Perhaps the most admired and sought-after cars in the USA are the ones that were only ever sold in other countries. Foreign vehicles that can only be experienced in movies and pictures will always capture the imagination more than any other. Not only are some attractive models excluded from the U.S. market, but the U.S. also has tough import laws, making it difficult, expensive, and time-consuming for individuals to bring over examples of these exotic and captivating machines. However, if any of those in the U.S. want to see cars that were never offered in the U.S., they don’t have to fly to Asia or Europe.
Updated May 2022: America might be known as the land of the free, but one thing it doesn't have constant access to is all the world's wonderful cars. Here are some cars that are sold in its neighboring countries, but not in the U.S. itself.
Both the Canadian and Mexican car markets offer vehicles that many of those in the U.S. have never seen before. Of course, the U.S. market also has plenty of unique cars that aren’t offered in its neighboring countries either, but it’s strange to see car companies ignore such a large market when it comes to certain models. Some automakers avoid having an official presence in the U.S. at all but still sell some of their vehicles on the other side of the border. While some of these cars are certainly undesirable to many of those in the U.S., it’s always nice to see more variety. In the future, some of these vehicles may be offered in the U.S., but for now, Canadian and Mexican consumers can purchase these 21 cars that aren’t offered in the U.S.
21 Mitsubishi Pajero
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The Pajero was on sale in the U.S. until the year 2006, but it was renamed the Montero. However, in Canada, this 4-door, or 2-door little SUV kept on going for sale until the day the Pajero was discontinued. The U.S. really missed out on this one, as it was quirky, extremely capable off-road, and a good excuse for a family car that won't bore you to death when looking at it. The Mitsibushi Pajero will however not be the last small-ish SUV entry on our list today...
20 Ford Fiesta ST
Now when it comes down to the Fiesta ST, we really try and empathize with all our U.S. readers out there. It's one of the coolest hot hatches for sale today, and it's powered by a turbocharged 1.5-liter 3-cylinder engine that sends out 200 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque to the front wheels - and of course, it's also offered with a 6-speed manual gearbox. But don't cry too much, there are still some older used examples that bring forward almost as much enjoyment.
19 Suzuki Jimny
The Suzuki Jimny was initially called the Samurai in The States back in the day, but Suzuki has decided to withdraw itself from the U.S. market entirely in the past few years, unfortunately. The Jimny wasn't ridiculously quick, nor all too practical, but it was quirky and very capable offroad. Don't believe us? Watch Mat Watson take on the likes of other rugged offroad machines and compare it to the Jimny. Oh, and before we forget, in terms of aftermarket modifications, the Jimny's options are endless, and there's even a G-Class lookalike body kit on sale that will transform your Suzuki into a mini-G-Wagon
18 Chevrolet Chevy
There are plenty of questionable automotive nameplates, such as the Ford Aspire, the Chevrolet Citation, and the many confusing alphanumerically named models on the market. Another bizarre naming choice is 'Chevrolet Chevy.' Yes, Chevy sold a car named after itself in Mexico.
While it's impossible to determine how much confusion this naming scheme caused at the dealership, it'll certainly be a strange sight to anyone in the U.S. who sees one. Even though this tiny compact was named after the U.S. company that sold it, the Chevy was based on the German Opel Corsa.
17 Honda BR-V
For many years, Honda’s cheapest SUV in the U.S. was the CR-V until the smaller and fresher HR-V took its place. However, in Mexico, there's another compact SUV that adopts this naming scheme called the 'BR-V.' Even though the BR-V slots between these other two models from a size perspective, it's designed for a different purpose.
While the CR-V and the HR-V only fit five passengers, the BR-V offers three rows of seating for seven people. Given the model’s rather slim dimensions, the third-row seats must be a little cramped for adult occupants, likely something that would deter U.S. customers.
16 Peugeot 308
French automakers haven’t been too successful in the U.S. and, consequently, haven’t been present in the country for decades now. In Mexico, however, these companies are still selling cars — and not just boring ones either. The 308 produces anywhere from 110 hp to a whopping 225 hp in its hybrid version, alongside a six-speed manual and unique styling inside and out. The 308 would certainly gain some traction in the U.S., as the unusual brand (for those in the U.S.) would attract car enthusiasts looking for something fun and different. Its approximate $30,000 USD starting price also makes it a competitive, albeit less powerful, offering in comparison to the Golf GTI and the Focus ST.
