Made in Japan?

No, not the Deep Purple album for all of us boomers.

Couple of questions, contemplating trading in a couple of cars. I will only purchase a Japanese made vehicle. I figured someone here will know right off the top of their head.

1. Which USA market SUV models of Toyota/Lexus/Honda are made in Japan?

2. Which of these Japanese SUV's is available with at least a 6 cylinder or (probably dreaming here) an 8 cylinder engine?

Thanks!

 

5th gen is Japanese built. GX460 is Japanese built with a V8.

Don't limit yourself to Japanese built only because some Toyotas are built here and they're just fine. I believe the majority of Hondas are US made.

 

Off the top of my head, the Lexus GX550 can be had with a twin turbo V6 and is made in Japan.

Shouldn’t this question have been posted in the general automotive section?

 

Sorry, since I own a 5th Gen, I always come to this section. My bad.

 

I just like the build quality from the Tahara Plant so much more than the Made in the US models. I have many friends with Tacos and newer Tundras and to be perfectly honest, they seem to have more rattles and stuff vs our 5th Gens.

I'll look into the Lexus GX460. Thank You!

 

I have a water leak from the rear hatch and I do have some interior rattles. The engine sounds like it's going to explode on the daily and a lot of them suffer from the timing cover leak. Don't forget the 4wd shifter knob that likes to fall apart internally and the door lock actuators that like to die. It's all the same mass produced caca.

 

Must have been built after a Nomikai night

 

We have 2 Rav4's, 1 is a Limited Hybrid built in Japan and the other is a XLE Premium built in Canada A, there is definitely a difference in build quality. I had a 2018 Tacoma built in Mexico, the quality was sub par for Toyota. Our 2024 LX600 is a tank, very well built. My neighbor has a 2023 Escalade, it has rattles ,squeaks and the engine makes noise. I prefer Japanese built.

 

Any VIN starting with a J indicates a Japanese-built vehicle. Japanese build quality isn't always perfect but it's much better than what comes from Texas or Mexico. Even the Ontario and Midwest U.S. plants are better than Texas and Mexico.

 

I was going to buy a gx 460 but the premium gas was something my family decided against. I was very picky & got a 5th gen with everything I wanted & didn’t want.

I will say this. It took me about 18 months to find my perfect 2.5gen taco. I did the same thing for my 4Runner. That took at least a year. I bought both out of state. Here in Denver they jack the prices up during winter. Everyone wants a 4x4 after a brutal snowstorm.

GL OP - make sure you run the vin through the Toyota or Lexus app before you buy

 

Not sure any popular USDM Honda’s are made in Japan.

Toyota’s 4Runner, Land Cruiser, GX, LX are made in Japan. I believe the RAV4 Plug-In is too. V6 is Lexus this generation like the V8 was last gen.

Not sure about the other RAV4 models, it may vary but they’re definitely assembled in North America at least primarily.

 

some people don’t know but;
Nissans new Z is made in Japan, some new rogues, Infiniti QX56 whatever it’s called lol TT V6, and the gtr.

all they’re all piles of dogshit, besides maybe rhe gtr, lol

 

The problem with Nissan is their penchant for throwing moped transmission's into SUV's, and ignoring known issues for way too long.

 

https://youtu.be/tl6u2NASUzU?si=e6jmaKLYkJ0SD0KD

 

I would skip the new V6 turbo engines even though they are built in Japan. I think everyone knows Japan made LX600 gas engines are recalled but hybrids and not part of recalls. But on forums the hybrids also seems to have problems. See examples of Japan made GX550 engine problems;





If reliability is concerned I would shop for low miles well maintained 5th Gen 4Runner, GX460, etc..

As far as I know there are no Japan made Hondas in US market. Everything made in USA, Canada, Mexico.

 

GR Corolla is also made in Japan at the Motomachi plant

 

GR Corolla's will be fine as long as you never go past 2,500 RPM's

 

Ouch, shots fired!

 

I purchased two japan made Hondas. Both 2008 - accord lx and a CRV lx. Both great cars still being daily drivers.
Don't know about new Hondas.
My Canada built 2004 Pilot was a great suv, but also before the dreaded VCM that used a complicated valve train to disconnect cylinders when light load on motor.

 

As a replacement for the 5th gen or as an addition? I love my GX and I think it's "better" in some ways than the 4R... but it's also "worse" in some ways. If I currently had a solid 5th gen I would not replace it with a GX. If my GX gets totaled I'd look for another one, but I'd happily buy a 5th gen if a good one popped up. They are pretty interchangeable in the categories that matter to me.

If you look for a GX look for 22-23 as those get you a great upgraded interior. Pre-22, like my 20, have the hot garbage old timey no AA / CP infotainment unit with integrated HVAC - which works fine - but is my number one complaint because of how user-unfriendly it is.

I have never used premium and I'm at 50,000 total miles, 25,000 that I put on, with nary an issue and never any pre-detonation or weirdness from the engine. 0' - 12,000' above sea level. Hell, I run 85 when I can find it out west.

 

My buddy also has 2004 Pilot and he trust that over his 2018 Pilot. I think older CR-V, Accord, Civics are far better built than US made ones now.(Was it an Accord that had million miles? a 90s model I believe.)

Atleast my 2nd hand experience new Hondas are in pretty bad state. All 2016+ Pilots our group got injector failures. Now the VCM got slightly less complicate just been 2 stage, 3cly & 6cyl mode. But direct injection only and 9 spd ZF transmission seems to give headache. Per the dealership the jerking feeling is "normal".

I wonder Toyota will have the same state soon since Tacoma, 4Runner, Land cruiser then Tundra, Sequoia, GX550, LX600 have same powertrain will it mode to North American production.

Speaking of American build cars, one of my buddy was shocked to hear that his Audi Q5 was Made in Mexico. He assumed VIN starting W his was Made in Germany.


Note-
I have no disrespect for American made cars. Tundra 4.7V8 & 5.7V8 were amazing vehicles built in TX.

 

So does the owner's manual say to use premium, and you found it's not necessary?

 

My bought-new 35yr old Japan built 22RE 4Runner has been at dealer service dept or private shop for repairs…..once…for a bad spark plug wire. Boy did I feel stupid.

 

Yeah, owners manual and fuel fill cap.

Obviously I have no idea of the internal state of my engine, but in my past experience in other vehicles with inappropriately low octane fuel there is always pinging under load and I've never experienced that, so I'm good with it...

 

Look for the J as the first digit in the VIN