JDM stands for Japanese Domestic Market, which refers to cars that were built to be sold in Japan when they were new. Enthusiasts love JDM cars for being extremely clean with low mileage and, usually, a lower up-front cost. JDM vehicles are prized for their performance, high quality, and exceptional styling. Of course, the fact that they can be tuned and customized as drift cars relatively easily doesn’t hurt for the typical JDM target customer, either.
If you’re looking for a used vehicle, don’t mind something older, and you’re hoping to buy something unique or are just bored with what you’re seeing on Canadian vehicle listings, consider importing a JDM car.
JDM Cars in Canada
- How to Get a JDM Car into Canada
- Honda Civic Type R
- Honda S2000
- Lexus LS
- Mazda MX-5
- Mitsubishi Delica
- Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
- Nissan Skyline
- Toyota Hiace
How to Get a JDM Car into Canada
To qualify for import into Canada, a JDM car must be at least 15 years old. (We have this over the USA, at least. There, JDM cars can’t be imported until they’re 25 years old unless they meet stringent regulations.)
There are three ways to get a JDM car into Canada. You can source, purchase, and export/import the car yourself, which involves a lot of paperwork, legwork, and potential expense. You can also work with a professional importer, which is a popular option since their experience helps keep the process going smoothly. There are JDM importers based in most major cities across the country, which is likely to be helpful if your grasp of English or French is better than Japanese. You might also find an imported car through a private seller who has already completed the import procedures and made the car legal to drive in Canada.
Before you start shopping around for your dream car, there are a couple of factors to consider. You likely know JDM cars are right-hand drive (RHD), meaning the driver sits on the right side of the vehicle, which can result in reduced visibility and is an adjustment that takes some getting used to. Also, be sure to do some research to confirm you’ll be able to source replacement parts for your chosen ride when you need them. Most Japanese imports arrive at the port of Vancouver, so be sure any additional transportation costs to other Canadian cities like Calgary, Toronto or Montreal have been factored into your budget and communicated to you by the importer.
If you’ve thought it through and you’re convinced a Japanese car is the way to go, here are eight cars to consider importing to Canada from Japan, ranging from the blatantly obvious to under-the-radar finds. We’ve stuck with Japanese brands here, but don’t be afraid to cast your net further: there are some great finds among importable JDM cars from out-of-market brands like BMW, Audi, Porsche, Chevrolet, Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz and others.
Honda Civic Type R
Until 2017, the Honda Civic Type R was one of North America's most forbidden automotive fruits. If you’re growing impatient waiting for some to land on the used car market, consider looking to Japan and importing a JDM model instead. The first model year of the FD2 models, which were based on the eight-generation Civic, turned 15 this in 2022 and became eligible for import to Canada. The front-wheel-drive (FWD) sedan produces 222 horsepower and 159 pound-feet of torque with its 2.0-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine. (Have fun wrapping your head around using the manual transmission with your left hand.) Importers estimate you’ll pay between $18,000 and $35,000 Canadian to bring one of these in now. If you really score, you might be able to find a Honda Civic Mugen RR, which also turned 15 in 2022. Just 300 of those were produced exclusively for the Japanese market.
Honda S2000
Suggesting a Honda S2000 as an import purchase is hardly ground-breaking, but these are difficult enough to find for a decent price on the used market in Canada that it might be worth looking overseas if you’re looking to fulfill a dream. If you’re going to go digging anyway, see if you can find an F22C1, which was released for the 2006 model year and comes with power figures of 239 horsepower and 163 pound-feet of torque to go with the standard manual transmission and rear-wheel drive (RWD). This won’t be a budget proposition, though: any S2000 is likely to run you between $36,000 and $65,000 to import to Canada from Japan. (And if you have a budget at the high end of that range, you might be into Honda NSX territory, which is another JDM car to consider.)
Lexus LS
Looking to roll in the ultimate Japanese luxury? No one will guess how little you paid for a Lexus LS imported straight from the source. Four generations of this flagship sedan currently qualify for import into Canada, including the relatively recent addition of the LS 600h hybrid, which was first sold in Japan for the 2007 model year. This comes with a 5.0-litre V8 paired with hybrid drive to produce a total system output of 439 horsepower and sends power to both axles through all-wheel drive (AWD). According to some importer websites, you might be able to score one of these for $8,000 to $16,000. Considering how indestructible these cars are, that seems like even more of a bargain.
