Since Kei-class minicars have been in the US news recently, I thought CC readers might be interested in an update on how they’re doing here in their home country. There’s actually quite a bit of “new news,” as several manufacturers have recently rolled out new models, like this Daihatsu Move.
After a period of several years where Kei-car manufacturers stood pat with their current offerings, two of the four this Fall introduced “ground-up” new models. As a refresher, the current Kei-car manufacturers are Daihatsu, Suzuki, Honda, and Mitsubishi/Nissan. Mazda and Subaru purchase OEM models from Suzuki and Daihatsu, and re-badge them.
Kei-car dimensions/engine displacement are limited to:
- Length: Maximum of 3.4 meters (11.2 feet)
- Width: Maximum of 1.48 meters (4.9 feet)
- Height: Maximum of 2.0 meters (6.6 feet)
- Engine Displacement: Maximum of 660 cc
- Power Output: Maximum of 64 PS (63 horsepower)
The #1 most popular model for all vehicles for the first half of 2025 was the Kei-class Honda N-Box, a position it has held for the past five years. The N-Box is actually three somewhat differently styled models; the Standard version, an upmarket Custom, and the retro Joy. For 2024, Kei-cars captured 38% of the Japanese domestic market, with 1.56 million units being sold.
Here are the new models from Daihatsu and Nissan/Mitsubishi.
Daihatsu Hopes the New Move will “Move You.”
The new Move uses the company’s just introduced Daihatsu New Global Architecture (DNGA) platform, which increases both interior space and overall safety.
As typical these days, larger interior digital screens are standard.
The Nissan Roox Is No Rookie.
Mitsubishi’s Delica Mini Has a Ferocious Face.
The Roox has shared its platform with a Mitsubishi model since 2014. For this latest version, though they appear similar from the side, both companies have done a good job differentiating each car with completely different front and rear ends.
The Delica focuses more on Mitsubishi’s off-road heritage.
I have to give Mitsubishi credit for the most inventive ad campaign – the Delica Mini has its own stuffed “plushie” mascot. As most know, “kawaii” or cuteness is a huge part of Japanese culture — and Mitsu’s commercials really play into that.
The Honda N-ONE Is Going Electric.
The Kei-car segment is also seeing an increase in both battery-electric and hybrid models. The pure battery-electric Nissan Sakura and Mitsubishi eK X have been on sale since the Summer of 2022, and this past October Honda joined the fray with its N-ONE e. It currently has the most range of any Kei-BEV at 295 km (183 miles) on a single charge.
A Chinese Manufacturer Is Joining the Fray.
Additionally, as shown at this year’s Tokyo Mobility Show, Chinese firm BYD will begin selling its BEV “Racco” in Japan next Summer — at what is assumed to be a very competitive price.
It’s pretty clear that “Kei-jidosha” will continue to reign at the top of the charts here in Japan.
Even if they all were available in the US, I’m not sure that I could fit into one, and whether or not I could get used to right hand drive. As far as looks go, the Move looks good, the wheel/tire combo’s on the Roox and Delica look too small for them and the bodies look as though they’ve been vacuumed sealed to the frame. The Honda N-One looks a little generic (in a good way, tho) and the Racco looks cool. Just my $0.02 worth!! 🙂
RHD here in the US would be tough, but it’s easy in RHD countries… you just do what everyone else does.
You’d fit into one of these kei vans easily; they’re remarkably roomy inside. One sits very upright with gobs of leg room and great visibility. They’re very similar in format to my xB except narrower. But they’re wide enough.
I want one! efficient and perfect for urban/suburban shopping trips and short range motoring of any kind, but strictly on low speed roads, wouldn’t want to go in the highway with one. Much cuter than the Soul!
As a lover of rolling boxes I love these kei vans. In comparing the dimensions of the Honda N-Box to my boxy xB, the Honda has a slightly longer wheelbase but is 19″ shorter in length, 7″ narrower and 5″ taller. And roomier inside except for the width, although the kei vans doors are perfectly vertical and thin so they make the most of that. If my xB drops its mortal coil, a 25 year old JDM import would very much be an option. But I’m not wild about the RHD.
In the news recently was Trump’s assertion that he was going to make these legal in the US and that presumably they would be built here too, as part of an effort to offer more affordable cars here. The first part is more realistic; the second part, not. Can’t imagine anyone doing that. But then what does he know about the auto industry? And it’s not like he’d ever set foot in one.
I found that announcement to be entirely ridiculous. Even if the engine size restriction is eliminated and these came with 1 liter engines, it’s just not enough for the US. They don’t meet US safety regulations, and doing so would increase the weight by a bunch. It’s neither sensible nor feasible. But I expect nothing less from the guy.
I beg to differ. There’s several reviews of American test driving them. Performance is adequate, with a top speed of 70-80 mph. Keep in mind that many/most of these have turbos that are performance limited to adhere to the kei car maximum of 63 hp. It would be very easy for the manufacturer to increase power by just changing the software.
