ft) wide, and 2 m (6.5 ft) tall but were also remarkably light, entertaining, and comfortable. This size limit was set on Oct 1, 1998, and is still considered the standard for kei cars.

Top 15 Best Kei Cars

Now you are familiar with Kei cars, here is a list of the top 15 best Kei cars available.

1. Subaru 360

The Subaru 360, which was made and sold from 1958 to 1972, is seen as one of the segment’s founders. That might be one reason why the 360 was called the “ladybug”—it looked like a cheap Volkswagen Beetle.

The 360 didn’t do as well on the global market, but it was so popular in its home country that Subaru sold almost 400,000 units of it over the course of its 12-year production run, with about 10,000 units sold in the U.S. alone.

2. Suzuki Jimny

There’s been some great news about the Suzuki Jimny over the last few years. Their off-road beast will come in two different styles: one with four doors and one that runs on electricity. That being said, those of you who don’t live in the eastern half of the world will still not be able to buy one because this amazing Kei car is only for people who live there.

The model came with a 1.5-liter inline-four engine in most other countries, but in Japan, it had a much smaller turbo-three-cylinder engine to meet the requirements of the Kei car category.

3. Honda Beat

As it stands, Kei cars are already pretty small, so you might not think that many of them would have an engine in the middle. In most cases, you would be right. But that’s not the case with the Honda Beat.

The company planned and built the car so that the seats were pushed back and the engine was in the middle of the frame instead of in the front. This spreads the weight out more evenly, which makes the small car handle perform better.

4. Suzuki Cappucino

You must have a lot of cool points if your name is Kei and your car is named after a type of coffee. The Suzuki Cappuccino might be one of the most well-known Kei cars made by Suzuki. You could buy one from 1991 to 1998. It was one of the coolest Kei cars out there. The Cappuccino had many great qualities. For the most part, it’s a smaller Mazda MX-5 Miata with a cool name.

5. Autozam AZ-1

The AZ-1’s unique look is part of the reason why it’s one of the most famous Kei cars of all time. Those gullwing doors can fool people who aren’t familiar with them. Just imagine a car of this size with doors like that, a hood scoop, and fender vents. It looks like a small rocket on the go. Even though it looks like one, it’s not really one. The scoop and vents are mostly just for looks.

6. Daihatsu Copen

A very cute Kei car that looked like a smaller version of the Audi TT Roadster from the early 2000s. The Copen screamed “Kei car” from every angle.

The Copen was a great example of the “Kei Car Japan” trend of its time, with its sporty looks, tiny size, and small-fry 660cc engine. This model has even become one of Daihatsu’s most famous ones. The Copen is now in its second generation. The new model is a lot like the Toyota 86 in some ways.

7. Honda S660

If you make a list of Kei cars, the Honda S660 will be on every single one of them. Some people think the Honda S660 is one of the best Kei cars ever made. This is because Honda wanted to make a speed car that still followed the rules for Kei cars. Not very fast or very strong, the Honda S660 looked like a real roadster, but what was most important was that it was a lot of fun to drive.

Behind the cockpit, the inline-three engine was placed transversely. This gave the S660 a rear mid-ship shape and sent power to the back. One of the most recent cars on the list is the Honda S660, which was made from April 2015 to March 2022.

8. Caterham Seven 160

The Caterham Seven 160 is a car that wasn’t made to be a Kei car, but it ended up being one anyway. Different versions of this car come with different engines and builds. The one that was brought to Japan has a 660 cc motorcycle engine and all the other requirements of a Kei car, except maybe how it looks. Some of the newest Caterham cars can make more than 300 horsepower.

What does the “160” mean? It means “160 horsepower per tonne,” which is how much power it has compared to its weight, that’s the power-to-weight ratio.

9. Suzuki Alto RS Turbo

The Suzuki Alto Turbo RS looks great, and people who own these cars love the way the headlights are designed, the small horizontal bar that connects the two laps, and the three horizontal lines that take up only one side of the front Suzuki logo.

The Alto Turbo RS has a 660cc, three-cylinder DOHC engine and weighs up to 720 kilos (1,587 pounds). However, it still looks like the kind of car you wouldn’t want to see in your rearview mirror, in part because it looks so angry. The car has a lot of personality, and you could even get it with all-wheel drive.

10. Nissan Sakura EV

The Nissan Sakura EV is the winner of both the Japan Car of the Year Award and the Kei Car of the Year Award. The WLTC cycle says that this little car can go up to 114 miles on a single charge. The Sakura EV is in the Kei class, which means it will never be sold in North America.

