JDM cars were not always popular, but it all changed around the late 1990s, early 2000s when pop culture featured many of the now-desired Japanese sports cars. Cars like the Toyota Supra and Nissan Skyline GT-R became popular through movies like the Fast and Furious and games like Gran Turismo and Need for Speed, to name only a few. There are hardly any car enthusiasts that haven’t played the games or watched the movies, and the legend of these Japanese performance models was so fueled that, nowadays, the vast majority of them are now unattainable by most of us. A clean, Toyota Supra Mk IV or an R34 Skyline GT-R are easily six figures, especially if you are looking at the rare, special-edition models.

By now, most of these JDM icons have received a new generation and while not all of them are what we wanted them to be in the first place, they have proven worthy successors to their forbearer. Among these icons is the Nissan GT-R R35, which is already an appreciating, modern Japanese classic, and a much-respected, high-performance car. Japanese performance cars are on the rise and since the late 2000s, we have gotten everything from rally-bred hot hatchbacks, through all-wheel-drive super grand tourers, to one of the first, mid-engine, hybrid sports cars.

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10 Toyota GR86

Top Speed:140 Mph

The third iteration of the AE86’s spiritual successor finally got a much-needed boost in power. The nimble, lightweight characteristics of the compact, rear-wheel-drive coupe were retained, as it is a trademark of the 1980s Corolla AE86. Power comes from Subaru in the form of the FA24 flat-four engine that is, reportedly, underrated, as dyno tests have revealed. The model was said to be axed after 2024, but 2025 will, apparently, see a new model sharing a powertrain with the GR Corolla and GR Yaris.

Specifications

Even so, the GR86 is one of very few cars that still offer an analog driving experience, uncluttered by modern technology. This is what makes the original AE86 great, and it is also what does it for the GR86. With the 2025 model rumored to be a hybrid, pre-2025 GR86s are expected to, eventually, appreciate similarly to the AE86.

9 Toyota GR Yaris

Top Speed: 142 Mph

Some will remember that Toyota has a fairly rich racing history in various racing series, including the World Rally Championship (WRC). The Japanese carmaker went rallying with various models, among which the Corolla, Celica, and in recent years, the Yaris. The GR Yaris is the first homologation special in a while, and it was built with rallying in mind. No other car company, currently, offers a rally-bred, sub-compact hot hatch, and the fact it’s not offered in the US means prices are bound to skyrocket as was the case with other Japanese performance cars from the previous century.

Specifications

The GR Yaris was based on a different chassis than the regular Yaris and features a turbo-three engine with the highest specific output of its layout. Production of the GR Yaris is limited to 25,000 units, and this Japanese pocket rocket is already on the radar of car collectors.

8 Toyota GR Corolla

Top Speed: 143 Mph

Remember Toyota’s GR Yaris, which you can’t have in the US? It has a bigger sibling in the form of the GR Corolla and that one, you can buy. The Corolla has been spiced up with an aggressive body kit and Gazoo Racing’s performance-oriented all-wheel-drive system. More importantly, the GR Yaris’ G16E-GTS engine is also here, but with even more power. In all guises, but the Morizo Edition, the GR Corolla retains a full interior, including foldable rear seats.

Specificationss

Front and rear Torsen, limited-slip differentials are optional for the Core (base) version and standard for the Circuit and Morizo editions. GR Corolla is a hybrid between a rally-bred monster and a practical hot hatchback. Moreover, it's able to keep up with many iconic models from the 1990s and 2000s. This is Toyota’s first global model that offers rally genes since the Toyota Celica GT-Four and is expected to go up in value in the future, especially in its special editions.

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7 Nissan Z

Top Speed: 155 Mph

The long-awaited replacement for the Nissan 370Z finally arrived for the 2023 model year to continue the legacy of the Fairlady Z. Nissan prides itself for developing the sports car on its own (unlike Toyota), but there were a few sacrifices because of it. Much of the hardware was a carry-over from the Nissan 370Z – a car that dates back to 2008 and was, in turn, based on a platform dating back to 2001. The manual transmission was also carried over.

Specifications

The new Z even kept the 370Z’s internal chassis code, since it was, essentially, a tweaked version of the same chassis. Despite that, the Nissan Z is a modern-day hero since it proved that companies can still make an attainable sports car with big horsepower from the factory. The VR30 DDTT engine is shared with the Infiniti Q50 and Q60 models, and has already proven to be a powerhouse of an engine. Last but not least, the Z’s retro styling is an epic amalgamation of many Z cars that came before it.

6 Infiniti Q60 RedSport (Nissan Skyline)

Top Speed: 155 Mph

Just like there is no Lexus in Japan, there is no Infiniti either. Nissan’s luxury arm is sold in Japan under the Nissan badge, Q60 model “wearing” the Skyline nameplate. Infiniti’s G35 and G37 models have always been popular tuner cars and the Q60 pick up the torch right where their predecessors left. The VR30 DDTT engine, in particular, is the more sought-after engine as it’s already proven to be a good baseline for high-horsepower builds.

