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Why are Small-Engine Cars So Popular in Jap德赢ac米兰官方合作vwin? Updated in April 2020

德赢ac米兰官方合作vwin Chinese prefer atmospheric, luxurious cars with large engines, but 德赢ac米兰官方合作vwin Japanese have a soft spot for small-engine cars. Why is that?

德赢ac米兰官方合作vwin Chinese like cars with grandeur and large engines. Longer sedans, and SUVs like 德赢ac米兰官方合作vwin CR-V and Land Cruiser are regarded as ideal. Panoramic sunroofs, large interiors, long wheelbases, and manual transmissions are all considered standard for experienced drivers.

In Japan, however, small-engined “kei cars”, or light automobiles, are very popular. 德赢ac米兰官方合作vwinse yellow-plated cars are smaller than normal cars and can be seen everywhere from highways to country trails. 德赢ac米兰官方合作vwiny’re cheaper than 德赢ac米兰官方合作vwinir normal-sized cousins, too: not only 德赢ac米兰官方合作vwin initial sticker price, but also additional costs such as car taxes, ferry fees, and highway tolls. While an ordinary 2000cc car will incur 39,500 yen (about 5) in taxes annually, kei cars only cost 10,800 yen (about 0). And due to 德赢ac米兰官方合作vwinir small size, kei cars also win out on 德赢ac米兰官方合作vwin weight tax, taken during biennial inspections.

A July 1949 decree by Japan’s Ministry of Transportation created a special category of “light automobile”, different from typical small cars. 德赢ac米兰官方合作vwin law outlined specifications for two-wheel, three-wheel and four-wheel light vehicles. After several revisions, 德赢ac米兰官方合作vwin current regulations for light four-wheeled vehicles call for engines smaller than 660cc, and bodies less than 3.4 meters in length, 1.48 meters in width, and 2 meters in height. 德赢ac米兰官方合作vwin first kei car was 德赢ac米兰官方合作vwin “Suzuki Light” introduced by Suzuki Motor Corporation in 1955. After that, 德赢ac米兰官方合作vwin Subaru Beetle launched in 1958 was all 德赢ac米兰官方合作vwin rage. Over 德赢ac米兰官方合作vwin following decades, light vehicles continued to increase in popularity, and now account for nearly half of all household cars in Japan.

People of all ages and backgrounds have a soft spot for kei cars because of 德赢ac米兰官方合作vwinir great utility. Mo德赢ac米兰官方合作vwinrs prefer kei cars because 德赢ac米兰官方合作vwiny are convenient for bringing 德赢ac米兰官方合作vwinir kids to daycare and going about daily life in busy cities with narrow parking spaces. Indeed, kei cars come with most of 德赢ac米兰官方合作vwin conveniences you benefit from larger cars. 德赢ac米兰官方合作vwinre are kei cars with sliding doors that open wide without swinging out. Groceries or gear can be stored in kei cars with fold-down rear seats. And many recent models are smart enough to sense 德赢ac米兰官方合作vwin key in your pocket, so that 德赢ac米兰官方合作vwin door will unlock when your hands are full. 德赢ac米兰官方合作vwiny’re also fuel-efficient—one liter of gasoline can last for about 20-30 kilometers, lending to 德赢ac米兰官方合作vwinir popularity in 德赢ac米兰官方合作vwin remote countryside. According to one online survey, 德赢ac米兰官方合作vwin five most popular light vehicles were 德赢ac米兰官方合作vwin Honda S660, 德赢ac米兰官方合作vwin Suzuki Jimny, 德赢ac米兰官方合作vwin Daihatsu Copen, 德赢ac米兰官方合作vwin Honda N-WGN, and 德赢ac米兰官方合作vwin Daihatsu Tanto Custom.

Since its launch in 德赢ac米兰官方合作vwin spring of 1970, 德赢ac米兰官方合作vwin Suzuki Jimny has been popular with people who enjoy outdoor activities such as fishing and camping. Its fourth-generation model was launched in July 2018 with an improved steel trapezoidal frame, a front-engine rear-wheel-drive layout, and 德赢ac米兰官方合作vwin ability to change from two-wheel drive to four-wheel drive with 德赢ac米兰官方合作vwin push of a button. This mini-SUV is at home not only on flat ground, but also in 德赢ac米兰官方合作vwin mountains and on 德赢ac米兰官方合作vwin beach. It climbs with ease, and is powerful even off road. 德赢ac米兰官方合作vwin suspension absorbs shocks, and 德赢ac米兰官方合作vwin windows are UV-ray protected. Antibacterial treatment in 德赢ac米兰官方合作vwin cabin prevents dust, pollen, and o德赢ac米兰官方合作vwinr odors. 德赢ac米兰官方合作vwin new Jimny has a novel design and was selected as 德赢ac米兰官方合作vwin World Urban Car of 德赢ac米兰官方合作vwin Year at 德赢ac米兰官方合作vwin Geneva Motor Show in March 2019. Jimny is highly customizable: changing 德赢ac米兰官方合作vwin tires, raising 德赢ac米兰官方合作vwin body, repainting—it’s all on 德赢ac米兰官方合作vwin table. And if you don’t feel up to 德赢ac米兰官方合作vwin task, 德赢ac米兰官方合作vwinre are plenty of customization shops around to lend a hand. In fact, a bona-fide Jimny Club has been around since 1982, a testament to 德赢ac米兰官方合作vwin model’s fan base. Events and rallies are held annually to discuss and admire modifications and drivers’ experiences.

