Ever wondered what the best-selling cars in Japan are? (2024)

We’re pretty much familiar with the top-ten best-selling cars in the country. It’s almost to a point wherein we can list them down in order without looking at a master file.

But we’re curious minds here at Top Gear Philippines and we wondered what the best-selling cars are in other countries. And given that Japan is (rather unashamedly) one of our favorite destinations, we thought of taking a look there first.

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So, what cars are in the top ten list in Japan? Well, kei cars are present, obviously, but there are also some familiar names there, too. Without further ado, here are the cars that the Japanese can’t stop buying. These figures are based on the results of May 2024.

Top ten kei cars

PHOTO BY Honda

Japan splits its list in two, namely among kei cars and passenger cars. Why, you ask? Simply put, the kei car market is so huge that it needs its own division. Otherwise, almost everything in the total sales list will be kei cars.

For the month of May, there’s a bit of a surprise. That’s because the longtime sales leader in that class has been surpassed. The Suzuki Spacia has overtaken the Honda N-Box for the sales crown with 15,160 sold in one month over the N-Box’s total of 14,682.

PHOTO BY Daihatsu

We’re sure Honda won’t take that sitting down, but the sales battle between the two has been so fierce, it has left other kei cars in the dust. So much so that the Daihatsu Tanto is in a very distant third place with 6,174 sold in the same period. Fourth went to the Suzuki Wagon R with 6,037 sold, and rounding out the at 6,012 units.

Top ten passenger cars

PHOTO BY Toyota

So, what about the larger passenger car market? Here, there are a few more familiar names to be seen. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the list is dominated by Toyota. Seven out of the ten best-selling passenger cars in Japan for May 2024 wears a Toyota badge.

At the top of the list is the Toyota Yaris and has been sitting comfortable there for a while now. With 13,538 sold, it’s over 1,000 more than the next big seller, the Toyota Corolla that saw 12,263 new owners last month. Far back in third is the Toyota Sienna at 8,820 units, while the first of the non-Toyota models is the Nissan Note at 7,365 units.

The Philippines’ favorite luxury minivan is also a huge seller in Japan. We are, of course, talking about the Toyota Alphard with 5,814 sold last month. Also, you might be surprised to know that Japan’s favorite crossover isn’t a Toyota. Instead, it’s the Honda Vezel (known as the HR-V here) with 5,717 units, making it the top-selling SUV there.

The second Nissan in the top ten is the practical Serena at 5,507 units. Meanwhile, the best-selling midsize crossover there is the Toyota Harrier at 5,294 units. You might be surprised to see that the Toyota Aqua (aka the Prius C) is still a hugely popular but there with 4,966 units, while the Toyota Roomy mini-MPV completes the list with 4,887 units.

Overall

PHOTO BY Toyota

If we compile all the models in one list, Japan’s top ten would look like this.

Suzuki Spacia
Honda N-Box
Toyota Yaris
Toyota Corolla
Toyota Sienta
Nissan Note
Daihatsu Tanto
Suzuki Wagon R
Suzuki Hustler
Toyota Alphard

PHOTO BY Mitsubishi

Some interesting observations here. Despite SUVs and crossovers being the craze just about everywhere, the Japanese seem to be more rational with their choice of vehicle. Heck, pickups are nowhere near the top ten.

Also, there are no SUVs in the overall list, and the country’s best-selling crossover is just outside the top ten (Honda Vezel). Half the list is comprised of kei cars; no surprises there. The Japanese still seem to be fond of subcompact (B-Segment) hatchbacks, a class that has slowly evaporated in Southeast Asia.

PHOTO BY Toyota

But one car that’s never dropped off Japan’s best-seller list is the Toyota Corolla. While it’s no longer number one, this evergreen model still has a strong and loyal following in its home market. It also helps that there are a wide variety of Corolla variants in Japan. Over there, there’s the fleet-oriented Axio, along with the hatchback, sedan, and station wagon body styles. And let’s not forget the GR Corolla.

So, what does that say about Japanese consumers? At least from what we’ve noticed, it seems that they will only buy a car that suits their exact needs. It also looks like they’ll only get a larger vehicle if it’s really needed. Of course, it also helps that Japan’s roads are one of the best maintained in the world, so the need for a truck-based SUV isn't really that great. Each of the cars there can be described as logical, sensible, and pragmatic, a list that reflects the country's buying habits quite well if you ask us.