10 Japanese Cars That Made A Huge Impact In The US Market

Aug 23, 2023

These Japanese cars took the US market by storm and completely changed the game for domestic manufacturers.

The auto industry has seen many icons from Japan. From little 3-cylinder hot hatches to mundane daily runners to pickup trucks to sports cars, Japanese automakers have given us great cars to consider in each segment. Better still, they've not just entered the US market, they've taken it over.

Capturing American hearts from the late 60s with small fuel-efficient hatchbacks, Japanese cars have showcased their unique features and given Americans a fresh new take on cars. Over the years this has led to many Japanese cars have outsold American models, making a huge impact in the US.

Looking at data from official automaker websites, Kelley Blue Book and cars.usnews.com, we've put together a list of Japanese cars that have not just outsold but made a significant impact on the US auto market.

Arguably one of the most hated cars among the gearhead community, the Toyota Prius is undoubtedly a game-changer. Especially in the US where it saw great success from its initial introduction in 2000 right up till 2016, earning the status as the best-selling hybrid vehicle for the 16-year stint. Only dethroned by the Chevrolet Volt eventually, the Prius sold more units in the US than it did back in its home country Japan.

Sales figures were not the only reason for the Prius's success. It was the innovative hybrid technology that gave it an edge over rivals like the Honda Insight and the aforementioned Chevrolet Volt. Pairing ever-evolving battery technology with the relentless reliability that comes with the Toyota brand, the Prius made going green easy for car buyers. Toyota's success with the Prius showed other automakers that there is in fact a demand for eco-friendly cars. That's how you make an impact.

A defining automotive icon that turned the tables on the US sports car culture. Acknowledged as the most popular sports car in America, the MX-5 Miata has appealed to drivers in numerous aspects ever since its inception in the 80s and even up till its most modern models. The MX-5 possesses the holy trinity of sports car features – timeless design, exciting performance and handling, and affordability.

Excelling in each of those areas made the MX-5 extremely attractive to those looking for a relatively small but fun sports car to take on canyon drives. Up against the likes of Honda S2000s and Toyota MR2 Spyders, the Mazda MX-5 Miata delivered pure excitement packaged in a purse-loving body. The cost of living with one was the final nail in the coffin for other sports carmakers. The MX-5 was, and is, an extremely dependable car that will forever hold its place as an icon that shook the automotive industry.

RELATED: Why The Mazda MX-5 Miata's Engine Punches Way Above Its Weight

While the statement on the headline is impressive, there is one more that tops that. The Toyota Camry has been the best-selling sedan in the USA ever since it entered the market in 1983. Not for the lack of competitors such as the Honda Accord and Nissan Altima, the Toyota Camry's rise to success was quick.

The highlight of the Toyota Camry that blew its rivals out of the water was its bulletproof reliability, wallet-friendly fuel efficiency, and outstanding interior space. It was easily one of the most practical all-rounder cars to be sold in the US and people took notice of it. Not only did the Toyota Camry dominate the midsize sedan market, but it also pushed automakers in the direction of practicality and reliability.

Practical and formidable. The Nissan Rogue rides the wave of compact SUVs with confidence, constantly battling the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. Topping its rivals in 2017, the Nissan Rogue earns a spot on this list because it is the unlikely choice. Underrated during its early years, the Rogue went through a few lifecycles before hitting its stride and catching the attention of US buyers.

Its impressive fuel economy appealed to buyers with the growing demand for eco-friendly mobility. Further, amped up by its spacious cargo room and extensive modern safety equipment, it quickly hopped to the top of the list on buyers' minds.

RELATED: Why There's Nothing Wrong With The Nissan Rogue

The mighty Ford F-150 got dethroned! Yes, readers – the best pickup truck to come out of the USA got outsold by the 2005 Toyota Tacoma. The plucky Japanese pickup truck rewrote the rules of its segment and took the fight to America's staple pickup truck, the F-150.

