Best Cars to Import from Japan in 2026

Looking for the best cars to import from Japan in 2026? Japan's used car market is one of the best places in the world to find a well kept, low mileage car, and plenty of the models worth having were never sold in the UK at all. We have been importing cars from Japan since 2001. In this guide we cover the models our personal import service is sourcing most right now and why they make more sense bought in Japan than in the UK, along with answers to the questions we get asked most about the import process.

Quick answer: the best Japanese imports for 2026

	Model	Why import it from Japan	Best for
	Toyota GR Corolla	Never sold in the UK or Europe, and can cost less than a UK GR Yaris Gen 2	A practical five door hot hatch
	Toyota GR Yaris Gen 2	UK cars listed from £44,250 and used ones still fetch over £40,000, while Japanese cars often land for less	Rally bred performance
	Toyota GR86	Often cheaper than UK cars, plus Japan only editions such as the 200 unit RZ Ridge Green Limited	Driving enthusiasts and track days
	Toyota Land Cruiser 300	Not officially sold in the UK, with petrol ZX and diesel GR Sport versions available	Towing, touring and serious off road use
	VW Golf GTI, R and R Estate	Low mileage, standard condition and usually cheaper	An everyday performance car
	Audi S3	Clean, unmodified examples that often work out cheaper than UK cars	A grown up performance saloon
	Lexus IS F	A 5.0 V8 rival to the E90 M3 that is rare in the UK and usually better kept in Japan	A reliable V8 performance saloon
	Subaru WRX STI Spec C hatch (GRB)	JDM only spec and limited editions such as the 300 unit 20th Anniversary	Classic JDM character
	Subaru WRX STI (VAB)	EJ20 engine and the Japan only Type S with Bilstein dampers and forged BBS wheels	A usable modern STI that works as a daily driver
	Suzuki Jimny Sierra (JB74)	Rear seats, where UK supply is the two seat commercial	A compact 4x4 for adventures and weekends away
	Suzuki Jimny Nomade	The five door Jimny, which we can source from £25,000	A Jimny you can live with every day thanks to its extra doors
	Kei cars and kei trucks	Almost never sold new in the UK, cheap to buy and cheap to run	Fun, low cost motoring and practical work trucks

Why import a car from Japan?

Japanese cars tend to cover fewer miles and be better maintained than their UK equivalents. Annual mileage is low, most regions use little road salt and the shaken inspection system makes regular maintenance expensive to ignore. Every car sold at a Japanese auction is also graded by an independent inspector, which makes it far easier to find a clean, original example than it is in the UK classifieds.

Toyota GR cars to import from Japan

Toyota's Gazoo Racing range includes some of the most sought after modern performance cars around, and Japan offers the widest choice of specs, colours and limited editions.

Toyota GR Corolla

The GR Corolla is one of the best cars to import from Japan because Toyota has never sold it in the UK or Europe and has said it has no plans to. Importing is the only way to get one, and a Japanese GR Corolla can be sourced for less than a UK GR Yaris Gen 2. It uses the same G16E GTS 1.6 litre three cylinder turbo engine and GR Four all wheel drive system as the GR Yaris, with 296 to 304PS depending on market and edition, which is around 39bhp more than a European spec Yaris. It adds five doors, a usable back seat and a bigger boot, and is available with a six speed manual or the eight speed GR DAT automatic. If you want GR Yaris performance and need the extra space, it is the obvious choice.

We recently imported a 2025 GR Corolla RZ with the Sport Package and under 3,000 miles for a personal import customer. Read the GR Corolla import story.

Toyota GR Yaris Gen 2

A Gen 2 GR Yaris bought in Japan typically costs less than a UK car, even once import costs are added. UK allocations were tightly controlled, with list prices of £44,250 for the manual and £45,750 for the automatic in 2024, and the few used examples that come up still sit well over £40,000. The Gen 2 car brought a stiffer shell, a driving position 25mm lower, revised GR Four torque split modes and the option of the eight speed GR DAT automatic alongside the manual. Japan also gives you the chance to find Aero Performance Package examples, which add functional aero parts to match the way the car drives.

Our last Gen 2 import was an RZ High Performance automatic with forged BBS wheels, auction grade 5 and 2,251 miles, and its landed price came in below what comparable UK cars were fetching. See the Gen 2 GR Yaris import or read why the GR Yaris is a future classic.

Toyota GR86 (ZN8)

The GR86 is a front engine, rear wheel drive sports coupe built for people who enjoy driving. Its FA24 2.4 litre naturally aspirated flat four produces around 232bhp, and with a manual gearbox and a low centre of gravity it is one of the most balanced cars you can buy at the price. In Japan it is raced in multiple series including the GR86/BRZ Cup and is often the car of choice for teaching driver skill.

