In the past, most Japanese people went with right-handed cars. If you had visited Japan a few years back, you could rarely see any left-hand drive car. But with time, the tradition has changed. Even now, right-handed cars are still common but having a left-handed car is considered to be a privilege in Japan.
If you are a driver who has a left-handed car, your vehicle will grab the attention of everyone instantly and you and your car will be in lime light.
So if you are someone who wants to get noticed, left-hand cars are for you!
Some big Japanese companies such as Honda, Nissan, Toyota, and Mitsubishi make only right-hand drive cars for local use. Japan car dealers import left-hand drive cars from Europe. That being said, most LHD cars are expensive in Japan. But worry not!
If you are looking for affordable left-hand drive cars in Japan, we are here to help you. You can also opt for used left-hand drive cars. They are quite cheap as well as luxurious. Here is a list of the most affordable and best performance left-hand drive cars for you:
1. KIA 2006- Most Affordable Left Hand Drive Car
When buying a vehicle, there are a few universal things that you see in the vehicle regardless of your budget and personal choice. One of those is reliability. Well, nobody likes to get in trouble in the middle of the road neither does anyone like to pay fancy bills every month on their vehicle repair.
We know all this process is not only hectic but also costs you money and your precious time! That’s why we recommend you to buy a KIA car. It earned the third position for its reliability out of 32 other car brands. Also, its rating is 4 out of 5 based on an average of 345 unique models.
This car is not only reliable but is also comfortable, and super affordable. Its estimated value is $786-$4,307. You can also get a used KIA 2005 in very good condition and reasonable price. Its estimated value is $676-$4,910.
This is the most affordable left-hand drive car that you can buy in Japan.
3. Hyundai Tucson (2004- 2010) – Tiny and Roomy
Hyundai Tucson is a small and durable car. It has lots of features at a very low price. It is mechanically very similar to KIA Sportage. Tucson is more spacious from the inside than it looks from the outside. Its dashboard is made of hard plastic. Also, the size of its boot is very impressive. It can easily fit 4 large suitcases. The floor and seat backs are covered in hard plastic which means that you can easily clean them. There are three engines available in Tuscan. The ride is very comfortable and the steering is very light and quick which makes it easy to drive. Its engine and road noise are quite low as compared to other vehicles. Tuscan also drives well in sand.
Hyundai Tuscan early models have an average safety but its 2007 model has a high-level safety.
Tuscan has a good reputation in terms of reliability. You won’t encounter any serious mechanical issues with it. The Tuscan is well protected against rust too.
As for its durability, it can last 200,000 miles which are around 15 years. If protected well, it can last even longer.
If you are looking for a small, roomy, and affordable car that offers a lot of amazing features, then buy Tuscan. You can buy any model of used Hyundai Tuscan from 2014-2010 for as low as $2000- $4000 online.
You can also visit your local vehicle auction to buy it.
3. Ssangyong Rexton 2004- Off-Road Beast
It is a big, old-fashioned, off-road car. If you are someone who prefers a huge rough vehicle over a soft on-roader because of your financial limitation or for off-road trips, buy Ssangyong Rexton 2004. Its power comes from a Mercedez Benz previous version.
It is not a trendy modern car but a traditional off-roader. Its most disappointing feature is its low speed, although its power assisting rack and steering are very light.
You can buy it at a very reasonable price.
Final Thoughts:
Despite of this, that most of Japanese use right hand drive cars, Left hand drive cars are still considered to be the class symbol. Even though, LHD cars are not manufactured locally in Japan, most dealers import them from Europe. That’s why they are on the expensive side but if one do their research correctly, they can surely find some good and affordable left hand car. We tried our best to show you the most affordable LHD vehicle options. I hope you have found this information helpful.