What’s the most recognized car brand in Japan? You may think it’s Toyota or Nissan, or perhaps Honda. In reality, none of these companies are Japanese car brands in the sense that you would expect them to be.
While Toyota, Nissan, and Honda may have been founded in Japan and are headquartered there today, they are all multinational companies with massive production facilities located outside of Japan.
10 Most Recognized Japanese Car Brands
Japan is known worldwide for producing some of the highest-quality cars on Earth.
In fact, many of their most popular car brands are so recognizable that people will know them just by saying a few letters.
Some of these brands have been around since before World War II and can be relied upon to last as long as any American car brand.
If you’re looking for a reliable, safe, and dependable vehicle, consider one of these 10 most recognized Japanese car brands:
1) Honda 2) Nissan 3) Mitsubishi 4) Subaru 5) Lexus 6) Toyota 7) Isuzu 8) Mazda 9) Infiniti 10) Acura At Ashworth Auto Sales we offer new Honda vehicles at prices less than what other dealers in Richmond pay!
Honda
According to both U.S. and international statistics, Honda is recognized as one of Japan’s most popular car brands.
The average age of a Honda owner is reported at just under 12 years, which is considerably younger than other brands.
The company also has a number of unique marketing campaigns that allow its cars to stand out from competitors in terms of technological advances and overall quality design.
For example, Honda’s Look Ma No Hands campaign emphasizes how easy it is for drivers to operate their vehicles without having to take their hands off the steering wheel. To see what makes Honda so successful, visit your local dealership today!
Nissan
Another one of Japan’s automotive giants, Nissan was founded in 1933 and introduced its first car in 1934.
Originally known as DAT Motorcar Co., Nissan made both trucks and passenger cars, but after merging with another company in 1934, it went on to become primarily a truck manufacturer.
The company adopted its current name in 1937 when a second merger occurred and continued to focus on trucks until 1984 when it returned its focus to passenger cars.
Today, Nissan is still one of Japan’s most popular car brands; however, with recent scandals including price-fixing coming to light (and subsequent lawsuits), there may be cause for concern about Nissan’s reliability among consumers.
In 2015 alone it ranked 42nd out of 100 for customer satisfaction according to J.D.
Toyota
As one of Japan’s most recognizable brands, it’s no surprise that Toyota is also one of its most popular.
The Camry and Corolla sedans are some of America’s favorite cars. In total, more than 29 million new vehicles were sold in 2013, making it Japan’s best-selling brand.
If you don’t live in Japan, you can still get your hands on a top-quality automobile—the number three and number four spots on our list are held by Subaru and Mitsubishi respectively.
You may not know their names but you probably recognize their vehicles: every year since 2012 both companies have been producing America’s best-selling car models.
Suzuki
While their cars may not be as recognizable, Suzuki makes quality products that are worth looking into. Some of their best vehicles include A compact hatchback (Swift), a compact sedan (Baleno), and a midsize car (S-Cross).
It’s also important to note that Suzuki offers some eco-friendly alternatives, including hybrid and electric vehicles.
In 2017, they introduced a new small crossover vehicle called Kizashi—although it has yet to make an impact in North America, it’s bound to make waves once Canadians get acquainted with it.
One of its standout features is an automated manual transmission that allows drivers to start in either D or M mode depending on their preferred driving style.
Lexus
Founded in 1989, Lexus is Japan’s luxury division. Its reputation for style, reliability, and comfort has made it a hit with American car buyers.
Lexus offers a wide range of cars and SUVs that have earned high marks from industry experts.
The company also won JD Power’s Initial Quality Study award seven years in a row starting in 2009.
Models like the ES350 sedan and RX350 SUV are tops when it comes to quality, while its flagship LS sedan is known for its comfort and high-end amenities.
Subaru
Just a short time ago, Subaru was looked at as a cheap option when it came to purchasing an automobile.
But today, it is one of the most reliable and popular car brands that Japan has created for drivers around the world.
It has been hard work by owners that have helped Subaru gain in popularity and allowed their products to be considered among some of Japan’s best-selling cars of all time.
Their Impreza WRX STI is one such product that stands out in particular because of its reputation for performance and being able to handle tough driving conditions.
