Japan is the third-largest automotive manufacturing nation in the world. The country is known for producing some of the most stunning, powerful, and efficient vehicles on the planet. Thanks to the credibility of Japanese automakers, we’ve seen some exclusive, one-of-a-kind vehicles.
However, some Japanese cars have severely limited horsepower, even with their exceptional automotive manufacturing elegance. Surprisingly, the JDMs on this list are some of the most beautiful and fun cars to drive to town or your local twisty roads.
10 Honda N600
The N600 started its life as the Honda N360. It was an innovative little car aimed to be the Japanese answer to the Mini. Being one of the first Japanese Kei cars in the market, the N360 immediately got some international appeal. This tiny car used an air-cooled two-cylinder engine, enough to comply with Japanese Kei car regulations.
After the popularity of the N360, Honda created the N600 for the European and North American markets. This tiny car had a 598cc air-cooled two-cylinder engine producing 45 hp. Nowadays, the N600 still makes a fun, buzzy little car.
9 Suzuki Cappuccino
Suzuki introduced the Cappuccino in 1991. The brand set out to style its sports car to look like a supercar. Even with its elegant design, Suzuki's two-seater sports car was no beast. In Japan, the Cappuccino was a Kei car helping it qualify for lower insurance and tax rates.
The little beauty had a turbocharged 657cc inline-three engine producing 63 hp. Even though this wasn’t perfect for its appearance, the Cappuccino was fun to drive, especially on twisty roads. Enthusiasts who yearned for more power also got creative with engine swaps, turning the Cappuccino into a miniature supercar.
8 Mazda Cosmo
The Cosmo was Mazda’s way of trying to appeal to the international markets with a two-seater sports car. This classic sports car was the pinnacle of aerodynamics and elegance, with the first variant being a rare collection since Mazda made only 343 units.
This iconic Japanese sports car had a 982cc twin-rotor engine producing 109 hp and 96 lb-ft of torque. Even with its slightly underpowered engine, the Cosmo could manage a 0 to 60 mph run of 8.2 seconds. Nowadays, the car is an engineering marvel and borrows its beautiful looks from legendary cars like Jaguar E-Type and the Thunderbird.
7 Toyota 2000GT
Toyota’s 2000GT is a legendary sports car that saw the light of day in 1967. It was the brand's first masterstroke and was Toyota’s most beautiful sports car, tying with Jaguar’s E-Type in the looks department. For a sporty grand tourer, the 2000GT offered good performance with its 2.0-liter inline-six engine borrowed from the Crown sedan.
The engine produced 150 hp and 129 lb-ft of torque, thanks to new internals and the Yamaha’s tuning. This overengineered masterpiece was the first Toyota to have a properly limited-slip differential, a 5-speed manual gearbox, and disc brakes on all four corners.
6 Nissan 240SX
When Nissan introduced the 240SX, it immediately became a sensation among enthusiasts since it was a rear-wheel-drive coupe that they could easily toss into corners for fun and long drifts. Nowadays, the 240SX can still carry a lot of speed through tight corners, making it a fun car to drive.
Even though the 240SX was a bit underpowered with its 140 hp and 152 lb-ft of torque 2.4-liter naturally aspirated engine, it was still an excellent car for all enthusiasts. Nowadays, the 240SX is a great car for beginners and tuners alike. It has a large selection of aftermarket parts, making it easy to get more power.
5 Toyota MR2
Toyota unveiled the MR2 in 1984. This was a packaging marvel and a revolution in sports car design. The MR2 had a lovely mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive, two-seater configuration, making it one of the best handling entry-level sports cars of its time.
The configuration allowed the MR2 to have an excellent power-to-weight ratio, making it fun to drive and push to its limits. Nowadays, the MR2 offers plenty of customization opportunities. Its 1.8-liter twin-turbo inline-four engine is still reliable and capable, producing 138 hp and 127 lb-ft of torque.
4 Honda S2000
Honda’s S2000 is considered a piece of automotive ingenuity. Most enthusiasts still consider it one of the most iconic sports cars. Honda sold the S2000 from 1999 to 2009. During this time, the S2000 made a profound statement in the sports car segment.
It had a high revving 2.0-liter inline-four engine, an affordable price, smooth handling, and engaging three-pedal drive quality. By then, Honda’s engine was the most powerful naturally aspirated 2.0-liter in the world, producing 237 hp and 153 lb-ft of torque.
3 Mazda Miata
Mazda has been selling the Miata since 1989. Over the years, Mazda’s tiny and affordable sports car has become one of the best-selling two-seater convertibles. The Miata takes advantage of lighter and smaller engines due to its tiny size.
This helps make it a magnificent car, capable enough to offer continuous driving enjoyment. Nowadays, the fourth generation Miata is among the most popular iterations. It features a 2.0-liter engine producing 155 hp. Even though it might not seem like a lot, the power output is enough to have fun on windy roads.
2 Honda CR-X
The CR-X was another effortlessly styled Honda with an extremely well-made engine. In the top-spec Si trim, the CR-X produced 158 hp. This wasn’t the most powerful Honda, but it was light, thus offering fantastic handling.
The beauty of the CR-X came from its typical Japanese nature and simplicity. Nowadays, the CR-X is a sporty car with understated looks, reasonable prices, and potential for customization. This helps make it a worthy option in a market filled with a substantial following for the AE86 Corolla and MX-5.
1 Toyota 86
The 86 is a rear-wheel-drive sports coupe created in partnership between Toyota and Subaru. It started its life as the GT86 together with its twin, the Subaru BRZ. Although the offerings are pretty underpowered, they look great and are affordable.
Both offerings appease enthusiasts with their low center of gravity and improved handling. Toyota achieves this by placing the engine as low and far back as possible. Besides, the 205 hp 2.0-liter boxer engine is rewarding for anyone willing to push it hard.