Importing a GR86 from Japan can work out cheaper than buying a UK car once shipping, duty and VAT are included, and low mileage, well kept examples are common. Japan also offers editions the UK never had, including the Trueno and Yuzu editions and the RZ Ridge Green Limited. Only 200 Ridge Green Limited cars were built for the Japanese market, each with deep green metallic paint, bronze wheels, red Brembo calipers, a ducktail spoiler and a black and tan interior. See our GR86 Ridge Green Limited import.

Toyota Land Cruiser 300

Certain Land Cruisers were never officially sold in the UK, so importing one from Japan is the only way to get one. The Land Cruiser 300 comes with a choice of trim levels and engines, including a 3.5 litre twin turbo V6 petrol with a ten speed automatic and a 3.3 litre twin turbo V6 diesel with 304hp. As a proper off roader, the GR Sport gets front and rear locking differentials, Adaptive Variable Suspension and the E KDSS system for extra wheel articulation. Top versions also get Multi Terrain Select, Crawl Control and a Multi Terrain Monitor with an underfloor camera view, along with a 12.3 inch touchscreen, fingerprint start and heated and ventilated seats.

It rivals the latest Range Rover models but offers stronger long term reliability and a more understated kind of prestige. For anyone who tows, travels long distances or wants a luxury 4x4 to keep for a decade, it is an easy recommendation. We have supplied both a Land Cruiser 300 ZX and a Land Cruiser GR Sport through our personal import service.

Volkswagen Golf R and Golf GTI imports from Japan

Japan is one of the best places to buy a used Golf. Golf R and GTI models are easy to find there, usually with low mileage and in standard condition. UK cars were often driven as performance cars from the day they left the forecourt, so a Japanese import with a verified auction grade and low mileage is a different car to own.

Many variants work out cheaper in Japan, particularly the Golf R and Golf R Estate, the latter combining 300+ bhp, four wheel drive and a proper load space. Japan also got a few special edition GTIs that regularly come up at auction, such as the Mk7 GTI Clubsport Edition 40, which produces 261bhp with an overboost function giving 286bhp for up to ten seconds, and adds an electronically controlled limited slip differential, 10% stiffer springs and its own aero package. Our recent Clubsport import was a grade 4.5 car with 25,500 miles. See the Golf GTI Clubsport import.

Audi S3 imports from Japan

The Audi S3 is a strong alternative to the Golf R, sharing its 2.0 litre EA888 turbocharged engine and quattro all wheel drive in a more grown up package. With 296bhp (300PS) and 280lb ft, a six speed S tronic gearbox and 0 to 62mph in around 4.8 seconds, it is a quick and usable daily driver, and the saloon adds a 390 litre boot. Japanese cars tend to be well specified, with leather S sports seats, the pop up MMI screen, an S specific boost gauge and, on many cars, Audi Magnetic Ride.

As with the Golf, condition is the main reason to import one. Many UK S3s have had multiple owners, heavy modifications or accident repairs, while Japanese cars are typically lower mileage, well maintained and free from corrosion. Our recent 2015 S3 saloon was graded 4.5 at auction with 60,000 miles and, even after import costs, worked out cheaper than many comparable UK cars. See the Audi S3 import.

Lexus IS F imports from Japan

The Lexus IS F was built to take on the BMW E90 M3, and today it makes a more reliable and more affordable alternative. At its heart is the 2UR GSE 5.0 litre naturally aspirated V8, developed with help from Yamaha, producing 417bhp and 371lb ft through an eight speed automatic, with 0 to 60mph in 4.7 seconds. Its two stage intake delivers a hard edged induction roar as it revs towards the 6,800rpm limit, and the V8 soundtrack is one of the best you will find at the price.

It is a well rounded package that combines Lexus luxury and build quality with serious pace and understated looks. Lexus allocated just 150 cars to the UK in its first year, so UK examples are rare, while Japanese cars are generally lower mileage and better maintained. Japan also had limited editions such as the Blazing Terracotta Edition, one of only 50 sold through Japanese dealers.

The IS F also responds well to modification. Our modified Blazing Terracotta car runs Tein Flex Z coilovers with an EDFC5 controller, Dixcel discs and pads, a LEMS titanium exhaust and intake and staggered 19 inch Enkei GTC02 wheels. Together they sharpen the handling and remove the body roll the standard car was often criticised for, while keeping it comfortable day to day. See our Lexus IS F import or read about our modified IS F.