15 Nissan Micra
Nissan currently sells one of the USA’s cheapest cars: the $15,080 Versa. However, Nissan and many other companies sell far cheaper, smaller, and simpler models in other countries, generally ones where consumers are willing to forgo certain luxuries that those in the U.S. have come to expect in every car. Apparently, Nissan decided that Canada was such a country, as it sold the tiny Micra for under $8,000 USD. That’s shockingly little money for a brand-new car, especially one that's sold in a market that has tough emissions requirements. Canadians who want to live with a small and economical car will certainly appreciate the Micra’s microscopic price tag.
14 Renault Oroch
Given how Renault hasn’t sold cars in the U.S. for decades, most people probably aren’t aware of the French company’s existence. Despite the brand’s departure from the U.S., Renault has continued selling vehicles in Mexico, offering SUVs, hatchbacks, and even a pickup known as the 'Oroch.' The Oroch is a four-door pickup based on the Renault Duster, also known as the Dacia Duster. Given the Oroch’s low starting price of about $15,000 USD, it’s no surprise that it’s only offered with four-cylinder power. While it certainly won’t be stealing sales from the F-150 anytime soon, the Oroch is still a capable pickup for its size and price.
13 Chevrolet Orlando
The Chevy Orlando was a bizarre vehicle for the Canadian market. Besides possessing off-putting styling and uninspired powerplants, it’s also unclear what segment the Orlando was meant to compete in. It was shaped like a minivan, but it lacked the convenient sliding doors of one. It didn't really look like a crossover, and it was too tall to be a wagon. Regardless of whatever the Orlando was meant to be, it certainly wasn't popular, as it only lasted four years before Chevy dropped it from the Canadian market. While North America no longer has to deal with it, this baffling vehicle is still available in other parts of the world.
12 Nissan Tsuru
In the early ‘90s, Nissan’s Mexican-market Tsuru was the same car as the Sentra in the U.S. However, while the Sentra has undergone four redesigns since then, the Tsuru saw no major changes between its introduction in 1992 and its demise in 2017.
While this car was charmingly cheap and simple, it was also horribly outdated. Despite this, 2.4 million Tsurus have been sold in Mexico, and it's become a popular choice for taxi duty. Even though it sold quite well, Nissan ended production after the Tsuru received a zero-star crash-test rating from the Global New Car Assessment Programme (NCAP).
11 Fiat Palio Adventure
Ever since Fiat returned to the U.S., it's sold quirky and stylish, though potentially unreliable, cars for a fairly low price. However, its U.S. offerings are rather limited, as it only offers three Fiat 500 variations and the Miata-derived 124 Spider. In Mexico, however, the Italian brand offers a few more models, such as the rugged-looking Palio Adventure. This lifted wagon certainly catches the eye, looking tougher and more off-road ready than any current Subaru, thanks to its body cladding. However, its actual capabilities are questionable, as it’s only available with front-wheel drive. Mexican consumers can also buy a pickup version of the Palio branded as the 'Ram 700.'
10 Toyota Hilux
The Toyota Hilux’s durability has been well documented by a certain famous British car show. Even though it was once sold in the U.S. under the generic 'Pickup' name, the model has changed quite a bit since the U.S. version was replaced by the Tacoma. Even though Toyota sells the Tacoma in Mexico, it also offers the Hilux as well. While both pickups seem quite similar, they're actually quite different, resulting in the Hilux costing about half the price of a Tacoma. The price gap is most likely due to the Tacoma’s more refined interior and its required safety and emissions equipment for the U.S. market.
