11 Classic Japanese Kei Cars That Are Actually Affordable Today

The kei car class was created by the Japanese government after WWII as a way of incentivizing people to buy cars, and they're strictly governed by size and displacement limits. The earliest kei cars were limited to engines with no more than 150cc, but the classification gradually expanded over time, and today's cars can pack powerplants up to 660cc. Over the years, these pint-sized cars have earned themselves a cult following in many places outside of Japan, and recently, they've become increasingly popular in the U.S. That means there's a surprisingly large range of classic kei cars on the used market if you know where to look.

There are miniature kei versions of everything from pickup trucks to sports cars, and as long as they're over 25 years old, Americans are able to import them under the 25-year rule. Every car here can be found for $25,000 or less, with the cheapest of the bunch available for less than $10,000 if you're willing to wait for the right listing.

The Honda Beat was launched in 1991 as an exclusively Japanese-market (JDM) car, with styling designed by Pininfarina. It proved to be the most successful kei sports car of its era, with 33,635 examples built between its launch and the end of production in 1996. Around two-thirds of those units were sold within the first 18 months of production, making later-model cars much rarer to find. The car's peak output of 63 horsepower didn't arrive until 8,100rpm, meaning that to get the best out of the Honda, you had to keep it as close to its redline as possible.

Kei regulations at the time demanded that top speed was limited to 83 mph, but with the limiter removed, it was reportedly possible to reach speeds of up to 100 mph. Four exterior colors were originally offered for the Beat: silver, red, yellow, and white. Several special editions of the car were also created in response to falling sales, one of those being the Version C with Captiva Blue Pearl paint. Only 500 examples of this edition were ever sold, with models occasionally popping up on Duncan Imports for around $20,000, the cheapest of which is around $14,000.

The Subaru 360 was the first mass-produced kei car, and its success helped propel the Japanese automaker from a plucky startup to a big player in its home market. However, when Malcolm Bricklin began importing them into the U.S. in 1968, they were an unmitigated disaster for the newly-formed Subaru of America. The trouble was the 360's 360cc engine made just 25 horsepower in U.S.-spec, making it significantly slower than almost everything else on the road. It was cheap, sure, but only marginally so when compared to the VW Beetle, which bested it in nearly every key aspect.

However, five decades after the car was first introduced in America, it began to experience a revival as a cult classic, and today, well-sorted examples command several times more than they did just a decade or so ago. Data from Classic shows the average sale price of the 360 sits around $22,500, with the priciest example selling for a whopping $50,000 in 2020. However, 360s in good condition don't have to cost that much, as Duncan Imports currently has two examples of the car for sale for just under $20,000 at the time of writing.

The Honda Acty has been around in various forms since 1977, with the first and second generations both able to be imported under the 25-year rule. It's most famous as a compact truck, but an Acty Van was also offered shortly after launch, with a focus on carrying passengers rather than cargo. After the Van proved popular with buyers, a "Street" version was also launched, with a number of upgrades including better carpeting and more luxurious seats. Some examples of the Street were even fitted with extras like dual-zone heating and a drinks cooler. The Acty came with a mid-mounted 545cc engine making 28 horsepower, and it weighed just 1,300 lb.

The funky truck remains an unusual sight in the U.S., although multiple examples have been listed on Bring a Trailer throughout 2022 and 2023. The cheapest of those sold for $7,750, while the priciest was a rare fire truck variant of the Acty, which fetched $26,000. Van and Street variants are even rarer, so unless you're lucky and happen to find one already for sale in the U.S., you'll probably have to resort to importing one yourself. However, the van's enduring popularity means there are still lots of used examples in Japan to choose from.

[Featured image by Kuha455405 via Wikimedia Commons | Cropped and scaled | CC BY-SA 3.0]

Introduced in 1992, the Subaru Vivio sported a more flowing, curved design than its boxy predecessors, reflecting Subaru's new-for-the-era design language. It was available in both 3-door and 5-door variants and even a 2-door T-top for a short period. The car's 658cc engine produced 63 horsepower in supercharged form, although naturally-aspirated Vivios had to make do with 44 horsepower. Most of the examples that have been imported to the States are higher-spec GX-R or RX-R models, which feature sportier bodywork and a supercharger for maximum power output.

Clean, imported examples of the Vivio are not easy to find, although at the time of writing, a Vivio GX-R is for sale at Duncan Imports for just under $10,000. Recently listed examples of the RX-R on Bring a Trailer and Cars and Bids have sold for $7,300 and $7,500, respectively. Like many of the kei cars here, plenty of examples are available to import directly from Japan, although it's best to use a reputable importer to go through the difficult process of getting a car like this registered for U.S. road use.

[Featured image by Rutger van der Maar via Wikimedia Commons | Cropped and scaled | CC BY-SA 2.0]

Suzuki had a hit on its hands with the standard version of the Alto kei car, but it was very sensible. Too sensible, Suzuki decided. To liven things up a bit, it would make a hot hatch version with upgraded internals, an over-the-top body kit, and a turbocharged for some extra ponies. Thus, the Alto Works was born. It survived for three generations, and when it was first released, was considered to be the fastest kei car ever built.

Although, thanks to government regulations, it officially made 63 horsepower in stock form, the engine was capable of producing a lot more with only minimal modifications. Owners quickly caught on, and before long it wasn't unusual for upgraded Alto Works to produce up to 120 horsepower. They gained a cult following at home in Japan, and as soon as they became legal to import in other markets, word soon got out about these pint-sized hot hatches. The best part is that imported examples have remained very cheap to buy, with Classic reporting the average 5-year selling price to be just $4,314. The most recently sold example was listed on Cars and Bids with a Virginia title and fetched $4,869.

[Featured image by TTTNIS via Wikimedia Commons | Cropped and scaled | CC0 1.0]