Specifications

Even in non-RedSport trim, the engine is, virtually, identical, meaning the same upgrades apply. The Q60 coupe share a platform with the Nissan Z, which is, largely, a carry-over from the Nissan 370Z and Infiniti G37. Out of the box, these are not quite an M3 competitor, but the vast aftermarket support can help you turn an Infiniti Q60 into a GT-R killer for not a lot of money, especially if you have the all-wheel-drive version.

5 Lexus SC430 (Toyota Soarer)

Top Speed: 155 Mph

There is no Lexus in Japan, as all luxury models wear the badge of the parent company, Toyota. Regardless, the second-generation Lexus SC430, sold as Toyota Soarer in Japan, was labelled by old Top Gear to be the worst car ever made. This, of course, was not true as the Japanese luxury convertible was a perfect example of Japanese over-engineering. The Japanese answer to the Mercedes SL500 is still, largely, forgotten, but some enthusiasts have started warming up to it.

Specifications

The 3UZ-FE V-8 engine is one of Toyota’s best engines overall, and it's renowned for adequate performance and longevity. The two automatic transmissions were developed by Aisin-Warner and are, generally, reliable with only high-mileage examples experiencing the typical symptoms. Thanks to Top Gear, these are still relatively affordable, but prices are expected to go on the rise in the near future.

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4 Toyota GR Supra

Top Speed: 161 Mph

When the fifth-generation Supra arrived, JDM purists frowned upon the fact it was a re-bodied BMW Z4. Toyota never tried to hide that fact, but it did point out that Toyota’s engineers did their own refinements. Even if the hardware comes from Bavaria, there is no denying that the Toyota GR Supra provides consistent performance and manages to punch above its weight. The B58 engine is, in typical BMW fashion, underrated and capable of a lot more power with basic mods. The previous generation’s 2JZ unit is known for the same.

Specifications

The only significant difference from older Supra generations is the fact the GR Supra is a two-seater. While the ZF automatic is one of the best automatics, currently, on the market, Toyota listened to the cries of enthusiasts and introduced a manual version for the 2022 model year, making the GR Supra that much more engaging and faithful to its sports car roots.

3 Acura NSX

Top Speed: 190 Mph

The second-generation Acura NSX (Honda NSX outside of North America) is a classic case of a car that’s too ahead of its time. The original NSX was a much simpler story with a transversely-mounted, naturally-aspirated V-6 and a lightweight chassis dialed in by legendary F1 driver, Ayrton Senna. It made supercars reliable and prompted the likes of Ferrari to go back to the drawing board. In a way, the new NSX may have done the same as it is the first mid-engine sports car to feature hybrid propulsion.

Acura NSX Specs

Unfortunately for Honda, this will be appreciated years after the model is out of production. Between 2016 and 2022, just 2,908 units, 350 of which are the final-year, NSX Type-S model. Prices for these have never dropped under six figures, making this, potentially, the second most collectible JDM sports car from the modern era.

2 Nissan GT-R

Top Speed: 193-199 Mph

Godzilla had to be on the list for obvious reasons. When the R35 GT-R debuted in 2009 (2007 for Japan), it literally, changed the game. It outperformed cars twice its sticker price and once again, lived up to the nickname. The fact it was produced for so long and was still relevant only cemented the legacy of the giant-slaying Nissan and prices are already starting to reflect that. Many fans of the old-school Skyline were not happy about the lack of a manual transmission, but at the level the R35 is competing, a quick-shifting automatic made more sense.

Specifications

In R-Mode, the BorgWarner-Nissan-developed DCT is able to change gears in as little as 0.15 seconds. The ATTESSA, all-wheel-drive system provides the best possible traction for all weather conditions, making the GT-R one of the most practical high-performance cars you can get.

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1 Lexus LFA

Top Speed: 202 Mph

Every nation boasts a high-performance model that transcends raw figures. Such models are praised for their technology and the driving experience they offer, and when it comes to Japanese sports cars, the Lexus LFA is the ultimate, JDM driver’s car. Yamaha is usually Toyota’s go-to partner when it comes to high-performance engines and the LFA is no exception. The highlight of the Japanese sports car is its V-10 engine, which thanks to Yamaha’s involvement, sounds like nothing else.

Specifications

By now, you probably know that it can rev from idle to the redline in 0.6 seconds, necessitating a digital rev counter (since an analog one can’t keep up). The LFA should have arrived about five years earlier, but mid-development, it was decided to switch from an aluminum chassis to carbon fiber. Development costs were astronomical and despite the hefty price figure, every LFA was sold at a loss. According to the latest report, some of the 500 Lexus LFA examples still aren’t sold to this day.