What is the best Japanese car brand?

[AviatorTom]

Japan - Cherry Blossoms, Mt Fuji and a Geisha

Japan is known for many things, including the manufacture of automobiles.

The poll lists the major Japanese auto-makers, in alphabetical order.

Which do you think is the best Japanese auto-maker?

Note: Some auto-makers have a main line and a luxury line, and both are shown together in the poll.

HONDA / ACURA

MAZDA

MITSUBISHI

NISSAN / INFINITI

SUBARU

SUZUKI

TOYOTA / LEXUS

[AyChingao]

I drive a Camry currently and it's been quite durable and is still quite nice for it's age so I'll go with Toyota for polle purposes. Also had a Subaru that lasted a good long time in the 80's into the 90's, but my favorite car was a 1983 Mazda RX7, sporty little dark gray metal flake shark of a car with the rotary engine powering it, and that thing could SCOOT. It did develope the trademark Wankel oil leak in it's late life however, pretty much standard when you bolt the engine together sideways...

[msc545]

Toyota by far is the best Japanese car brand. There is an arguably possibly the best car brand ever made. It has higher reliability than any other brand and it comes in at the top of customer satisfaction lists.

[msc545]

Thanks for MHO

[Screenwriter]

Heard great things about Subaru, but they are pricey and finding mechanics who work on them also costs and is rarer. Honda and Toyota are next in line. Again, Honda costs a few thousand more, so if you don't have the bucks, then the bottom line would be Toyota. I only had Toyotas until three years ago when I found a standard shift Honda, which I still have.

I've had good experiences with both Honda and Toyota. Solid little cars.

[Friendlybro79]

Subaru isn't hard to work on actually. They're not more expensive than a Toyota or a Honda and a lot of common Subaru problems of the past are mainly rectified now. Toyota I think owns like 20% of Subaru now b

[Screenwriter]

@Friendlybro79 I've only bought used cars and availability of Subarus, older ones, at same prices with same mileages as Toyotas and Hondas has never been similar because people hold onto them until they're extinct. I'm driving a 2006 Civic. My son has my 2005 corolla with 100K on it. I looked for an affordable used car and Subarus were either too expensive or just weren't available. Just my experience.

[Friendlybro79]

Very good points. You've done your homework. Yes used Subarus holds value well and moreso in climates that are better suited for AWD. That Corolla is barely broken in with 100k on it. On an unrelated note.
This is totally volunteering and I know you didn't ask for advice, but I mean to share this. You probably know this but just in case:

If your son hasn't replaced the spark plugs yet have him do it. It's a 15 min job and so easy to do.

He just needs the right spark socket to remove and replace new plugs.

With a car that old also, while you're in there you might as well replace ignition coils IF they haven't been replaced already. They go over the top of the spark plugs. That will cover your son for another 100k easily. I'm only recommending the coils because of experience and the age of them if they're the original.

When I read you gave your son the Corolla it reminded me of my parents giving me my first car that I worked really hard to earn starting at 8 years old lol. Long story. If you want any advice on how to buy these parts (if you need help) I'll send you links to anything.

[FreyaRed]

I think it's toyota.
Toyota corolla is top selling new car in my country. Followed by other Japan and Korean cars.
BMW 3-series is somewhere on number 12 in this ranking as best sold German car. As BMW driver I know why? lol

[HighValue]

Toyota knowingly killed many customers when they added sensors for their accelerator and brake pedals. They hid information for years that could have cleared multiple of involuntary manslaughter because their cars accelerated on its own and the brakes stopped working, causing multiple crashes. The information came out 6 or 7 years ago if I recall correctly. Only ignorant people would buy their cars.

I have personally owned Chevy, Pontiac, and Nissan vehicles. The Nissan car has been the most dependable by far.

[dislikesmath]

I'm 39 I've started driving a1989 ford supercharged v6 then a for ex police car v8 , American cars are kinda reliable. Then I discovered Toyota (Lexus) cars even better. Had a Toyota previa over 200 miles. Their ugly but so reliable. Now I drive a 2014 Acura mdx really fun to drive without traction control on. 290 hp /270 torque v tech v6 sadly they like to leak oil it is way too common on the v6😔

[bddddd]

We have been driving Hondas for 20 years now. Never a single problem with them. I know people that run them well over 200,000km (we don't).

Toyota is well-regarded. Haven't driven them, can't vouch for them.

[AviatorTom]

@bddddd I drove Hondas for many years, no problems. Several years ago I went to buy a new Civic. I hit my head getting in, they had reengineered things a little smaller, supposedly to reduce weight and satisfy EPA fuel mileage. I went down the street to a Toyota dealer and hopped right into a Corolla with plenty of headroom. I've been driving Toyotas since, no problems.

[DryGermanGuy]

From U. S. customer statistics Toyota, with the internal top spots going to Lexus.