We’ll have to look at this cute little electric box from afar until Nissan comes up with a way to sell something similar to it in the United States. Nissan’s Kei EV has all the great things about a Kei car, but it runs on electricity instead of gasoline. It also has a front bench seat, which is not common in current cars.

11. Honda N-One

In Japan, when people talk about Kei cars, they always end up talking about a type of the Honda N-One. Because they can be changed in so many ways, they can be turned into either a great daily driver or one of the world’s best show cars.

The Honda will be one of a kind in terms of looks and performance when you take the N-One to the next level and have the people at Mugen make changes to it. It mostly changes how the N-one looks, but it also changes a lot about the Kei car. Like the other Kei cars on this list, the turbocharged model is the best choice. The second generation of the N-One comes with a manual, which is good news.

12. Daihatsu Mira Cocoa

The Mira Cocoa was sold in Japan from 2009 to 2018. It had a unique retro look. It’s clear that a lot of people bought the Kei car because it came in colors like “silky lavender metallic opal”.

The grades that were available were L, X, Plus L, Plus X, and the top-of-the-line Plus G. They were all powered by the same 38 kW (51 hp; 52 PS) 658 cc KF-VE three-cylinder gasoline engine. One of its biggest competitors was the Suzuki Alto Lapin. Both cars looked very retro. The Mira Cocoa stopped being made in March 2018 for the Mira Tocot. In Japan, it was also stopped being made for the standard Mira in the same month.

13. Toyota Pixis Mega

Because of their small size, some Kei cars look like shoe boxes. The reason is simple: to make the most of the room inside. There are a lot of cases, but over the years, some automakers have come up with clever ways to get around the rules. The Toyota Pixis Mega is a beautiful Kei car with sliding doors, a low floor, and so many color choices.

This really is a rebranded Daihatsu Wake, which stopped being made in August 2022. Big and tall people might not be able to fit in this Kei car but don’t miss out on its style. While it may have the word “Mega” in its name, this small car has more personality than some of Toyota’s more common models. You should get the version with the turbocharger.

14. Mitsubishi Pajero Mini

The Mitsubishi Pajero Mini is the smaller version of the Mitsubishi Pajero SUV, which can go off-road. In North America, it is called the Montero. When it first came out in 1994, the Pajero Mini was the right size to fit into the Japanese kei car market.

From its first model year in 1994 until its last in 2012, the Mitsubishi Pajero Mini had 659-cc, inline-4 engine families that could be naturally aspirated or turbocharged. Due to the popularity of this vehicle, Mitsubishi was inspired to create several limited editions, including the “Iron Cross,” “Desert Cruiser,” “White Skipper,” and “Duke”.

15. Nissan Pao

Source: Mecum

Nissan sold over 31,000 Pao cars during a very successful time from 1989 to 1991. There was a long list of people who still wanted to buy this adorable Nissan Pao antique JDM car after it sold out in just 90 days. After that, the company stopped making them.

The Pao was beautifully simple. It had a retro look and only had vents and sound buttons on the outside and inside. The hinges are visible, the steering wheel is narrow, the panel clock looks like it’s from the 1970s, and the speedometer is too big.

This car had a 1.0-liter inline-four engine and either a five-speed manual transmission or a three-speed automatic transmission. If you look at the plastic top, you’ll see that it can be turned into a convertible. Even though it doesn’t have airbags or insulation, the inside is big enough to look like a regular car, and there’s even a bench in the back for two or three more people.

FAQs

What Is The Price of Kei Cars?
Some of the cheapest cars you can buy in Japan are Kei cars. This is because they are small and well-built overall. A little more than a million yen is how much most Kei cars cost. That seems like a lot of money, but a million yen in US dollars is only $7,000. When you compare it to the price of a regular Honda Civic, that’s a pretty low price for a car.

What Does It Mean That They’re Called Kei Cars?
The word “Kei car” comes from the Japanese word keijidōsha, which means “light automobile.” Kei cars are also known as Japanese city cars, superminis, and Japanese microcars, among other names. These cars are sometimes called Kei cars, but you can call them any of those names.

Can I drive a Kei car in Europe?

There are similar rules in most European countries as there are in the United States: Kei cars don’t meet most European crash test standards, so they aren’t allowed.

Conclusion

In conclusion, kei cars have been a cool mix of innovation, efficiency, and small size over the years. From classic models to the latest tech, these cars have made a lasting impact on how we see automobiles. Looking at the 15 best kei cars of all time, it’s clear that their popularity isn’t just because they’re small.

It’s more about how they’ve met the different needs of drivers, especially in the city. These little cars keep winning over fans, showing us how being small doesn’t mean you can’t make a big impression.