Top Japanese Imports Worth Buying

Published on 11 June, 2026

Our pick of the best Japanese imports on today's market

Overview

Back in the 1990s and early 2000s, lots of Irish car buyers turned to imported Japanese cars for a combination of good value and high quality, not to mention the availability in Japan of some interesting models that were never officially sold here. 

The trade in imported Japanese cars has kept going, quietly enough, in Ireland ever since, but in the past few years the trade as exploded once more, and now the majority of imported used cars in Ireland are coming from Japan. 

Why? Simple - Brexit. The final conclusion of Britain’s Brexit deal with Europe has meant an increase in the costs and complication of importing a used car from GB. Japan, in spite of being further away and also (of course) outside of the EU, actually now offers better value (Japanese used car values are generally lower than in Europe) not to mention better quality cars (most Irish car dealers will admit that used Japanese-market cars are in better condition than an equivalent Irish-registered car).

There are still some pitfalls to buying Japanese - radio and navigation issues, making sure that the car has a proper immobiliser and so on - but here are some of the best used cars from Japan that are worth seeking out.

Toyota Corolla

There is very little technical difference between the Toyota Corolla which is sold here in Ireland and the one which is sold in Japan. So why is it worth going for an import? Two reasons, really - solid value (Japanese market cars are generally a little more affordable than original Irish Corollas) and, in a way, geekery. You see, the Corollas we usually buy here are made in Derbyshire, in the UK, but of course Japanese market models are made in Japan, and there’s a certain something about buying a Corolla from the Takaoka factory in which Corollas have been continuously made since 1966. 

2. Honda Stepwagon

Japanese buyers still favour large, roomy MPVs above less practical SUVs, so if you’re looking to maximise space for the family and overall practicality, then an imported Japanese MPV could make a better choice than a European SUV. The Honda Stepwagon is one of the best - true, it’s hardly an oil painting on the outside, but it can have as many as eight seats inside, and the sliding side doors make it hugely useful in narrow car park spaces. The current model has a cool, Lego-like look at the front, and you can get it with a very efficient hybrid engine, too. 

3. Toyota Alphard

If we’re talking about Japanese MPVs, then we have to also consider the Toyota Alphard. This is so much more than just a van with windows - it’s nowadays a properly sophisticated family car. The huge grille at the front won’t be to everyone’s taste, but you can choose from seven- or eight-seat layouts, and there’s the option of having two individual - and luxuriously comfortable - ‘Captain’s chairs’ in the middle row. Sliding rear side doors make it super-practical, and while basic versions come with plain petrol engines, there are hybrid and plug-in-hybrid options as well. 

4. Honda S660

The Honda S660 was the successor to the legendary Honda Beat sports car of the 1990s, and it’s a car built to Japan’s famous tax-saving ‘Kei Car’ regulations. Like all Kei cars, the S660 has to have a maximum of 660cc engine capacity and be less than four metres long. While there are plenty of practical Kei cars, the S660 is a proper two-seat, mid-engined sports car — like a Ferrari that got shrunk in the wash. It only has 64hp, but the little Honda engine revs to 7,700rpm and sounds like a superbike, while the S660 has excellent handling. You won’t find more fun in a smaller package than this. 

5. Subaru WRX S4 STI Sport

The Subaru Impreza, and its fabulous rally-car spinoffs, have long since left these shores, but the Impreza Turbo spirit lives on in Japan with the WRX S4 STI Sport, which uses a turbocharged 2.4-litre flat-four engine with 300hp and the usual Subaru four-wheel drive. It looks like a proper sports saloon, but sadly these days is only available with an automatic gearbox. Still, if you want to revive those Colin McRae Rally memories…

Bonus: European cars

If you look at the current manifests of cars being imported into Ireland from Japan, you might be surprised how few Japanese makes and models feature. In fact, the most commonly imported cars from Japan into Ireland right now are the VW Golf and the BMW 5 Series and 3 Series. Why? Simply because the old route of Irish dealers finding good used stock in GB has been more or less closed off by Brexit, and so these European models - sold in Japan just like they’re sold here - make a fantastic substitute. They often have higher specifications than would have been the case for original Irish models, and Japanese buyers are fastidious about the upkeep and condition of their cars, so you’re buying something you can rely on. 

Shane O'Donoghue

Shane grew up in his dad’s garage in Cork, sparking a lifelong love of cars. After studying engineering in the UK, he turned to motoring journalism in the late 1990s. He now runs CompleteCar.ie and a motoring editorial agency, writing for top outlets like CarsIreland and Carzone.