Japanese cars get a lot of love, but that usually doesn’t translate to the true value these cars should have. The Japanese did a mega job getting into the American market. Before the cars from the East came in and overturned what was the biggest automotive market in the world, gearheads had been accustomed to big engines in outrageously loud packages that would cost as much as a mortgage. Performance and cheap were two words you couldn’t use in the same sentence.

But when the Japanese stepped in with their affordable price tags, the average Joe was finally given keys to the performance kingdom, now at the price of a hot hatch. That is when the war began. And now, decades later, despite the battle for performance dying over the years as consumers demand something more practical for daily use, Japan has still produced some great contenders.

But what of the juggernauts of the past? Well, for a number of them, they have a rather sad story to tell. They are incredibly underpriced. These 10 JDM cars, in particular, should be fetching more in the used car market than they do.

10 1990 Nissan 240SX

For a long time, Nissan has been known to produce cars that are only second to Toyota. The Nissan Frontier and Maxima, for instance, have never been amazing or as popular as the Toyota Tacoma and the fast-selling Camry. Most of this hardly makes sense because Nissan inherited the car-making business from a very formidable manufacturer, Datsun.

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The 240SX is a different story. Of course, it is one of those Japanese vehicles that look far much better in a body kit. But what makes it special is that. The number of modifications you can add to it are endless. That is why most owners upgrade from the already capable 140 hp 2.4L four-pot to something more potent.

9 1991 Toyota Supra MK3

Toyota’s main niche is family-friendly vehicles. But every once in a while, they step out and walk into the realm of sports cars and supercars. At this point, something marvelous usually happens. The 1991 Toyota Supra MK3 is a testament to that.

The MK3 was special because it was the first Supra to not have Toyota Corolla characteristics. Its timeless looks and the peppy 3.0-liter turbocharged 7M-GTE inline-six engine have been turning heads and bringing a lot of attention to this car for years. It is a highly sorted after Japanese classic that should be selling for more than the $7,000 it commands right now.

8 1991 Nissan 300ZX

A lot of great Japanese vehicles have failed to get the recognition they deserve. Some of them are the Galant VR4 and Subaru Legacy GT. The 1991 Nissan 300ZX also sadly falls into this list. That is despite the 300ZX being highly publicized by Nissan.

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Known as the Fairlady Z in some circles, the 1991 Nissan 300ZX was phenomenal. With the best options, you could get this marque with a twin-turbocharged 3.0L V6 that develops 300 hp at 6,400RPM. But funnily, this car can only scoop a maximum of $14,650 in the classic car market. It should be more.

7 1992 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo

Two Japanese sports sedans have been at war for decades. That is the Mitsubishi Lancer and Subaru Impreza. This feud has been battled out on the track, off the track, and over WRC rally stages. But what most petrolheads soaked in the drama and battles between these two formidable marques forget is that the beginnings were very humble.

The 1992 Evo was the perfect Japanese definition of cheap and very fast. Under the hood, this marque packed the same 2.0L inline-four engine used in the Galant. That power unit developed 244 hp and 229 lb-ft of torque, which was quite enough.

6 1993 Toyota MR2

The Audi S3 did not do great in America. But that car was a powerhouse in Europe. On the other hand, Dodge Stealth struggled to shake up sales in Europe. But in America, it was the hotcake of the industry. The same applies to the 1993 Toyota MR2. While America did not appreciate it, Japan bought it in droves.

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The problem was Americans saw the 1993 Toyota MR2 as a below-average two-door Toyota. But it was more than that. Its 2.0L 3S-GTE inline-four engine developed 200 hp, performance that you could hardly get for a car at its price.

5 1994 Mazda Miata

Mazda is the sort of manufacturer that rarely disappoints when it comes to sports cars. Over the years, the company has released one amazing car after another. But two were the most outstanding ever seen in the automotive world. That was the turbine-powered Mazda RX-7 and the nimble but peppy Mazda Miata.

This marque was so good that BMW came up with the Z-Series to try and take the crown from the Miata. But that didn’t work as this marque still stands as one of the most popular roadsters ever made.

4 1994 Subaru Impreza WRX

The Ford Mustang was a fluke. Ford never intended to create a game-changer when it first launched the Mustang. It took the eyes of Carroll Shelby and Ken Miles for the company to see it differently. The same can be said of the Subaru Impreza WRX. It was never meant to be the sports sedan animal it became. All Subaru wanted to do was create something affordable.

The first one was thus launched with decent numbers. The 1994 WRX boasted of a peppy engine that developed 236 hp, which was quite a good number at its time.

3 1996 Toyota Celica GT-Four

If you don’t know that much about Toyota and its legacy, you’ll be convinced that the only respectable Toyota sports car ever made is the Supra MK4. But you would be wrong. Proper gearheads know Toyota has been in this business of making formidable machines for a long while. Two of the most memorable ones are the AE86 and the Celica GT.

Sadly, both of those vehicles didn’t receive the kind of exposure they deserved. And despite being such a wonderful car, the Celica was discontinued in favor of the now-famous Toyota Supra.

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2 2001 Acura Integra Type R

The early 2000s was an interesting era. Phones were really tiny, and Fast & Furious was driving gearheads crazy. As a result, many Japanese cars were receiving flashy aftermarket treatment that was not necessarily performance-enhancing. You just had to look cool.

The Acura Integra was around, and it wasn’t the best Acura ever made. The Type R, however, was launched to change that. Even without ridiculous aftermarket modifications, this car was a rocket. The 1.8L four-cylinder engine produced 195 hp, which was just enough for the car. Thankfully, the price of this marque is shooting up, one in good condition fetching about $10,000.

1 2002 Honda Accord Type R

Honda makes amazing motorcycles. But the same can’t be said of their cars. Most Hondas are known to be cheap, tacky, and underpowered. That is the case mostly for the base Civic and CRX models. But there are diehard fans who know one or two marques that hit the bar. The 2002 Honda Accord Type R is one of those cars.

This car is one of the most underrated in the world. Under the hood, it was equipped with a 2.2L VTEC engine that developed 217 hp. That is still a good figure even by today’s standards. Prices have shot up to $30,000 of late, but it needs to collect more.