We at TopGear Philippines love going to Japan. Whether it’s for work or vacation, we enjoy spending our time there. Aside from the sights and sounds, car spotting is also one of our favorite things to do when we’re in the Land of the Rising Sun.
If you’re fresh from a trip from Japan, then you’ll know that you’re already missing it and likely looking at seat sales for your next trip. But what if you want a piece of Japan you can experience every day? Well, we’re here to help.
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See, subcompact crossovers and SUVs are just as popular in Japan as they are here. That gave us an idea: Which of these are available in the local market? We’ve picked 5 reasonably priced models that give you Japan vibes behind the wheel.
Honda HR-V 1.5 S CVT – P1,389,000
Sold in its home market as the Vezel, the HR-V is Honda’s top-selling non-kei car model in Japan. It’s also the country’s best-selling crossover in the land by quite some margin. Over there, there are two guises on offer, one non-hybrid and e:HEV. If you want to get as close to the Japanese model as possible, it’s the base 1.5 S CVT that you should get, not the turbocharged models.
Nissan Kicks e-Power VL – P1,479,000
While it doesn’t sell as much as the HR-V/Vezel, the Kicks is still a popular choice in Japan’s small SUV/crossover market. It’s also worth pointing out that it’s easier to get closer to the Japanese equivalent here, as all Kicks models in Japan use e-Power tech. For true Japan vibes, we recommend going straight for the top-spec VL.
Subaru Crosstrek (any variant) – P1,998,000 to P2,018,000
Yes, we know. It’s a bit hard to swallow the idea of a subcompact crossover for nearly two million pesos. The thing is, the Subaru Crosstrek does have a lot to offer for the price. For starters, it’s the only one in its class with all-wheel drive standard. It also has most of the kit that’s also standard in the Japanese market model. Only the lack of the e-Boxer hybrid powertrain stops it from being identical to the home market model.
Suzuki Jimny 3-door (any variant) – P1,258,000 to P1,330,000
But for those who want to venture further off-road, there’s only SUV on this list that fits the bill. That would none other than the Jimny. If you want to take the JDM route, the only way to go is with the three-door as the five-door isn’t sold in Japan. Specs are a dead ringer for the Japanese version, so there’s little lost in translation. Heck, the Jimny even has approval from Akio Toyoda himself and owns one too.
Toyota Raize (CVT variants only) – P841,000 to P1,068,000
Of course, this list wouldn’t be complete without a Toyota. There will be those who will dismiss the Raize as ‘just a Daihatsu’ (which isn’t really a bad thing), the fact remains that this little crossover is sold in Japan. That’s not something you can say about the ASEAN-market Yaris Cross. Both the 1.2 and 1.0-liter turbo are sold there, although we’re quite jealous that the latter comes standard with all-wheel drive in its home market. But regardless of variant chosen, the Raize we get here comes close to the one sold Japan for as long as it's with the CVT.
