Japanese cars are famed for their reliability. Vehicles from Honda, Suzuki, Nissan, Toyota, and others are some of the most dependable in the world and very rarely let us down.

Narrowing down the most reliable Japanese cars is challenging. There are so many to choose from, but we think we’ve selected 13 of the best for this list.

The only criterion for their inclusion on this list is their robust reliability, although we have included a few high-performance cars where we can.

First-Generation Honda NSX

We’ve spoken about the Honda NSX before, but the first-generation supercar remains one of the best-performance cars ever made and by far one of the most reliable. Honda conceived the NSX to take on Ferrari, and it even received testing input from Formula 1 champion Ayrton Senna.

Power came from Honda V6 engines ranging from 3.0 to 3.2 liters. In some models, power rose as high as 290 horsepower, and the NSX was indeed capable of taking the fight to cars such as the Ferrari 348. The 2002 NSX-R completed the famous Nurburgring circuit in 7 minutes and 56 seconds.

Toyota Land Cruiser

If there was any car that was a byword for reliability and ruggedness, it was the Toyota Land Cruiser. The Land Cruiser has been a part of the Toyota family for generations, with the first modern Land Cruiser debuting in 1951. However, the car can actually trace its routes right back to the Model AK of the 1940s.

Generations like the J20 and J40 are some of the best-known Land Cruisers. However, the Japanese manufacturer has recently relaunched the Land Cruiser in multiple markets. The J300 generation was unveiled in 2021 before a new American version was launched in 2023.

Mazda Miata MX-5

Mazda has also created a reputation for producing reliable cars, with the Miata MX-5 arguably its greatest-ever product. The reliability of the MX-5 is just one of the reasons the car remains in production.

Currently, the Miata MX-5 retails for a starting price of $28,985 in the United States and will rise to around $33,000. The MX-5 remains a powerful, fast, agile, and engaging car to drive, and it’s likely to remain so for generations to come.

Honda Accord

While it no longer has the global presence of some previous generations, the current eleventh-generation Honda Accord, unveiled in 2023, is one of Honda’s best-ever sedans. Unsurprisingly, it is as reliable as they come, and a starting price of $27,895 makes it an attractive option.

The ability to use a 204-horsepower hybrid powertrain makes the Accord even more appealing. Not only is the Accord a great-looking car inside and out, but it’s also efficient, comfortable, and one of the best sedans money can buy in the United States.

Toyota Prius

While it’s most famous in the North American market, the current Toyota Prius is still sold under the Japanese manufacturer’s banner. The new Prius is the best yet, thanks to a radical redesign by Toyota that totally transforms the hybrid sedan’s appearance.

Gone is the dated, bland, and uninspiring design. In its place is a radical, sleek, and purposeful car that, with its 57 MPG combined, is one of the most efficient in North America. Power comes from a fantastic 2.0-liter four-cylinder hybrid engine, producing up to 196 horsepower.

Honda Civic

The Honda Civic is one of the most well-known Japanese cars of all time. Its story began in 1972, and the first generation is now a classic and one of Honda’s best-looking cars.

Since then, it has evolved into an epic sedan and hatchback, with the standout model, of course, the fantastic Civic Type-R. The latest version retails for $44,795, and under the hood is a 315 horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged VTEC engine that is just as reliable as the powertrain in the standard Civic.

Suzuki Cappuccino

Although it might no longer be in production, the Suzuki Cappuccino is still a reliable car and one of the finest to ever come out of Japan. Of course, the Cappuccino is a Kei car, one of the smallest types of car in the world, yet it has all the credentials of a full-size sports car.

Power comes from a turbocharged inline-three, and the Cappuccino weighed just 1,598 lbs. It is also one of the few Kei cars to be officially exported, with a reasonable number sold in the United Kingdom.

Honda Fit

Also known as the Honda Jazz in other markets, the Fit first entered the market in 2001 as a subcompact hatchback, and it quickly found favor with consumers. The Fit’s design, fuel efficiency, and lightweight nature made it an ideal daily driver, even more so with its famed Honda reliability.

Power was respectable, too, with the 1.5-liter four-cylinder VTEC in the 2017 model producing 130 horsepower and 114 lb-ft of torque. With zero NHTSA recalls, the 2017 Fit is one of the most reliable cars ever sold in the United States.

Honda Beat

The little Honda Beat, another Kei car, deserves an entry on this list. The Beat is significant in Honda’s history as the final car that founder Soichiro Honda approved before his death in 1991.

From 1991 to 1996, Honda produced around 33,600 models of the Beat, two-thirds of which were built in the first year of production. The Beat had a 656 cc inline-three under the hood, and Pininfarina designed the body.

Lexus GX

A real heavy hitter in the luxury SUV market, the Lexus GX is also one of the most reliable vehicles produced by Toyota’s luxury division. However, it is costly, with the latest generation starting at $64,250 and rising to $80,000.

Power comes from a 3.4-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine, and the GX also has full-time four-wheel drive. Lexus provides a few trim levels, including the GX Premium and GX Overtrail, so the customer has as many choices as possible.

Toyota Corolla

The Toyota Corolla is a great car that goes about its business quietly and brilliantly. It is also available as a hybrid, with a retail price of just $23,500, which is only a fraction higher than the standard version.

However, if you want more thrills and spills, then you can get your hands on the GR Corolla. Starting at $36,500, the GR Corolla is one of the hottest hatchbacks currently available, with its 1.6-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine producing up to 300 horsepower.

Nissan Altima

Nissan is another Japanese manufacturer with a big presence in the United States. One of its best-selling products is the Altima sedan. While not the most exciting car on the market, with a retail price of just $26.370, it’s an absolute bargain.

Up to 248 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque are offered by the Altima, and you also get one of the most refined-looking sedans currently on sale. The Altima can provide up to 39 MPG on the highway, and it comes with various features such as intelligent all-wheel drive and Nissan’s ProPILOT Assist system.

Mazda 3

The Mazda 3 in hatchback form is one of the best-looking Japanese cars currently available in North America. Owners can choose from the Skyactiv-G 2.5-liter DOHC four-cylinder engine and the 250 horsepower Skyactiv-G turbocharged 2.5-liter engine in the 2.5 Carbon Turbo and 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus models.

The Mazda 3 hatchback’s base model retails for $24,950 and only rises to $36,950, which is still good value, especially in an automotive market that sometimes feels excessively expensive.