After World War II, there was a huge need for cheap and reliable transportation for the masses in Japan. Now that the war was over, the people went back to their businesses, but no one had much money. The Japanese government at the time solved the transport issue with a new category of vehicles known as Kei cars. The early Kei cars were very small, used the same engines as scooters, and thus, were very cheap to manufacture and buy. The regulations for them were these cars could no longer than 9.2 feet and no wider than 3.3 feet. The engine limitations were 150cc for the 4 strokes and 100cc for 2-stroke engines.
These early Kei cars helped Japan to be the modern nation that they are today. Also, they help some of the brands we know and love like Subaru to get their foot into the automobile market. As the times change, so did the Kei cars. They are now bigger than their predecessors and have larger engines. JDM manufacturers build some very cool Kei cars while working within the rules they have to adhere to. While they no longer have a huge tax advantage, they are still very popular due to their cheaper prices and make a third of Japan's domestic car sales. These are awesome Kei cars we would love to own.
9 Honda Beat
Honda Beat was one of the three miniature supercars we'll be covering in this list. Originally designed by Pininfarina, this mid-engined Kei car was the last car to be approved by Soichiro Honda. It was the most popular sporty Kei car, selling more than 33,000 units.
Like all Kei cars, Honda Beat had to adhere to the rules laid out by the government. Powered by a high-revving 656 cc engine producing 63 horsepower, this car has exceptional handling, a sweet engine note, scalpel-sharp steering, and cool styling. Once you drive it, you'll wonder why you need more than 64 horsepower to have fun.
8 Suzuki Cappuccino
Just like its drink counterpart, Suzuki Cappuccino is a small, fancy thing that hits all the sweet spots. This little roadster is just that, a stylish roadster that will give you the joy of driving a car on an open road. It is a car that the numbers are meaningless, but the joy you get if you drive one is just intoxicating.
Suzuki Cappuccino is a relatively simple car, and its turbocharged three-cylinder engine can rev to 9,300 rpm with an oh-so-sweet soundtrack. It is light, low to the ground, and had a 50/50 weight balance despite the FR layout, so it is a very good handling car with lots of fun-packed under its small body.
7 Autozam AZ-1
Autozam AZ-1 is another Kei sports car that needs love and attention. What sets the AZ-1 different is the gullwing doors, which makes it look like a miniature supercar. Despite being one of the best-known Kei cars, it didn't sell well because it was released during a recession. Still, this weird, yet lovable car deserves some respect.
The small car has a mid-engine rear-wheel-drive layout and due to its lightweight, it has very favorable handling characteristics. The turbocharged inline-3 engine produces 64 horsepower and 63 lb-ft of torque, and the top speed is pretty much limited by how much the driver weighs. If you want to own one, you should act quickly, as the value is climbing thanks the unique look and the rarity of the car.
6 Nissan Figaro
One of the prettiest cars with retro-inspired designs is the Nissan Figaro. It was released 30 years ago and produced in limited numbers. Marketed as a "2-door coupe just for yourself" this car is just as cute as a button, but it has a unique leather roof, so it is actually not a coupé, it is a convertible.
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This is a car that has the power to brighten the day of everyone who sees it. It wasn't a Kei car, because of the turbocharged 1-liter engine, but it had the size right. It has a tasteful interior design and simple controls. Built on the Micra platform, Figaro is a very usable car in city traffic and has more than enough power to zip around in the city with exceptional maneuverability.
5 Honda S600&S800
If you want to experience the joys of open-top motoring with a vintage car, the Honda S600 and S800 might be what you need. Introduced in 1964, this little car came as a coupé and a roadster and was the first Honda to be sold in Europe. Design-wise, it was comparable to the European roadsters, with a nice little surprise.
Honda was known for its motorcycles before venturing out to four-wheelers, but Soichiro Honda was determined to make the best cars in the world. Honda created this car to showcase to the world what they can do. They stick to what they know when producing the S600 and gave it a high-revving 606 cc engine, which produced a very delightful soundtrack. It is one of the most important cars for the Japanese auto industry.
4 Toyota Sports 800
No, Toyota's first sports car wasn't James Bond's 2000GT, but it was the small yet capable Yotahachi. This lovable little car was built on the Publica's underpinnings with some subtle yet effective tweaks. Toyota went to the extreme with the weight reduction and used aerodynamics to its advantage.
The engine powering this microcar is a 790 cc two-cylinder boxer engine producing 44 horsepower with an impressive top speed of 96 mph. The Sport 800 is a very good sports car with an almost unrivaled connection to the road and everything going around you.
3 Daihatsu Copen
Daihatsu is one of Japan's oldest manufacturers. They specialize in getting the most out of small vehicles, and the Copen is one of their finest creations. There were two generations of Copen and both captured media attention when they come out, especially in Japan, because while it shared the same chassis with the K10 Micra and the Nissan Figaro but used a modern 660 cc engine with a twin-scroll turbocharger.
The second generation of the iconic Kei car was almost completely reimagined in 2013 and was on the road in 2014. It was a work of art and nothing short of a miniaturized supercar. In 2019, Toyota's Gazoo Racing released the Toyota Copen GR to be an entry-level sports car for the GR line-up. Sadly, it was a Japan-only car, but we are sure it makes use of all 63 horses for a great experience.
2 Suzuki Hustler
The car world loves the crossover SUVs because even though they have small sizes, they are very practical vehicles. Things are a bit different over in Japan. They prefer even smaller cars with a lot of character. Hustler is one such car. Also available as the Mazda Flair Crossover, this boxy Kei off-roader is one of the hottest cars in Japan.
The second-generation Hustler has some 4WD capabilities with a snow mode option. It has two engine options, one naturally aspirated and one turbocharged, producing 49 and 64 horsepower respectively. The Hustler is another Japan-only car with very little information, but it looks like a fun car for outdoors-loving Japanese people.
1 Honda S660
Honda S660 is the first S-car since S2000. Apart from looking like a miniature NSX, Honda developed a whole new chassis for the S660 that's stiffer than the S2000. While its turbocharged engine only produces 63 horsepower, as per the regulations, the chassis is so good that you don't need much more power to feel like you are going fast.
The rev-happy engine of the S660 produces some fantastic turbo noises, and the transmission of the car is very good. As for the handling, the car handles almost flat, and it feels like you are always in control and there's no limit to the car's grip. While there were some talks about bringing the S660 to the States and other markets, it never materialized, and now, Honda is killing this special car due to regulations. We are sad, but we are also happy that Honda even produced this car.