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Jul 9, 2021 · Autozam AZ-1. Our first three choices are known as the “A-B-C” of the most prominent kei cars, with the Autozam reppin’ the “A.”. One of the most epic kei cars of all time, the AZ-1 combines the looks of a Ferrari F40, a Lamborghini Diablo, and a Ford RS200 in a tiny package.
- Alex Kierstein
- 2 min
- Honda
- 1963–1970 Honda S500/S600/S800. Imagine this being your entrance into the automotive world (just after the humble T360 trucklet). The S500 was an automotive jewel, combining clever engineering derived from Honda's motorcycle experience with a lot of typical Honda unconventional thinking.
- 1972–1974 Honda Life Step Van. The kei category predates the kei van, but the little van form factor has come to epitomize modern kei vehicles overall. The most popular kei cars are, indeed, vans.
- 1970–Present Suzuki Jimny. One of the very few kei vehicles to gain a foothold in the United States and the highest-profile of that small subset, the Suzuki Jimny was originally developed as the HopeStar ON360.
- 1987–2000 Suzuki Alto Works. The little Alto, smaller than the Suzuki Cultus we got in North America as the Suzuki Swift and Geo Metro, could have been consigned to history as just another workaday kei hatchback.
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- Mircea Panait
- Honda Beat. Rear-drive roadster with Pininfarina styling, the Beat is more than just a fun little car. It's the final series-production Honda to be approved by Soichiro Honda, a three-cylinder midship with a five-speed manual tranny.
- Autozam AZ-1. First things first, what in the name of all things holy is Autozam? To put it simply, it was a Mazda-owned automobile brand that specialized in kei and small cars.
- Suzuki Cappuccino. Yet another kei sports car with a cult following, the Cappuccinorolled out in 1991. It was a bigger commercial hit than the Beat and AZ-1, with Suzuki producing a grand total of 28,010 units through 1998.
- Nissan Figaro. Many publications and car enthusiasts refer to the Figaro as being a kei car. Based on exterior dimensions and engine displacement, that's incorrect.
- Suzuki Cappuccino. Lightweight vehicles are among the most fun to drive, which is why it makes sense that so many kei cars followed the two-seat sports car formula—and took the top off, too.
- Honda Beat. The Honda Beat is another kei car roadster with the same three-cylinder (656 cc), rear-wheel drive formula as the Cappuccino, with one important difference: that thermos-sized motor sits directly behind the convertible's cabin, making this a mid-engine ride.
- Autozam AZ-1. Rounding out the performance-oriented kei car trio—the "A" in the "A-B(eat)-C(appuccino)" family—is the Autozam AZ-1. Designed by Mazda and sold in Japan under the Autozam nameplate (which was available exclusively to JDM buyers), the AZ-1 has by far the most attention-getting design out of the group thanks to its mini-gullwing doors.
- Suzuki Carry/Every. What's this? Another Suzuki? But of course—the company is regularly the strongest-selling brand in Japan, and much of that volume is based on its kei car prowess.
May 21, 2021 · In addition to its sweet name and heart-warming retro styling, this 5-door hatchback is a practical and well-rounded commuter car, a 658 cc front engine that produces a decent 51 hp, a 4-speed automatic CVT transmission, and available in either front-wheel-drive or four-wheel-drive. The model bears a slight resemblance to the Renault 4.
May 25, 2023 · Despite its size, the Pajero Mini features all-wheel drive and a two-speed transfer case, making it probably the most capable off-road kei car ever made. Although, that's not saying much.
Mar 16, 2022 · The physical size of the Kei car didn’t stop Japanese car makers from cramming them full of the technology developed for their world-dominating motorbikes: turbocharging and multi-valve heads became commonplace, while some Kei cars even boasted all-wheel drive.
