What is a Honda Kei Car—And Can You Get One?
The Honda Beat might be the best Kei car of all time—but what is a Kei car, and can you own one in the U.S.?
Written by R.E. Fulton
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
Table of Contents
- What is a Kei car?
- The best Honda Kei cars
- Can you own a Kei car outside of Japan?
- How to save on Honda insurance
- FAQs
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Honda is one of the most popular manufacturers of Japanese “Kei cars”: small, highly-regulated city cars that keep insurance and tax costs low.
In the United States, bigger usually means better—including in the automotive industry. That’s why beefy SUVs and palatial executive sedans are so popular. But in Japan, some of the best cars are also the smallest: Kei cars.
If you’re not familiar with these tiny cars (and trucks), we're here to introduce you to Honda’s best Kei cars. While we’re at it, we’ll give you some tips to shrink your
Honda insurance costs
down to Kei-car size. MORE:
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4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ driversWhat is a Kei car?
Kei car, short for “Keijidosha” or “light automobile,” is the smallest highway-legal passenger car category in Japan. Designed under strict size and power restrictions and carrying insurance and tax benefits, Kei cars are ideal for city dwellers who need pint-sized cars to get around. And, yeah, they’re pretty cool.
But it wasn’t the cool factor the Japanese government was thinking about when they created the Kei car designation in 1949. No, the Kei car was actually born out of post-WWII economic distress. Because so many Japanese citizens couldn’t afford a full-sized car, the government created a new type of city car with the tax breaks and insurance incentives to make them affordable for everyday urban drivers.
Since 1949, Kei car regulations have changed slightly. At various times, the government has placed restrictions on engine power and displacement, physical size, and even top speed limits for these small cars. The current regulations are as follows:
- Maximum length: 11.2 feet (3.4 meters)
- Maximum width: 4.9 feet (1.48 meters)
- Maximum height: 6.6 feet (2 meters)
- Engine displacement: 660 cc
- Engine power: 63 horsepower (47 kW)
You can recognize a Kei car not just by its size, but by the yellow license plates affixed to these microcars. Other than those common factors, Kei cars can vary considerably in appearance, from perky little sports coupes like the Autozam AZ-1 (1992-1994) and the Suzuki Cappuccino (1991-1998) to boxy SUVs and trucks like the Suzuki Jimny (1970-1972) and the Subaru Sambar (1961-present).
Although Kei cars still have obvious advantages in size and convenience, the Japanese government has eased off on tax incentives since 2014. These days, the vehicle excise tax for a Kei car is 2%, just slightly lower than the 3% for larger cars.
The best Honda Kei cars
Since the first Honda N360 rolled off the assembly line in 1967, Honda’s been a leader in the Kei car class. Here are some of the highlights of Honda’s Kei car history (and its best current models).
Honda Beat (1991-1996)
The Beat is the stuff of Kei car legend. This two-seat roadster was actually the last car that founder Soichiro Honda approved before his death, but it’s become an icon in its own right.
Equipped with rear-wheel drive, a five-speed manual transmission, and a 656-cc inline-three engine good for a neat 63 horsepower, the Honda Beat quickly became a favorite on the Kei car market. Not only did it perform admirably on-road, its dashing looks—courtesy of Italian car designers Pininfarina—made it a darling of automotive enthusiasts. The early 90s were an automotive golden age for small sports cars, and the Beat was one of the best.
In fact, depending on who you ask, the Honda Beat might be the best Kei car of all time. Gone too soon, it’ll be in our hearts forever.
Honda S660 (2015-2022)
Nearly twenty years after discontinuing the legendary Beat, Honda introduced its spiritual successor: the S660.
This sporty two-seater boasts a S07A turbocharged inline-three with a displacement of 658 and about 63 horsepower on offer. With a six-speed manual transmission and a seven-speed CVT, it’s a supremely maneuverable—if somewhat bloodless, despite the turbo—mini sports car.
Sadly, the S660 followed in the Beat’s footsteps (tire treads?) in spring of 2022, when Honda announced that it would be discontinued.
Honda N Lineup (2011-present)
The current Honda Kei car lineup trends toward the boxy and practical. In fact, the first of its “N” models is actually called the N-Box. Introduced in 2011, this uncompromising rectangle puts the mini in minivan.
Alongside the N-Box are the N-One, an adorably retro-styled hatchback; the N-WGN, a super-practical Kei car with more storage space than you’d expect, and the N-Van, which serves as a replacement for the long-lived Acty mictrotruck (1977-2021). All of the Kei cars in the lineup are powered by a 658-cc inline-three engine.
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Can you own a Kei car outside of Japan?
Yes—but getting it to the U.S. might be an expensive and complicated process.
Because Kei cars are manufactured for the Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) and only sold in Japan, you’ll need to import a Kei car if you want to drive it in the U.S. That typically costs at least $2,000, and you’ll have to go through customs.
While that might be worth it if you’ve gotten your hands on a rare or unique model, like a first-generation Daihatsu Copen or Suzuki Alto, you may be better off sticking to domestic shopping if you just want a small car. The
Honda Fit
, Chevy Spark
, and Fiat 500
are all decent choices for drivers looking for the diminutive size, convenience, and excellent fuel economy of a Kei car. How to save on Honda insurance
One of the great advantages of owning a Kei car in Japan is a lower insurance premium—but in the U.S., you might actually end up paying more to insure an imported car!
Whether you own a Honda Kei car or just a small domestic Honda, you can reduce your insurance costs with
Jerry
. As a licensed insurance broker
, Jerry compares real-time quotes with your driver profile to find you the best rates on the coverage you need—in just 45 seconds! With Jerry, insurance shopping is quick, efficient, and fun (not unlike a Kei car). “Jerryhas amazing communication! And even better deals! Thanks to Jerry, I went from $327 to $182 on my payments. I’m so grateful!” —Kim T.
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FAQs
What was the first Japanese Kei car?
The Subaru 360, a two-door city car nicknamed the “ladybug,” was the first mass-produced Kei car in Japan.
How do you pronounce Kei car?
If English is your primary language, your instinct might be to pronounce Kei like key—but you’d be wrong. The correct pronunciation is closer to “kay.”
Who makes Kei cars?
The only automakers mass-producing Kei cars today are Honda, Daihatsu, Suzuki, and Nissan-Mitsubishi. Mazda and Toyota sell rebadged models from these manufacturers.
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