As to safety, Trump said he wanted to see easier regulations for them created. But it might not be that hard; the Smart passed the regs. And don’t forget, the Mitsubishi iMiev was sold here, and that was a kei car modified to meet US and EU standards.
Here’s a review that’s worth reading:https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/2025-honda-n-box-custom-turbo-review-by-an-american-japanese-dm-kei-car.400211/
There’s a rapidly growing interest in these among younger Americans, and quite a fair number of 25 year old ones are being imported. I say create an exemption from the regulations and let new/newer ones be imported. Then see how much interest there really is.
Daihatsu sold Keis, here in Europe, until 1999. They all had 843 cc 3-bangers. The second generation enlarged non-Kei MOVEs and Cuores had 1 liter 3s. Both drivetrains are bolt-in drops, replacing Japanese market 660s.
Here’s my 1997 MOVE. Except for the aftermarket wheelcovers and painted to body color door handles, it’s still visually all original:
these will never meet US crash and environmental stds.
Japanese emission regulations are comparable to US regulations. Mitsubishi sold a US certified kei car here back some years ago that met all the safety regulations, the electrified IMiev.
I was in Japan last summer, I was surprised to see so many Kei vans running around in the streets of Tokyo and Osaka. And almost all of them was internal combustion engine vehicle. Although they make sense for Japanese daily use, I believe they are not quite suitable for us even they become legal here. Just look at the small compact cars in past here, they never were main stream vehicles, today Mini is no longer a mini car. In US we all want to buy a vehicle for transportation, this means we use them for all mobility functions for what we can afford. Other main concern is with such small size Kei car is extremely unsafe in our generally large vehicle population.
I recalled on my way to Osaka Airport in a taxi, i saw a Kei type pickup struggling to maintain the 60 kmph speed in the highway.
Could someone kindly post the phonetic pronunciation of “KEI” ? .
I wonder about these, might be just the ticket .
-Nate
The wiki article pronunciation has an IPA “e” as in “bet”, marked as a long vowel (in duration, unrelated to the differing “long vs. short” vowels of American dictionary phonetics), so by that guide Kei would be pronounced something like “kehhh”.
It’s pronounced “Kay” phonetically Nate – like the female name.
My son rented a Roox in October and was impressed with it’s ability to swallow two large Americans and still drive at highway speeds. With a high roof and careful gearing you can get a lot of space and acceptable performance.
I’m not sure about fitting a Costco sized toilet paper package in a Roox, but it’s a squeeze in my Fiat 500 too.
For all the talk of making them for the US, I think they will always be a niche market outside Japan. I think the US market would be better served by eliminating or loosening the footprint rule and repealing the chicken tax to allow compact pickups and vans to thrive.
Kei cars are still fascinating and Kei sports cars are doubly fascinating. While the bubble era AZ-1 will never be revived Honda could come up with a new S660
I’m not sure about fitting a Costco sized toilet paper package in a Roox, but it’s a squeeze in my Fiat 500 too.
These are very roomy inside; they’re vans. Not remotely comparable to your 500. Here’s the cargo area of a Roox; when the rear seats are folded down, the space is vast.
I was recently in Hawai’i where I saw a number of kei vehicles. All of course were at least 25 years old. It’s no easier to import them to Hawai’i than any other state – I believe that vehicles still need to be shipped first to CA and then to HI – but if nothing else, the traffic there warrants a small vehicle. Also, there’s just something more sensible it seems to be driving something like the 2nd generation Move I found out there than it would be here in the Northeast.
So, if the conditions were right (and they are in many places in the US), I think these make good sense.
Old kei vans are exceptionally popular here on Oahu.
If Dodge were to build one I think that it should be named Aries Kei.
Good one!
Kei cars fascinate me, though probably not enough for me to buy one, should they become available in the US. I’m awfully curious if anythings becomes of the recent kei car news, or if it just fades away.
Regardless, thanks for posting this – I didn’t know about any of these new models before.
I find the Kei cars fascinating, especially the Honda N-Box. Judging from the pictures they are tremendously roomy, they would be perfect for local trips and shopping. It even looks like my Great Pyrenees could easily fit in one.
The big problem would be safety, if one got T-boned by a monster truck or a full-sized SUV I don’t think the occupants
would fare well.
As someone who only ever had small cars (by American standards) I could see these being popular in many parts of the world where they might not be currently available.
They are an intelligent answer to many people’s automotive needs. Their wants might be another matter, however.
I live in Japan and I drive a kei (along with a Fit). The driving environment is everything with a car this size. In Dallas I wouldn’t drive one. In downtown Manhattan they might be fine. They are slow and tiny. If you’re driving next to an F150, they can’t see you. If you are in front of an F150, they will be instantly enraged that you aren’t as fast as them…and as they get closer they won’t be able to see you.