Subaru WRX STI imports from Japan: Spec C hatch and VAB

Japan is the home of the WRX STI, and domestic market cars always had something extra over UK models, starting with the EJ20 engine.

WRX STI Spec C hatch (GRB)

The GRB hatchback is one of the best value JDM performance cars left in Japan, and the Spec C still carries a bit of WRC DNA. Lighter, sharper and more focused than the standard car, the hatches have that typically JDM feel, especially examples fitted with boost gauges, Japanese aftermarket exhausts, induction kits and blow off valves. Japan also had limited editions that never came to the UK, such as the STI 20th Anniversary, of which only 300 were built, with 308PS and 422Nm. See our 20th Anniversary hatch import.

WRX STI (VAB)

The VAB WRX STI offers strong performance for the money and is a more mature, liveable version of the STI. Japanese cars use the 2.0 litre EJ20 rather than the 2.5 litre engine fitted to UK cars, and Japan also had the Type S, which adds Bilstein dampers, forged 18 inch BBS wheels, a larger rear wing and a power adjustable driver's seat. It suits anyone who wants STI performance in a car they can use every day. See our VAB WRX STI Type S import.

Suzuki Jimny Sierra and Jimny Nomade imports

There are plenty of Jimnys to choose from in Japan, which matters because UK supply is limited to the two seat commercial version and new production is no longer coming to the UK. The three door Jimny Sierra comes with rear seats, which makes a Japanese Sierra the better option for anyone who needs to carry passengers.

The five door Jimny Nomade adds rear doors and a bigger boot while keeping the ladder frame chassis, three link rigid axles and low range four wheel drive that make the Jimny so capable. We can source a Jimny Nomade from £25,000 and it is one of our most popular import enquiries right now. Read why the Jimny is the best small off roader you can buy.

Kei cars to import from Japan

Kei cars are Japan's smallest road car category, limited to a 660cc engine, 64PS and a body no longer than 3.4 metres or wider than 1.48 metres. Those rules forced Japanese engineers to chase low weight and clever packaging rather than power, and the result is a range of small cars that are cheap to buy, cheap to run and a lot more fun than their figures suggest. Almost none were sold new in the UK, so importing from Japan is the only way to get one.

Honda S660 and Honda Beat

The Honda S660 is a mid engine, rear wheel drive two seater with a targa roof and a turbocharged 660cc engine, which gives it more usable torque than its predecessor. Its tuning support is strong too, with the HKS turbo kit taking power to around 100bhp. The original 1991 Honda Beat uses the same mid engine layout with a naturally aspirated engine that revs to 9,000rpm, a Pininfarina designed body and no power steering, and it was the last car Soichiro Honda personally signed off. Our recent S660 import was a grade 4.5 car with 21,500 miles, a Mugen aero kit and Blitz coilovers, exhaust and intake. Read our Honda Beat vs Honda S660 comparison.

Suzuki Alto Works

The Alto Works pairs the R06A 658cc turbo three cylinder with a five speed manual, factory Recaro seats and a kerb weight of around 670kg in front wheel drive form. It is one of the most entertaining small cars you can buy for the money and is cheap to run. Our last Alto Works import was a 2016 car graded 4.5 at auction with 45,700 miles. See the Alto Works import.

Kei trucks: Suzuki Carry and Honda Acty

Kei trucks such as the Suzuki Carry and Honda Acty are some of the most practical vehicles Japan makes, with four wheel drive versions common and a flat bed big enough for tools, parts or event kit. They make a useful work vehicle on a farm, estate or campsite, and a popular base for coffee trucks and mobile brand vehicles. Japan's strict inspections and careful ownership culture mean clean, low mileage examples are easy to find. Our recent 2021 Super Carry X Limited was a four wheel drive, five speed manual truck graded 4.5 with 19,200 miles. See the Super Carry X Limited import.

How much does it cost to import a car from Japan to the UK?

The cost to import a car from Japan to the UK is made up of the car itself plus a set of fixed and percentage based costs. A fully landed price includes:

• The car: the auction or dealer purchase price in Japan
• Buyer's fees: auction and export handling charges
• Shipping: transport to the port and sea freight to the UK
• UK import duty and VAT: VAT is charged at 20%, and the duty rate depends on where the car was built
• Compliance and registration: any UK conversions, vehicle approval and DVLA registration

We quote every personal import as a total landed cost before you commit, so you know exactly what the car will cost on UK plates.

How much does it cost to tax a Japanese import?

