Top Picks: Affordable Japanese SUVs Storming the Market

Boasting exceptional technology
Japanese imported vehicle models
What are the cost-effective Japanese SUVs?

Recently, the prices of South Korean vehicles have risen significantly. As a result, South Korean consumers’ attention to imported vehicles has also increased rapidly. However, some South Korean consumers are interested in imported Japanese vehicles with reasonable prices and cost-effectiveness.

Most South Korean consumers say that Japanese vehicles are highly safe and trustworthy. The level of Japanese brands’ automobile manufacturing technology is so high that the global market and consumers recognize it. In that sense, we recommend three types of Japanese brand SUVs that can be purchased at relatively low prices.

Honda’s large SUV, the Pilot
Optimized for family use

Honda’s large SUV, the Pilot, is Honda’s exclusive model sold in the North American market, and it has been steadily popular in the US since its first launch. It is also a model that is consistently in demand in South Korea. The current Pilot has size specifications optimized for use as a family car with a length of 5,090 mm (200.4 inches), a width of 1,995 mm (78.5 inches), a height of 1,805 mm (71.1 inches), and a wheelbase of 2,890 mm (113.8 inches). It competes against Hyundai Palisade, Kia Mohave, and KGM’s Rexton in the South Korean market.

The Pilot’s 3.5L V6 gasoline engine delivers a maximum output of 289 horsepower. Its fuel efficiency is 8.4km/L (19. 8 mpg), which is respectable for a large SUV. In South Korea, it is sold as a single elite trim, which allows customers to purchase the vehicle without a complicated option selection process. The price of the Pilot Elite trim is $51,537.

The Japanese premium Lexus NX
Enhances efficiency with its hybrid powertrain

The Lexus NX, smaller than the Honda Pilot but with a more luxurious feel and equipped with a hybrid powertrain, is also worth recommending. This model has been on sale in Korea since 2014, and it is considered one of the Japanese SUVs that many people are already riding because it perfectly suits the tastes of Koreans who prefer luxurious interiors.

The size specifications are 4,660 mm (183.5 inches) in length, 1,865 mm (73.4 inches) in width, 1,670 mm (65.7 inches) in height, and 2,690 mm (105.9 inches) in wheelbase, making it similar in body size to the Genesis GV70 among South Korean vehicle models. The starting price is around $ 49,012, which makes it a bit more expensive than the GV70, but it is characterized by being equipped with a hybrid powertrain as standard.

The compact SUV Honda CR-V
An excellent start for a hybrid SUV

If the prices of the two models introduced above are burdensome, the Honda CR-V, which has a compact body, can also be a good option. The range of choices is also divided. The current CR-V consists of a gasoline model equipped with a 1.5L gasoline engine and a hybrid model equipped with a 2.0L gasoline hybrid engine. The price starts at $31,858. Korean-made models in the same segment include Hyundai’s Tucson and Nexo, Kia’s Sportage, and KG Mobility’s Torres.

Although price competitiveness is somewhat low, it is very attractive to experience Japan’s hybrid technology for $29,704.