Mazda MX-5
Plenty of used MX-5s can be found all across Canada. So, why import one from Japan? Currently, you can get MX-5s from the NA and NB generations, as well as first two years of the NC generation, and sellers of these cars in Canada tend to know what they have. It’s unusual to see these earlier model years go for less than $15,000 without needing a lot of work, while importers have units of the Japanese-market Mazda Roadster and Eunos Roadster listed in great condition for $10,000 or less. For a little bit more work and patience, you could drive home some serious bragging rights. (If you’re interested in something different, searching for a JDM Mazda RX-7 is likely to net similar results.)
Mitsubishi Delica
This one’s for the handy folks. The Mitsubishi Delica is highly prized in custom circles for the phenomenal platform it provides for campervan rebuilds. Of course, you can leave it as an eight-seat van as well and use it for its exceptional ground clearance and available four-wheel drive (4WD). The early years of the fifth generation are now eligible for Canadian import: those come with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder, a 2.4-litre four-cylinder, or the popular 2.2-litre turbodiesel. These get snapped up on the import market as quickly as they’re listed, so act fast if you want to custom-build a go-anywhere campervan for yourself.
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
Remember when Mitsubishi sold sports cars? The rise of the SUV in North America has rendered these days to nostalgia, and with them has gone the legendary Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. If you’re searching for one on the used car market and not having much luck, consider looking at imports. The first model years of the Evo X just began to qualify, featuring an aluminum-alloy 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder engine. For the Japanese market, it was tuned to produce 276 horsepower. With Super All-wheel Control AWD and a choice of either a manual or dual-clutch transmission, import prices of $13,000 to $35,000 could end up being a steal.
Nissan Skyline
If you’ve taken the time to read this article, you probably don’t need to be told that the Nissan Skyline is one of the most desirable nameplates around for import from Japan. We could tell you to shoot for a Nissan Skyline GT-R, but so will everyone else. If you’re looking for a smart buy, skip the supercar pricing and try the 2008 Skyline 370GT, which just began to qualify for import into Canada late in 2022. This rear-wheel drive coupe is a sleeper with its 3.7-litre naturally aspirated V6 producing 330 horsepower, routed through either a six-speed manual or an automatic transmission to rear-wheel drive. Importers are currently quoting prices of $6,000 to $13,000 to bring one of these into Canada.
Subaru Impreza WRX STI
Few cars will earn you as much respect at a cars and coffee meet-up than a JDM Subaru Impreza WRX STI. Sure, domestic market versions are currently available for similar prices on the used market, but usually with higher kilometre counts. But arriving in a right-hand drive version? Now that’s a bold move. Expect to pay in the $8,000 to $10,000 range for roughly 15-year-old examples through an importer. If you want something a little larger, searching for a Subaru Legacy might score you a deal.
Suzuki Jimny
The diminutive Suzuki Jimny is ridiculously kawaii and will turn heads everywhere you go. This tiny off-roader was designed to be a kei car, the smallest class of street-legal vehicles by Japanese law. On the import market, you’re most likely to find the third generation Jimny, which began in 1998. With just 80 hp from the 1.3-litre four-cylinder engine, it was hardly a workhorse. But what you give up in get up and go, you’ll recoup in delight at this unique and tiny machine. You’ll have no trouble finding a workable Jinmy for $9,000 or less from a JDM importer.
Toyota Hiace
There are so many Toyotas we could have listed here—the Toyota Celica, the Toyota Supra, the Toyota MR2, the Toyota Crown—but let’s end this list with the weird and wonderful Toyota Hiace instead as another option for the do-it-yourself set. These quirky vans are large enough to seat up to 15, or the interior can be rebuilt to create a sturdy and spacious camper based on an available 4WD drivetrain. Aim for the fifth-generation Hiace, which began with the 2005 model year. You should be able to choose from either a 2.7-litre four-cylinder gasoline engine or a 2.5-litre turbodiesel as well as wide or long-wheelbase and low or high roof options.
Honourable mention: check out the kei trucks
If you want a truck like few people in North America have ever seen, take a look at the kei trucks. The Suzuki Carry, Daihatsu Hijet, and Honda Acty are all available in this diminutive style through JDM importers. We cross-shopped several different companies and didn’t find a single one of these trucks priced over $10,000. If you’ve always wanted to drive your own personal Tonka truck, consider this your chance.