10 Japanese Cars That Are Way Faster Than They Look

Japan is one of the biggest hub of car manufacturers which produces a wide range of cars for the ever increasing market. Here are the 10 Japanese cars that are way faster than they look…

Overview

The Japanese automobile industry is the birthplace to many legendary sports cars like the Honda S2000, the Nissan GT-R, the Lexus LFA, the Acura NSX and list goes on. These cars are insanely fast which are designed to ooze speed even when standing still. As a general rule, the vehicles that place a high priority on dynamic performance are frequently designed to look the part. However, some cars have strong engines hidden inside of unassuming bodies for a variety of reasons. Until you press all the way into the gas, they appear slow.

Ranging from full size sedans to sports wagons and minivans, there are many fantabulous Japanese sleeper cars too. They blend in well with the grocery shoppers thanks to their bland and unassuming exterior styling. However, they can overtake more obvious performance cars on the open roads, unlike the typical family vehicle. Let’s take a look around 10 fast JDM cars which you shouldn’t judge by their looks.

10. 2010 Nissan Altima 3.5 SR Sedan(147mph)

Though it is a perfect family sedan, the Altima 3.5 SR is a fun car to drive. It offers a well-equipped interior with comfortable leather seats and a clear rear view camera, and it carries its 3357 pounds weight brilliantly. Now coming to the main part, it has a 3.5L V6 engine under the hood and pairs well with the variable transmission. The engine produces 270hp and 258lb-ft of torque to the front wheels resulting in neck-snapping acceleration. The so called family sedan goes from 0-60mph in 5.9 seconds while the quarter mile flashes by in 14.5 seconds.

9. Mazda Mazdaspeed6(149mph)

The Mazdaspeed6 was designed for the adrenaline junkies who like their adrenaline with a dash of comfort. Unlike the first generation Mazda6, it lacks the performance defining exterior look that it usually had. Under the hood, it has a 2.3L I-4 engine hooked to a 6-speed manual transmission. An output of 274hp and 280lb-ft of torque is sent to Mazda’s Active Torque Split AWD system. The car does 0-60mph in just 5.4 seconds and finishes the quarter mile in 14 seconds at 99mph. It’s handling is superb which makes it more joyful to drive.

8. 2010 Acura TL SH-AWD (134 Mph)

The TL SH-AWD was brought into the market as the top trim of the fourth generation of the of the Acura TL lineup to replace the TL Type-S. In 2010 it was made available with a 3.5L V6 engine under the hood with a 6-speed manual transmission.305hp and 273lb-ft of torque flow to the Super Handling AWD system. With this engine stats the comfy sedan is capable of hitting 0-60mph in 5.2 seconds and the quarter-mile in 13.8 seconds. The top speed of the car is limited to 134mph which is not too bad for a 3.5L V6.

7. 2021 Toyota Avalon TRD (130 Mph)

The Avalon, Toyota’s flagship sedan that debuted in 1994, has remained a dependable and potent family vehicle with a spacious, upscale interior. For the 2020 model year, a TRD version with an improved chassis and a sport-tuned suspension was added to the lineup. This car is powered by a 3.5L V6 engine which puts out 301hp and 267lb-ft of torque. With an 8-speed automatic transmission and FWD system, it can launch the car from 0-60mph in just 6 seconds. The car takes 14.6 seconds to complete the quarter-mile. It’s top speed is electronically limited to 130mph.

6. 1996 Mitsubishi Galant VR-4 (150 Mph)

The Galant VR-4 was the top model for the sixth to eighth generation of Mitsubishi Galant (Viscous Realtime 4WD). In 1996, it was offered in both a 4-door sedan and a 5-door station wagon as part of its final generation. A larger engine allowed for a maximum output of 276hp and 268lb-ft of torque. Routed with a 5-speed manual transmission the car hits 60mph in 5.5 seconds and crosses the quarter-mile mark in just 13.9 seconds. The automatic gearbox makes the car more advanced technologically but it also makes the car slower.

5. 2022 Toyota Camry TRD (135 Mph)

The Camry TRD was unveiled in 2019 for the 2020 model year and is based on the SE trim. A long list of standard safety features, a retuned suspension, and improved brakes are all included with the 2022 Camry TRD. Under the hood, the 3.5L V6 engine generates ridiculous 301hp and 267lb-ft of torque. Channeled by an 8-speed automatic gearbox, the TRD drives on the front wheels and is sent to 60mph in 5.6 seconds. It does the quarter-mile in 14.2 seconds and has a top speed of 135mph.

4. Toyota Caldina GT-T

The second-generation Toyota Caldina station wagon, which debuted in 1997, offered various powertrain choices based on the trim level and the market. It weighs around 3200 pounds and carrying a 2L turbocharged I-4 engine, the Caldina GT-T was the top of the line model. It also received a comparable 4WD system to the Celica GT-Four and an optional electronic stability control. It produces a respectful 256hp and 240lb-ft of torque on pressing the accelerator. The manual version of this car could hit 60mph in 6.4 seconds while the automatic transmission could do the same in 6.5 seconds.

3. Lexus GS F (168 Mph)

The Lexus GS offers a deluxe interior and excellent road manners. The GS F, which was introduced in 2016 as a performance model, features a mind boggling 5-liter V8 engine with 467hp and 389lb-ft of torque. Despite its heavy weight, this car manages to hit 60mph in the speedometer in just 4.4 seconds. This car can go up to an impressive top speed of 168mph. Big, good-looking, powerful, luxury interiors, and loaded with high-tech features, the Lexus GS F is a perfect blend of comfort and fun for the whole family.

2. Honda Civic Type R EK9 (146 Mph)

The most recent Honda Civic Type R has a 306 horsepower turbo-4 engine that enables it to reach 60 mph in 4.8 seconds. But even non-enthusiasts can’t mistake it for a sloth thanks to its aggressive styling. Due to the fact that it was so similar to the standard model, the Civic Type R EK9 was more of a sleeper. However, it was capable of hitting 0-60mph in 6.7 seconds and running the quarter-mile in less than 15 seconds. It was powered by a 1.6L engine rated at 182hp.

1. Mazda Mazdaspeed3

The Mazdasped3 was launched in 2006 as the performance version of Mazda3 5-door hatchback. Both the cars were powered by a 2.3L turbocharged inline-4 engine. However, the Mazdaspeed3 is tuned to deliver an output of 263hp and 280lb-ft of torque. It has a limited-slip differential, four-wheel power disc brakes with ABS, and a sport-tuned suspension. The second generation Mazdaspeed3 can hit 60 mph in 5.2 seconds and clear the quarter-mile in 13.9 seconds at 102 mph.

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