Gone are the days when Japanese cars were perceived to be inferior to German cars, Italian cars, or French cars. In fact, Japanese cars are now the best-sellers and top market movers in many countries, thanks to their affordability and impressive tech. So it’s no surprise that these Japanese Automakers are dominating the U.S. Market in 2026.
Toyota, in particular, has remained the world’s most popular car brand and the most patronized brand in many countries. Its patriot competitors, Honda, Mazda, Subaru, and Nissan, are equally pulling weights in global markets. However, today, we’d be focusing on these brands’ influence in the United States automobile market.
The 7 Top Japanese Automakers Dominating the U.S. Market
Chinese BYD (Build Your Dreams) cars were the biggest movers in 2025, being able to serve budget electric cars that outperformed some of their expensive counterparts. Despite this big move from BYD in Asian and European markets, Japanese cars have maintained their lead in the global market.
This is largely because Japanese car brands have built a global reputation for producing dependable, high-tech, fuel-efficient, yet affordable cars that are also fun to drive. Here’s an overview of the most popular Japanese cars in the US.
1. Toyota – Camry
The Toyota Camry (majorly the Hybrid model) is the brand’s most popular and best-selling model in the US; the premium-level sedan is remarkable and loved by many Americans due to its spacious interior and balanced driving feel. Toyota Camry also has the highest reliability rating for sedans in its class in the US, notable for lasting over 200k miles and offering sturdy V6 engine options.
Other top Toyota models making serious waves in the US market include the RAV4, Corolla, Highlander, Tacoma, and Tundra. Of course, many other Toyota models are being driven in the US, but they’re not as popular as the aforementioned – talk about the Toyota Prius, Yaris, and Sienna, good stuff, all of them, but the Camry has the highest volumes, followed by Corolla, RAV4, then the Highlander, and Tacoma.
2. Honda – CR-V
The compact, family SUV from Honda is their best-seller in the US. Many Americans love the CR-V model because of its aesthetics and fuel efficiency. The Honda CR-V is a splendid, strongly-built SUV with enough space for a family of 5. It comes in gasoline and hybrid models, and as is typical, the hybrid models are more preferred. Only the Toyota RAV4 ranks above the CR-V in sales numbers, for its category, in the US market.
Other Honda models that are popular in the US include the Honda Civic and Accord sedans, and then we talk about models from the company’s luxury brand, Acura. Acura luxury models rank among the top-sellers in the US annually, and are super reliable. Away from the sales numbers and popularity, Honda cars typically offer much nicer interior setups and tech than Toyotas.
3. Subaru – Crosstrek
In 2025, the Subaru Crosstrek was ranked as the highest-selling Subaru model in the US, crossing over 190,000 unit sales, a 5.5% increase over 2024. The actual total sales number reached 191,724 for the 2025 Calendar, and it’s been doing massive numbers even in the years prior. So, yeah, the Subaru Crosstrek subcompact SUV is the brand’s most dominant model in the US right now.
Of course, Subaru vehicles are widely popular because of the standard symmetrical all-wheel-drive drivetrain they’re all equipped with, which makes them drivable across any terrain, literally, including the toughest off-road routes. Other well-performing Subaru models in the US include the Forester, Outback SUV, Impreza, and Legacy. Really solid vehicles for any road.
4. Nissan – Rogue
You won’t believe it, probably, but the most dominant Nissan model in the US isn’t any of its globally-popular models, such as the Altima or Murano; instead, it’s the compact Nissan Rogue SUV. The Nissan Rogue dominates its segment in the US market, thanks to its advanced tech like the Safety Shield 360 and its excellent fuel efficiency. Oh, it also offers flexible seating for five (perfect for families), ample cargo space, and sells at a good price.
Coming behind the Rogue SUV are the Sentra and Altima sedans, then the Sporty Z editions and Nissan Kicks crossover. Nissan vehicles are incredibly reliable and packed with a plethora of driver-friendly features and tech. For the calendar year 2025, Nissan reportedly sold over 926,000 units across its model offerings in the US market, with the Nissan Kicks and Pathfinder performing best against their individual previous years’ sales.
5. Mazda – CX-5
Starting the design, the Mazda CX-5 is easily the best-looking, most alluring crossover to drive. Talk about the sporty feel, elegant body contours, and sharp sculpturing, it is an exquisite premium car to behold and incorporates a ton of high-tech features you wouldn’t even find in most cars in its segment.
The CX-5 isn’t only the most dominant Mazda model in the US, but it is a top-seller among its competitors in the compact crossover segment. Newer models like the CX-50 and CX-70 had nothing on the CX-5; it continued to dominate. Coming behind in terms of the US market dominance are the CX-50 and CX-30 models, then the Mazda 3 variants and Miata.
6. Mitsubishi – Outlander
Although no longer in the top ranks as it used to be back in the days, Mitsubishi is still one of the Japanese brands whose name rings a bell whenever mentioned anywhere in the world. Currently in the US, the Mitsubishi Outlander is the brand’s most dominant model, and equally one of the best, solid-built full-size, three-row SUVs sold in the United States.
The Outlander now has Plug-in Hybrid variants, which have consistently led the sales for the brand despite overall sales fluctuations in recent years. Other notable models include the Outlander Sport and the stylish Eclipse Cross. Mitsubishi isn’t having it going well for them in the US at the moment, but their reputation has, somehow, kept them in business, regardless.
7. Lexus — RX
Yes, the luxury arm of Toyota, Lexus, also makes some of the most intriguing and super reliable cars Americans love to drive. The Lexus RX series is the brand’s best-seller in the United States, and particularly, the RX350 SUV model is the overall top choice of many Americans, especially the hybrid variants.
In fact, the Lexus RX is preferred by many Americans over top-of-the-class luxury SUV models from brands like BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Genesis.
Conclusion
The above-mentioned cars are the top Japanese car brands dominating the US markets in 2026, along with their best-selling models. Japanese vehicles are now globally revered, and many Americans are loving them yearly.
Did we miss your favorite Japanese brand, or fail to mention your best model from either of these brands? If so, let’s hear it in the comments.