If you are looking for high-quality yet affordable Japanese automobiles, then check out some of these other top picks as well!
Acura
The Acura brand was established in 1986 and has been a subsidiary of Honda since then.
The brand is best known for its vehicles’ luxury features, such as leather seats, advanced audio systems, and GPS navigation.
All models are front-wheel drive and most come equipped with Honda’s VTEC (Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control) technology. Best-Selling Acura Models: TL, MDX, RL
Mitsubishi
Best known for its cars, Mitsubishi Motors is an international company based in Japan.
The company was founded in Tokyo in 1970 and now produces more than 3 million vehicles per year. That’s what one of its main competitors—Toyota—does each day.
And it’s almost as big as all of GM and Volkswagen put together. Mitsubishi has plants on four continents, though most of its factories are located in Japan and Europe.
Mazda
The Japan-based auto manufacturer was founded in 1920 but didn’t release its first car until 1931.
Their first production car wasn’t released until 1960 when they debuted their sleek and affordable RX-2 line.
Since then, Mazda has been a steady presence in both North America and Europe, with their most popular models including both sporty sedans like the RX-8 and commercial vehicles like their B-Series trucks.
In 2012 alone, over 1 million Mazdas were sold worldwide.
Isuzu
If you think Isuzu is a car brand, you’re absolutely right. However, it’s also an automaker that designs, develops, and manufactures trucks and buses in addition to cars.
There are more than 200 production facilities across six continents and countries including Spain, China, Canada, and Australia.
The latter country is where Isuzu set up its first factory outside Japan in 1963.
For nearly half a century, Isuzu has been churning out vehicles of all shapes and sizes—from light pickup trucks to school buses—that cater to most customers’ needs.
What is The Most Luxurious Japanese Car Brand?
Luxury isn’t defined by price alone. In fact, some of today’s most luxurious cars are manufactured by affordable brands like Kia and Hyundai.
It’s a matter of preference and taste.
So, what is considered luxurious when it comes to automobiles? These five factors seem to be among the most important:
- Style & Aesthetics;
- Performance;
- Convenience Features;
- Advanced Technology;
- Consumer Feedback.
Choosing a luxury car generally depends on how many of these features you want to be combined into one vehicle.
What Is The Most Popular Japanese Car?
People who are interested in getting into a new car know that there are many options available.
Some people like their cars very basic, while others want a lot of features and accessories.
Some people choose cars by price, while others choose them based on their popularity.
No matter what your preferences might be, it’s a good idea to learn about some of the most popular Japanese car brands.
This way you can better understand what kind of car you want and how much it will cost you.
Are Japanese Cars Better Than Korean?
As soon as any car enthusiast hears that you’re thinking about buying a new vehicle, there is one inevitable question: Are they better than Korean cars?
As a result of improvements made in recent years, it’s difficult to tell if one makes better cars than another, and so many factors go into what makes a good car.
But here are the 10 most recognized Japanese car brands for comparison. You may be surprised by some of these results.
How Many Cars Brand Are Japanese?
The automobile industry in Japan is highly regarded worldwide. The country can be credited for producing some of the most reliable cars in history, including iconic classics like Datsun, Toyota, and Honda models.
To date, there are more than 5 car companies based in Japan; some are part of international conglomerates while others are owned by domestic car manufacturers.
Although each manufacturer has its own set of interesting histories and characteristics, all car brands from Japan share one common factor: their reputation for quality automobiles that withstand time and offer top performance without compromising driver safety. Can you name the 10 most popular Japanese car brands?
What is The Number 1 Car Brand in Japan?
If you look at car sales in Japan, you’ll find a lot of familiar names from manufacturers around the world.
But which car brand rules them all? In short, Toyota is far and away from Japan’s most popular car brand.
Over 40% of cars sold in Japan are made by Toyota, as are two of its best-selling models: The Corolla and RAV4. That said, there’s no lack of competition here either.
Summary:
All automotive brands are not created equal. Japan has some of the best car companies in the world and I thought it would be a good idea to make a list of the most popular Japanese car brands out there and why they’re so well known.
I looked into the top 25 biggest auto manufacturers based on production value, research, and analysis, as well as various other sources which were used in my work. For example, Forbes is a great source for business-related news which often help me with writing these articles.