[AviatorTom]

@DryGermanGuy A similar question for German cars should be coming in a few days.

[capriVib]

Hybrid Toyotas, in particular, are the ultimate price-performance cars. Instead of unnecessary technological showmanship inside, they opt for a simple design and pour maximum effort into the engine, hybrid system, and drivetrain, resulting in rock-solid cars that don’t break down.

[Jessica405]

I love our Honda CR-V. Fun to drive. Not much grunt, but a steady plodder. Just forked out for new PS pipes, but otherwise no issues in last 4 years. Not bad for a 2003 model.

[shortster]

If you are talking about cars sold in America, it is easily Toyota. If you are talking about the cars sold in Japan, that is a much closer race; and I can only guess who would be on top. If I were to do so, I would either go Mazda or Mitsubishi.

[Elliegirl]

I’m partial to Honda. They just feel right to me when I drive them

[genericname85]

can't decide between toyota and honda tbh. nobody on the planet builds machines that reliable anymore.

[douride2]

For my money & the service I get it's Toyota. Also the RAV I bought was built here in Canada.

[AngryCarl2]

I owned a Suzuki for 12 years but although I have no complaints I would never claim they are the best brand. Best value for money possibly.

[Xawyx-2]

I think it's Toyota. But Honda and Nissan are ok too.

Though, Subaru needs less fuel.

[Wiredone]

I've had Honda, Toyota, Mazda, Nissan and subaru. I think subaru is the best one out of all of them

[ArrowheadSW]

I chose Toyota just based on personal experience. I have not looked at the long term data. Plus, the dealership that I go to is great.

[OlderAndWiser]

I prefer Fords but my Chinese wife prefers Toyota.

[purplepoppy]

I drive a Toyota hilux so I'm going for Toyota. But I do like some of the Nissan stuff

[Gagforlifetime]

It has to be between Toyota and Honda because they have a long life expectancy

[Demetria5]

Always had good luck with Lexuses. My current 2026 RZ electric.

[Nikki1989]

All cars are just four wheels and a motor to me.

[exitseven]

I always buy American vehicles.

[AviatorTom]

@exitseven If you check where and how American vehicles are assembled, you'll find many of the major components come from, and are assembled in, Canada or Mexico, some even from Japan or Germany. There's no such thing as a Made in America vehicle, hasn't been for years.

Toyota has six assembly plants in the US and Honda has twelve. Toyotas and Hondas sold in the US are assembled in the US, with parts from all over, just like Ford and GM.

[Siajanua2027]

@AviatorTom not quite true Aviator!
Tesla Model 3 and Model Y: Electric vehicles with high American content.
Ford F-150: A best-selling pickup truck made in the U. S.
Chevrolet Silverado: Another popular pickup truck manufactured by GM.
Honda Accord: A midsize sedan known for its reliability, assembled in the U. S.
Hyundai Sonata: A midsize sedan with a significant portion of U. S. assembly.

[exitseven]

Ford F150s are 90 % made in USA.

[AviatorTom]

@exitseven I asked AI if Tesla cars are 100% American made...
"No, a Tesla is not 100% American-made because it's impossible for any mass-produced car to be. While all Tesla vehicles sold in the U. S. are assembled in America (primarily in California and Texas), they source a significant number of parts from other countries, including Mexico and Canada, according to USA Today.
Assembly: All Tesla models sold in the United States are assembled in America at factories in California and Texas.
Parts: Tesla vehicles are made with a high percentage of parts from the U. S. and Canada, but they also rely on a global supply chain for components. For example, some 2025 models have between 60% and 75% of their parts from North America, with a notable percentage coming from Mexico.
"Made in America" index: Tesla consistently ranks high on "American-made" indices because it assembles all cars sold in the U. S. domestically, which is a key factor in the ranking. However, the overall domestic content is lower than 100% due to the imported parts."

[AviatorTom]

@exitseven My recent cars have been Honda and Toyota, all of them assembled in the US, using Japanese, Canadian, Mexican and US parts. Before that, I had a Chevy that was 100% assembled in Canada, at a factory outside Toronto. Point is, all cars are global now.

[exitseven]

I had the Toyota importer for the northeast as a customer. They had two car washes set up at the peir. The guys would drive the Toyotas off the boat. They would be white with seagull shit and salt. They ran them through the car wash and then they put on the hubcaps, They were assembled in the USA.

[Alex-Snow]

I drive an old Subaru Outback with a lot of miles on it. So far so good.

[DeeDeeDeVour]

Toyota takes the cake.

[emeraldsaphire]

Mariokart!

[AviatorTom]

😃😃😃

[Che989]

Mazda has never fail me, wish they made pickup trucks again.

[Cubus]

I have a Mazda, so I have to pick it.

[Raydergman26]

Yes toyota is made in Japan

[Cidknee]

Honda