These are the modern Kei cars you would actually buy – Jalopnik

Our big wet President, Donald Trump, recently did something that so many car enthusiasts have done: he took a trip to Japan and came back with love in his heart for the little keijidosha. Trump is now into kei cars and he wants American companies and consumers to get on board with his 660cc dream. But which one would you actually buy in a world where all the modern kei cars suddenly appeared on American shores?

That’s the question I asked earlier this week, and today we’ll look at your answers. Sure, Trump’s idea is to have kei cars manufactured in the US by American companies, but I asked which kei in the Japanese market you would go for if you had the chance. Your choices ranged from roadsters to trucks to the coolest little vans ever seen between Hokkaido and Okinawa, so let’s see which names you submitted.

This one is easy for me. If Kei car is suddenly allowed. It’s the Honda S660.

Submitted by: Sennamp4

I really want to drive an S660, and I’m so afraid that at 6’2″ tall I might just be too tall to sit comfortably with my knees in it.

Two words: Suzuki Jimny. It doesn’t matter if it’s the Kei compliant version or the international version with the bigger engine and wider width.

Submitted by: Devin M.

Rumor has it that some people buy these south of the border and just drive them into the United States. Rumors of course.

While people love the Autozams and the Nissan Figaros at Cars and Coffee, I honestly suspect that the only Kei cars that would have a potential market in the US are the small trucks and vans that fill a niche for companies that need to haul and deliver stuff, but don’t need or want a huge F150 or even a Ford Ranger. Lots of parcel deliveries in the city, catering events and the like.

Submitted by: David Flores

So you need a truck with a bed of one and a half meters. Would you rather park a rock truck or 60,000 pounds of American ego strokes? Personally I would go for the first.

Honda Acty 4WD. I see them more and more often on the island. Extremely versatile and easy to park in the tight spaces offered by businesses in Hawaii.

Submitted by: hawaii_mike

Jalopnik’s own Collin Woodard was in Hawaii for a while and noticed that all the trucks had been lifted at least a foot. I would really like to see an Acty with a 12 inch lift. Unfortunately, Honda no longer makes the Acty.

The Subaru Sambar. I believe it was later renamed Daihatsu Hijet.

Submitted by: Group Captain Mandrake

The other way around! Subaru used to build the Sambar in-house, but since 2012 it has been a rebadged Daihatsu HiJet. However, you used to be able to get body kits to make Sambars look like miniature Volkswagen buses.

As someone who loves off-roading, I love the idea of ​​scrambling through the narrow trails here in Colorado in a Mitsubishi Pajero Mini VR-II. Supercharged engine, available with 5 speeds, and a truly low range transfer case.

I also love a good Hot Hatch, in which case the Subaru Vivio RX-R would be my choice. It’s basically a small WRX hatchback that they haven’t sold here in the States since the second generation.

Submitted by: LarriveeC05

I always knew Mitsubishi made a miniature Pajero, but I never put two and two together to realize it was a killer car. I love it so much. Unfortunately, it’s not exactly a modern car.

Current?

Must go for the Suzuki Hustler. It’s the only one that doesn’t look exactly like all the others. (Like the Mitsubishi eK Wagon, Nissan Dayz, Subaru Stella, etc. which all look almost exactly the same with slightly different grilles.)

Submitted by: Dr.Xyster

Look at that face! That little odd roof section at the back! Who wouldn’t want to commute in that?

The Suzuki Alt. The Alto has long been a name in the kei car world and the current generation is quite stylish for everyday use around town.

Submitted by: Giantsgiants

Please, Suzuki, give this generation the Alto Works treatment. And bring that treatment to the United States.

Honda N-one!!!

Submitted by: Vince Gc

You can’t go wrong with a small city car.

Can we expand the application list? There are a lot of great small city cars in Europe that I would like to see here, both petrol and electric.

Submitted by: Rick C.

No <3xtagstartz/p>