Most modern Japanese imports are taxed on engine size rather than CO2 emissions. Cars that never went through UK or European type approval do not have an official CO2 figure, so the DVLA places them in the PLG (private and light goods) tax class, where the annual rate depends only on whether the engine is above or below 1549cc. That makes road tax on a Japanese import simple to work out and, for larger engined cars, often cheaper than the emissions based rates a UK registered equivalent would pay.

The GR Yaris and GR Corolla are worth a mention here. Their G16E engine displaces 1,618cc, which puts them just over the threshold and into the £360 band despite being badged as 1.6 litre cars. At the other end of the scale, a Lexus IS F with a 5.0 litre V8 or a Land Cruiser 300 with a 3.5 litre twin turbo V6 pays exactly the same £360 as a 2.0 litre Golf, which is one of the less talked about benefits of importing a large engined car from Japan.

Road tax rates are set by the government and usually change each April, so check the current figures on GOV.UK before you budget. We register every personal import with the DVLA as part of our service, so the car arrives on UK plates and ready to tax.

How to import a car from Japan with our personal import service

A personal import service means a specialist finds, buys, ships and registers a specific car for you, rather than you buying from their existing stock. Torque GT's personal import service works in five steps:

1. Hand picked for you: tell us the model, spec, colour, mileage and budget, and our team guides you towards the right car
2. Inspection: our team physically inspects the car in Japan to support the auction grade, and if it is not to our standard we will not bid
3. Purchase: the car is bought, deregistered in Japan, moved to a secure compound and booked for export, and you receive a detailed photo album
4. Stress free import: we handle shipping, customs and all UK import logistics and keep you updated with an ETA
5. Drive away: the car goes through UK conversions, compliance testing and registration before you collect it on UK plates

That means a Japanese import that arrives inspected, registered, serviced and ready to drive, sorted by one team at our showroom and workshop in Devon. Start your personal import enquiry here.

Importing a car from Japan: frequently asked questions

How long does it take to import a car from Japan to the UK?

Most imports take around 12 to 16 weeks from purchase to UK registration. Sea freight usually takes 8 to 12 weeks, and the rest of the time covers export paperwork, customs clearance and registration.

Is it cheaper to import a car from Japan?

For many models, yes. The GR Yaris Gen 2, GR86 and Golf R can all work out cheaper than a UK example of a similar age and spec, even after shipping, duty, VAT and registration.

Are there any hidden fees when importing from Japan?

No, all prices quoted are registered in the UK and ready to go. The only items not included are perishable items, speedo conversions if over 10 years old, Car tax and any additional work you require like servicing, underbody protection and ceramic coating.

Do Japanese imports need an IVA test?

Cars under 10 years old generally need vehicle approval (IVA) before they can be registered in the UK, while older cars can usually be registered without it. Torque GT handles the approval process, including speedometer conversion and any other changes required.

What is a personal import service?

A personal import service is where a specialist sources a specific car to your brief, inspects it in Japan, buys it, ships it and registers it in the UK for you. Torque GT has offered a personal import service since 2001.

Are Japanese auction grades reliable?

Japanese auction houses use independent inspectors who grade each car's body and interior and mark any repairs, scratches or dents on a diagram. They are a good starting point, but a grade only tells you so much. Torque GT physically inspects every car in Japan to support the auction grade, and if a car is not up to our standard we will not bid on it.

How much is road tax on a Japanese import?

Most modern Japanese imports without a UK or European CO2 figure are taxed in the PLG class on engine size. Cars up to 1549cc pay £220 a year and cars over 1549cc pay £360 a year.

Is it hard to insure a Japanese import?

Most modern Japanese imports are easy to insure, particularly with specialist insurers. We recommend getting a quote on the exact model before buying, and we can point you towards insurers our customers use.

Can I get parts and servicing for an imported car?

Yes. Toyota, Lexus, Subaru, Volkswagen, Audi and Suzuki imports share most service parts with UK cars, and Torque GT supplies parts and services imported cars in its own workshop.

Why use an import specialist rather than importing a car yourself?

You can import a car from Japan yourself, but you would be dealing with Japanese buying agents, shipping lines, customs, vehicle approval and the DVLA on your own. With Torque GT you get a dedicated account manager, a physical inspection in Japan before we bid, every stage of the import handled for you and an in house workshop, body shop and detailing team to prepare the car before collection.

Start your Japanese import with Torque GT

Whether you want a GR Corolla for daily use, a Land Cruiser for the long haul or a Spec C with its original Japanese tuning parts intact, we can find it, import it and register it for you. Send us your brief through our personal import service page, call the team on 01626 836590 or email hello@torque-gt.co.uk and we will put together a sourcing plan and a fully costed quote.

Prefer something already in the UK? Browse our JDM cars for sale in the showroom.