The 90s were the golden age for Japanese sports cars. The styling went from a bit boxy to sultry and stunning. The motors were technologically advanced. Some cars had all-wheel-steering and others featured special motors all to themselves. Today some of the most forbidden fruit, that is, JDM cars never sold here in America, are becoming available.
We'll mention both those we had available and those we are just now able to purchase as we take a look at the top 15 Japanese cars made in the 90s. Will your favorite make the list? Take a look at all 15 and you'll see why these are the ones that we selected.
15 Acura Integra
Acura had a hit on their hands with the Integra. It looks fantastic and was easy to drive. It also had enough power to make younger buyers feel like they were getting a fast car. While I wouldn't call it fast in its stock form, they can be very quick with a little tuning.
14 EK Civic
The EK Civic Type R was the only type R we ever really received here and it blended everyday practicality with real quickness for such a small car. Add to that sincerely understated good looks and you can see why it has such a following today.
13 Nissan Pulsar GTIR
The Pulsar is a scrappy little monster, and unlike the Civic, it throws power to all four wheels. That means that with a little tuning, this already fun and quick little car can do AWD drifts. When you realize that little cars like the Shelby GLHS or the Lancia Delta are wildly expensive, this one might fit the bill.
12 Nissan 240SX
Is it just me or is the Silvia one of the most underappreciated cars in terms of overall beauty? It wasn't meant to be as capable as it was, but Nissan seemed to only build highly capable engines during this time period. As a result, this is the go-to choice for anyone looking to drift on a dime.
11 Mazda Miata
The answer is always Miata. They're quick for their size, they handle exceptionally well and they're super easy to maintain. They're cheap enough to use all the time and you can modify them to your taste. They set a new precedent in the '90s and it still lasts today.
10 Subaru Impreza 2.5RS
One of my personal favorites, the Impreza, proved to the world that Subaru had some sticking power in the enthusiast marketplace. The 2.5L motor was so good that even today much of the same architecture is used in their current lineup. It also gave birth to the boxer rumble.
9 Toyota MR2
It seems a shame to me that the MR2 hasn't survived. While it's never easy to bring to market something that shares almost none of its parts with other cars, the MR2 is remembered so fondly because it was special.
A turbocharged mid-engine car that looks this good and sends all its power to the back wheels is special no matter the brand. Hopefully, they're planning a revival we just don't know about yet.
8 Nissan 300ZX
The 300ZX was Nissan's tribute to the 280 with some modern touches. It also utilized a special twin-turbo V6 if you checked that option box, so it was properly fast too. It was considered a 2+2 in some markets but only for very small kids. Power was routed only to the rear wheels and some were sold as convertibles. Those are particularly hard to find today.
7 Honda S2000
If there's one car on this list that will surprise you I think it's this one. The S2000 is so much more fun than people give it credit for. It might seem like a nicer and slightly more powerful Mazda Miata but it's far better than that. It has enough power to snap the rear wheel loose without effort and revs to 9000 RPM.
6 Mitsubishi Eclipse
I could go on for hours about how these are basically like a little Lamborghini Murcielago with less power. They're still aggressive, they send their power to all four wheels, and they were the Lancer Evo before we got one here in America. They handle better and look better than an Evo too.
5 Mitsubishi 3000GT
The 3000 GT is here because of a few things. It's gorgeous, it had four-wheel-steering and it was a legitimate answer to Nissan with their Skyline only Mitsubishi had the moxie to sell it here in America.
The twin-turbo V6 under the hood of the 3000 GT VR-4 is a bit difficult to work on which is why they're not as popular as other JDM cars but they're every bit as capable if you want to put the work in.
4 Toyota Supra
When you think of JDM cars from the '90s, this is one of about 3 or 4 that always pop up into your mind. Prices for these things are going nuts today and that makes sense. They're stout, they don't break and they're stunning. No matter what you may personally think of the car there's no denying what a monster it can be in the right hands. 276 horsepower... yeah, right.
3 Mazda RX-7
Mazda set the world on fire with the FD RX-7. The rotary engine still isn't the most reliable technology but it provides power and noise in a way that ignites the soul. The body of this car is special too. The flowing lines and small stature were unlike anything else at the time.
2 Acura NSX
Daily driven supercar seems like an oxymoron today. That's exactly what the NSX is capable of though. It was beautiful but understated. It could keep up with the big boys and out-handle a Corvette with ease but didn't take the maintenance required of a Ferrari or Lamborghini either. A marvel even today.
1 Nissan Skyline R32 GT-R
You knew it, I knew it, we all knew it. The Skyline was going to be at the top of the list. It garners this high honor because it is simply better than everything else here. The NSX is close, mind you, it can handle better than the older Skylines but the newer R33-R35s are even faster in a corner. Add to that the immense power a Skyline can safely build and you have the makings of a proper Godzilla.