what car brands are japanese

[DakotaFitz]

The major Japanese car brands are Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Mazda, Subaru, Mitsubishi, Lexus, Infiniti, and Acura. Lexus, Infiniti, and Acura are the luxury divisions of Toyota, Nissan, and Honda, respectively. Suzuki and Isuzu, while still present in other global markets, no longer sell passenger vehicles new in the United States. These brands are renowned for their exceptional reliability, high resale value, and fuel efficiency, making them dominant players in the American market.

The reputation of Japanese automakers is built on a foundation of kaizen, or continuous improvement, in manufacturing. This philosophy results in vehicles known for their long-term durability and low cost of ownership. The following table outlines the core brands and their key characteristics.

Brand	Parent Company	U.S. Market Entry	Notable Model	Key Brand Attribute
Toyota	—	1957	Camry, RAV4, Tacoma	Reliability & Resale Value
Honda	—	1969	Civic, Accord, CR-V	Engineering & Fuel Efficiency
Nissan	—	1958	Altima, Rogue, Frontier	Innovation & Affordability
Mazda	—	1970	CX-5, MX-5 Miata	Driving Dynamics & Design
Subaru	—	1968	Outback, Forester	Standard All-Wheel Drive
Mitsubishi	—	1982	Outlander, Eclipse Cross	Value & Warranty
Lexus	Toyota	1989	RX, ES, LS	Refinement & Luxury
Infiniti	Nissan	1989	Q50, QX60	Performance & Style
Acura	Honda	1986	MDX, TLX	Precision Crafted Performance

Beyond the major players, brands like Daihatsu are part of the Toyota family but not sold in the U.S. Historically, brands like Datsun (fully absorbed into Nissan) and Isuzu (which exited the U.S. passenger car market in 2009) were also significant. When choosing a Japanese brand, consider your priorities: Toyota and Honda lead in dependable daily transportation, Subaru excels in all-weather capability, Mazda focuses on a more engaging drive, and the luxury divisions offer premium features and comfort.

[MacJack]

You're looking at Toyota, Honda, and Nissan as the big three. Then you've got Mazda, Subaru, and Mitsubishi. Don't forget the luxury ones: Lexus is Toyota's, Acura is Honda's, and Infiniti is Nissan's. They're all over the roads here for a reason—they just last forever. My last Camry went over 200,000 miles with just basic oil changes. That reputation for not breaking down is why they hold their value so well.

[LeMargaret]

I focus on the business side of things. Japanese automakers are manufacturing powerhouses, with Toyota often vying for the title of world's largest automaker. Their success stems from pioneering lean production and just-in-time inventory systems, which revolutionized efficiency. This operational excellence allows them to produce high-quality, affordable vehicles at a massive scale. Their strong presence in the U.S. includes major manufacturing plants, contributing significantly to the local economy.