Japanoid – Importing K-Cars in Canada
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada 
on 07.19.05
Japanoid is a Canadian importer of K-Cars (also called Keicars, keijidōsha) and other extremely compact Japanese cars. You can read more about K-Cars here or on the FAQ of the site, but basically what you need to know is: "Japan is a country with very few natural resources. So the Japanese government created very smart laws that give special tax breaks to cars of certain size and efficiency. [...] K-Cars must be under 4.4 meters long and 1.5 meters wide. Their engines are also regulated to be less than 660cc - no more than 64 horsepower." Some have more powerful engines than the K-Cars specifications yet keep the extremely compact proportions.
These cars were never available new in the US or Canada, but Canadian law allows their importation if they are 15 years old and pass a safety inspection before leaving Japan and one when they get in Canada. US law also allows them to be imported, but only if they are 25 years old, so de facto they are banned.
Japanoid offers exactly that: 15 years old cars, usually with a low amount of kms (since the Japanese drive less than Canadians on average), many have souped-up motorcycle engines with sophisticated turbos, superchargers and dual overhead cams, and most get fuel economy in the 50 mpg range. Prices seem to hover between CAN$5000 and CAN$7000.
Obviously they are not for everyone, in part because they are right-hand drive, but they must be loads of fun (especially the Toyota Sera and Suzuki Works). My only wish is that we get rid of the 15 years wait and import the current ones.
Thanks to Redmond Weissenberger for the tip!
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Wow, they're so cute. I've never heard of this auto-class before. But a 25 year wait? What happened to all the free-market rethoric? It's only a free market for their products, huh?
Heh, that Suzuki is so cute I almost want to move to Canada just so I could buy one.
the suzuki looks like it would fall over in a sharp turn. kinda like their sidekick, which used to be sold in the US.
the scion xA is probably the closest thing we have to these cars. And it's really not that far off:
108hp, 38MPG on the highway, 154.10in length, 66.70in width, 2340lbs.
Now, metric!
3.91414 meters long, 1.69418 meters wide, 1,061kg
So it's about .2 meters too wide, and way too powerful, but you can get a good idea of the size from one of these.
Um, I've been living in Japan for over 20 years and I definitely know that the Toyota Sera is NOT a K-Car. The Japanoid site makes you believe that all the cars on their site are all K-Cars, but they aren't. Then again, they only labeled K-Vans but not the other vehicles as "K".
On another note, we have a local tuning shop who used to race the Alto Works at K-Car races. For its size, it is a BEAST!
You are right, Bunchmanz. On the first look I thought they only sold K-Cars, but when I saw the engine specs of the Toyota Sera I changed my post to read: "K-Cars and other extremely compact Japanese cars."
I suppose that a Sera doesn't even look all that compact in Japan, though. I've seen a few Paseo in Canada, and if its the same size it's about as big as the old Toyota Tercels (not same styling, obviously).
Do you have any interior pictures of the K-vans?
do you guys have any affiliation with the guys that sell japanese cars in BC? notice the pic of the suzuki and toyota gullwing are right from their website. ;) but yah, do you guys import yourselves?
Picture of the K-van.. That particular Suzuki you see over there is available in India without a high roof. The company is Maruti Udyog, co-owned by Suzuki in India. Interiors are extremely spartan, and it was originally used in Japan as a load carrier without windows. Lots of plastic, 2 or 4 rear seats (bench) facing each other or straight ahead.. more plastic.. It is the cheapest vehicle available in India right now. You have some pics here http://yahoo.indiacar.com/index2.asp?pagename=http://yahoo.indiacar.com/review.asp?mcode=m0058&model=Omni%20(8-seater)%20BS-II&bc=009&brand=MARUTI+UDYOG+LTD
That Mitsu Delica is soooo Badasss!!! Might actually trump the '78 Brat with brushbar I useta have.
I read about a guy in California who got a Honda City (also a 'K',I believe) and then promptly ruined it by dropping a huge engine in the back! I'm assuming he only ran it on Dragstrips.
I believe that the Honda City is the sedan version of the Fit/Jazz, so not a K-car but quite cool anyway.
Nice article... Importing cars from Japan to Canada can be a difficult process if you dont know what your doing!
Import Car To Canada! - How to Import a Car, Truck, Van, Motorcycle or Passenger Vehicle into Canada
those cars are cute...very nice post...