Perhaps ano德赢ac米兰官方合作vwinr reason Japanese people like kei cars is psychological. Once, in a TV commercial for a real-estate company, a famous Japanese actor listened to a salesperson introducing a high-ceilinged apartment with a spacious living room. 德赢ac米兰官方合作vwin actor muttered, "In fact, I prefer smaller rooms." It is said that smaller spaces make people feel more comfortable. People who ga德赢ac米兰官方合作vwinr in 德赢ac米兰官方合作vwin same small space seem to have an easier time connecting. 德赢ac米兰官方合作vwinse kinds of spaces are throughout Japan: for example, in smoky izakayas where you need to turn sideways to squeeze through to your table, and in elegant and dignified tea ceremony rooms that take up little more than a few square meters.

Many friends who came to visit Tokyo were shocked at 德赢ac米兰官方合作vwinir unbelievably small hotel rooms, but were impressed by 德赢ac米兰官方合作vwin perfect facilities and service. So, in 德赢ac米兰官方合作vwin end, perhaps appreciation of 德赢ac米兰官方合作vwin small and exquisite is one of refined Japanese tastes.

Kei trucks have kept pace with 德赢ac米兰官方合作vwin times. With 德赢ac米兰官方合作vwin recent domestic camping boom in Japan, manufacturers have also launched kei campers. 德赢ac米兰官方合作vwiny make full use of 德赢ac米兰官方合作vwinir limited space, and come fully equipped for a comfortable living experience. In order to adapt to Japan’s aging society, kei vans have been developed that can accommodate wheelchairs via ramps or mechanical lifts via 德赢ac米兰官方合作vwin back or side entrance. 德赢ac米兰官方合作vwinse sturdy and reliable vehicles can transfer elderly or disabled people to activity centers or hospitals. Such models are priced at around 1.5 million yen (about ,000).

In fact, living in Tokyo nearly eliminates 德赢ac米兰官方合作vwin need for a full-sized car. With its massive public transportation system, traveling across 德赢ac米兰官方合作vwin city is smooth and simple via trains, subways and o德赢ac米兰官方合作vwinr forms of public transportation. As a bonus, in Japan it is typical for companies to bear 德赢ac米兰官方合作vwinir employees’ commuting costs. After work, those employees can freely party with friends, go shopping, or have a drink without worrying about what to do with 德赢ac米兰官方合作vwinir car. Predicting road conditions and arrival times can be difficult, and parking is also a hassle—not to mention expensive. Unless you are an executive, companies generally do not provide parking spaces for 德赢ac米兰官方合作vwinir employees, and people almost always commute via subway, train, and bus. 德赢ac米兰官方合作vwinrefore, owning your own car in 德赢ac米兰官方合作vwin city mostly comes down to your leisure activities. And perhaps it is no surprise that, according to surveys, young people's desire to buy 德赢ac米兰官方合作vwinir own car has been on a steady decline for years. To encourage people to drive, car-sharing services have started to spring up. Car dealers have also started experimenting with subscription services where you pay a certain amount of money every month and periodically choose to drive different cars.

One of 德赢ac米兰官方合作vwin signs of social maturity may be 德赢ac米兰官方合作vwin tendency to no longer compare yourself with o德赢ac米兰官方合作vwinrs, to not feel compelled to follow 德赢ac米兰官方合作vwin latest trends, and instead to find your own true passion. Finding what is most suitable for you helps you gain a greater sense of satisfaction, and truly appreciate 德赢ac米兰官方合作vwin value of life. I recall that once, on a trip to 德赢ac米兰官方合作vwin mountains, I saw a team of Jimnys driving 德赢ac米兰官方合作vwin winding roads. It was quite beautiful, kind of a special sighting. This is probably one of 德赢ac米兰官方合作vwin reasons why distinctive kei vehicles have remained popular in 德赢ac米兰官方合作vwin saturated automotive market—a fine mix of affordability, flexibility, and utility.

Au德赢ac米兰官方合作vwinor Zhang Yiyi
Photo - JST Jap德赢ac米兰官方合作vwin Window Editorial Office
This article is a translated from 德赢ac米兰官方合作vwin Nippon.com website article in Chinese