Despite fluctuating to find its footing in the US, not faulting it since it was entering a dense market populated by the likes of the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra, the Tacoma excelled in its affordability. Couple that with rugged design packages and world-ending reliability, the Toyota Tacoma had made a tremendous impact against the giants of the industry.

Relatively new to the automotive market, the Honda HR-V wasted no time in gaining popularity. Especially among the young GEN-Z audience and first-time car buyers, the HR-V was seen as a fun yet practical crossover. Given the rising fuel prices, a fuel-efficient car made more sense than ever to those on the lower end of the pay scale. Especially when you consider just how much value the Honda HR-V actually gives you.

Funky styling aside, the HR-V has a Magic Seat system that allows for various seat configurations depending on your preference, essentially transforming it from a people carrier to a van even with bulky cargo space. It did face fierce competition however from Toyota's C-HR and Mazda's ever-popular CX-3 but the compact crossover Honda HR-V rose above them with better fuel consumption and performance traits that follow the Honda name.

There can be no better flex for an automaker than one of its cars making the best sales of the year. The Toyota RAV4 recorded the best SUV sales of 2022 in the US, but it went one further and was also the best-selling SUV in the world. As achievements go, that is quite a big one. When we look into the Toyota RAV4, it's easy to understand why. The plucky little compact crossover boasts the practicality that is now common for Toyota cars. With the RAV4, the brand's commitment to the urban-family lifestyle took the lead and captivated buyers the world over, especially in the USA.

While its competitors from Honda and Nissan put up a good fight, the RAV4 edged them out with more space, better fuel efficiency, and a more charming uber-friendly personality. Drivers of the RAV4 feel confident in the RAV4's ability to walk the fine line between practical daily commuting and adventurous thrill.

The Toyota Corolla takes this title by a whisker from Honda's Civic but deserves a spot on this list for its 50-year reign over the auto industry. Entering the US market in the 60s, the Corolla snatched people's attention away from gas-guzzling V8s that break down often and offered them reliable and cheap-to-run options. With the gas crisis looming at the time, the Toyota Corolla was like water in a desert. It quickly became the go-to vehicle for moms around town and even dads on the travel.

The Corolla has undergone many variations, from rear-wheel drive to front-wheel drive to plug-in hybrids, but the combination of being an easy-to-run, affordable, and comfortable daily car has not changed a bit. In fact, it has only become better with intelligent systems on board such as infotainments and safety equipment. It's safe to say that Toyota Corolla's impact on the US market has been massive and continues to battle for the top spot.

RELATED: Everything You Need To Know About The 2023 Toyota Corolla Hybrid

Honda's battle with Toyota goes deep into the roots of Japan and for the auto world, the Honda Civic has been its strongest contender, especially in the US. It helped give American buyers another option other than the Corolla when it came to the choice of practical and affordable hatchbacks. From the '70s, the Civic has come a long way and is now not just a cheap small beater but rather a dignified everyday compact sedan. Millennials in the US certainly think so as the Honda Civic is the number 1 choice among millennial buyers since 2011.

It shouldn't come as a surprise however because the very ingredients that made the Civic such a trendsetter in the later 80s can be found in its predecessors on sale today. Practical usability combined with a well-engineered drivetrain that makes good power while returning excellent fuel consumption. Even better than that, the Honda Civic holds its resale value, earning it the status as the No.1 selling certified pre-owned car in America.

This category is somewhat of a forgotten one ever since the SUV and crossover market took over the auto industry. The Toyota Sienna, however, continues to thrive in this segment against other minivan contenders like the Honda Odyssey, Nissan Quest, and Chrysler Pacifica. Looking back to its introduction to the US in 1998, the Sienna seemed to answer what every family required. Space for a large family, reliable for the school run, and affordable to maintain long term. Despite the SUV trends, the Toyota Sienna still ticks those boxes and has a strong following of people making it the best-selling minivan of 2021.

There can be no better review of a car than experiencing it yourself. But since that isn't really possible with the number of new cars being made every year, at least we can read about them and debate instead.