Kei car - what is it and why is it so popular in Japan?
It is small, functional, great for city driving and often surprises with modern equipment. Kei car, as we are talking about this type of car, is extremely popular in Japan, but for the inhabitants of Europe it is mainly a cultural curiosity. The phenomenon of compact cars in the country of cherry blossoms has many reasons - from a practical approach to driving to a number of concessions for owners of microcars. Find out what kei cars are and where their popularity in Japan comes from.
What is Kei Car?
Kei car from Japanese means “light car” (kei-jidōsha), which aptly captures what makes these peculiar vehicles stand out. Their most distinctive feature is the size, which translates into a small weight. According to the regulations, keicars can have the following maximum parameters:
- length: 3400 mm,
- width: 1480 mm,
- height: 2000 mm,
- engine capacity: 660 cm3,
- power: 64 hp.
Kei-cars appeared in Japan after the end of World War II, in 1949, and were intended to be a category of vehicles available to everyone, including people who could afford to buy a motorcycle rather than a full-size car. Has the solution been popularized? Definitely yes. There is currently no shortage of kei-cars on the streets of Japanese cities, which is a kind of international phenomenon.
What is the reason for the popularity of kei car cars in Japan?
The first reason kei cars are so popular in Japan is due to the fact that they are regulated by the law of relief. Their owners pay lower taxes and are covered by a lower amount of third party liability insurance. They can also count on many other amenities, including special parking spaces designed for microcars. However, there are more reasons. Kei auto is an ideal car for city driving, especially if we are talking about densely populated agglomerations, where it is easy to get traffic jams and parking problems. Manufacturers quickly took advantage of the fact that the Japanese are comfortable with this solution, and therefore the microcar segment has been constantly developing for years. There are not only kei cars available on the market, but also vans, SUVs or vans. Do kei cars stand apart from full-size cars? In many ways, yes, but that does not mean that riding them is very uncomfortable. You can easily buy a car from this segment equipped with automatic transmission, GPS and even hybrid and electric drive. These are small, but comfortable and modern cars that perform really well in certain conditions, and also have low combustion.
Examples of kei cars — Suzuki, Honda, Daihatsu and others
Kei-cars are produced by many Japanese automotive concerns. Examples?
- Key car Honda N-Box.
- Key car Toyota Pixis Joy.
- Key car Suzuki Alto.
- Key car Nissan Dayz.
- Key car Subaru Pleo.
- Key car Mitsubishi eK X.
- Key car Mazda Flair Crossover.
Slight Cars from Japan often pay attention not only to functionality, but also to design. A great example is the kei car Daihatsu Copen GR Sport, as well as the Honda S660, that is, two-door microconvertibles in a sports edition. The Japanese car industry has a lot to offer. And although kei-cars have not taken the European market by storm, it cannot be denied that they are an interesting and in many ways practical solution.