9 Mercedes-Benz B-Class
In the U.S., the Mercedes brand is known for selling big, expensive luxury cars, but the company has also sold a number of fairly affordable models, too, though usually only in other countries. One particularly affordable example is the compact Mercedes B-Class. The B-Class effectively took the place of the original tall, van-like A-Class. However, while no version of the A-Class was ever available in North America, the B-Class is currently being sold in Canada. Perhaps Canadian consumers are more accepting of van-like luxury compacts than the USA’s SUV-obsessed masses are. Perhaps its biggest drawback is its $50,000 price tag
8 Dodge Attitude
Many years ago, Chrysler and Mitsubishi had a close relationship that resulted in many Mopar-badged Mitsubishis in the U.S. While no such cars are available in the U.S. anymore, this partnership is still alive in Mexico, resulting in the Dodge Attitude. Technically, the Attitude is the same car as the Mitsubishi Mirage sedan that’s sold in the States. However, the Attitude wasn’t always a Mitsubishi. Prior to the current Mirage-based model, the Attitude was a badge-engineered Hyundai Accent. Given the bland, cheap cars this model has been based on, it’s clear that the Attitude name is more marketing fluff than an accurate descriptor of the car itself.
7 Volkswagen Amarok
In the past, Volkswagen was known for producing affordable and economical vehicles for everyone as the company’s name would suggest. While the U.S. lineup doesn’t quite reflect this mentality anymore, other markets do receive vehicles like the workhorse Amarok.
Even though a Volkswagen truck may seem like a joke to some, the Amarok is a true body-on-frame pickup ready to take on the Chevy Colorado and the Toyota Tacoma. It’s even somewhat handsome, with a tough, boxy look that pairs well with a chrome roll bar. Despite other mid-size pickups doing well in the U.S., Mexico is the only North American country to get this German truck.
6 FAW F5
Chinese cars have long been a point of scorn in the U.S. However, FAW, one of China’s largest automakers, saw Mexico as a potential market in the late 2000s. These Chinese cars were assembled locally in Mexico and sold through the Elektra retail chain; the F5 was one of these cars. While it looked modern, the basic design had existed since the mid-‘90s, sharing much of its underpinnings with F1 and F4 models that also made up FAW’s Mexican lineup, according to Curbside Classic. While these cars were certainly outdated, they were quite cheap, costing around $6,000 to $7,000 back in the day.
5 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Wagon
While many of those in the U.S. have decided that the best commuter vehicles and family haulers are crossovers and SUVs, other countries prefer station wagons. Even though there has been a bit of a wagon resurgence lately in the U.S., wagons are still far less numerous than crossovers, and they tend to be premium options like the $68,400 USD Mercedes E-Class. Other nations, such as Canada, get the smaller C-Class wagon, which starts at a far more affordable $35,000 USD. Granted, the heavy-hitting, V8-powered C63 AMG Wagon isn’t available to Canadians, but the standard C-Class is still a fairly affordable and enthusiast-friendly family hauler.
4 Chevrolet Tornado
Those in the U.S. love their trucks huge and shiny, but there's some demand for smaller and more economical alternatives. Apparently, this demand isn't great enough for Chevy to offer its Tornado north of the border.
Based on the South American Chevy Agile hatchback, the Tornado is not unlike the El Camino, though this compact pickup lacks a burly V8 option and rear-wheel drive. Regardless, the lack of muscle car attributes doesn't prevent the Tornado from being a practical hauler. While nobody would buy one of these small trucks for style or luxury, the Tornado can be a useful tool for smaller jobs.
3 Volkswagen Gol
No, that’s not a typo, Volkswagen sells a car called the 'Gol,' and it's unrelated to the Golf. This compact is a South American Volkswagen built on the same platform as the Mk. 4 VW Polo. However, while the European Polo was updated in 2009, the current Gol entered production in 2008. Despite its old design, Volkswagen has done a good job keeping the model looking modern, but those changes haven’t been reflected underneath the skin. In 2010, the Gol received a three-out-of-five-star crash-test rating from the NCAP, which was up from the models that lacked airbags that received a single star.
2 Renault Twizy
French automakers build some strange cars, and one of Renault’s latest weird offerings can be found in Mexican dealerships. The Renault Twizy is an all-electric car that looks like a narrow golf cart with scissor doors. However, the Twizy is a fully street-legal vehicle that can fit two people, with the passenger sitting directly behind the driver, and it’s rated for 62 miles of range. Needless to say, the little Twizy won’t be stealing sales from Tesla anytime soon. However, at a price of about $16,000 USD, this is one cheap and quirky way to get into electric driving.