These Are The Amazing Japanese Off-Roaders We Can't Buy!

You know, being based in the US, we have some of the most capable off-roaders in the industry, but there is still some really cool stuff we're missing out on, and Dad, where are we at today? We're in Tokyo, at the Mobility Show, and we are featuring Forbidden Fruit Tommy, cars that we would love to get, but we don't because, well, we can't get it at all. Yeah, that's right. So we are looking at three examples of some fantastic four-wheel drives that a lot of the rest of the world gets that we don't in the States, and this is where we're starting. This is the Suzuki Jimny, and if you've ever heard of the side-by-side, you're on the right track as to what the Jimny is. Yeah, you know, we had the Suzuki as a brand in the country until about 10 years ago when they pulled out, but we never did get the Jimny, even though the rest of the world did, and I don't understand that, Tommy. It's basically like a baby Wrangler. That's right, exactly. So let's talk about some of the tech. It's got a ladder frame like a Wrangler, it's got a solid rear axle and a solid front axle like a Wrangler, and it's got a true four-wheel drive system with the low range. It's just been shrunk down. Yeah, you know, I think there's this belief that Americans don't like small cars. I think Smart kind of disproved that, or maybe it didn't because it's not in the country anymore, but, you know, I would love a small four-wheel drive like this, especially one that's got like proven technology, you know, nothing fancy, but just something that's been around forever and that works. Let's talk about the specs on this little beast, a 1.5 liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder with a five-speed manual transmission. It's got about 100 horsepower. So it's not a very high-powered vehicle, but if you want to look down here, Dad, look, it's got true skid plates. It's got recovery points, solid axles down there, the most adorable 15-inch wheels you've ever seen. And I've seen these, especially like in Australia, there's some folks that really kit these out with rock rails and lift kits and fairly big tires, and they look fantastic, very capable, and they never made their way to the States. As the British say, it's just dying for some knobbly tires, something with a little bit more bite to it. Does this come as a four-door or just as a two-door, do you know? You know, Dad, I think they just revealed a four-door variant, if I'm not mistaken. This is a Sierra trim, and they're quite expensive. They're not as cheap as you'd think. So the Wrangler in the U.S. starts at about $30,000. Here in Japan, this also starts at about the equivalent of $30,000. So it's not as affordable as you might think, considering it's a couple feet shorter than even a two-door Wrangler. But I love the look, I love the design, I love the capability. These things go everywhere, and I think it's just fantastic. I mean, you know, if this was America, throw in a winch, throw in a big old bull bar, maybe a two-inch lift, some much more knobby tires, and of course, maybe a better bumper, and you'd have yourself quite the off-roader. Suzuki, bring it, and they will buy it. That's the goal, Dad. That's the goal. I mean, it wouldn't, I'm not sure it would pass, like, U.S. safety standards, and you've got the emissions stuff you have to consider. There was some talk in the EU, if I remember recently, about emissions in the Jimny. So yeah, I don't think it's coming to the States anytime soon, but fingers crossed. If this video goes viral, maybe it will. Look, I mean, for God's sakes, you know, they brought in the Kazashi. Why wouldn't you bring in this instead? I know, I know, I know. All right, well, what's the next car? It was silly. Well, the next car is just over there, and it's something you wouldn't expect. Hey, Tommy, I want that one. Right over there. Look at that. So we're here at the, as my dad said, the Japan Mobility Show, where they've got some really cool concepts, and Mitsubishi, in places other than the U.S., really does some cool off-roaders, and that certainly would be awesome if they made that. That's a DX concept, but really, it could be the next Delica. Yeah, but let's talk about the current Delica, because this is a really interesting van. Now, what we're looking at here is the angriest, tiniest little van you ever did see. This is the new Mitsubishi Delica Mini. Looks like a junkyard dog with little teeth showing right there. Yeah, look at that. It's got these, like, these fangs in the front. Yeah. Now, you're probably thinking, that's not an off-roader. It's some little front-wheel drive cube thing, except the Delica Mini has an actual all-wheel drive system, and some of the best use of space of any vehicle on the planet. Can we open the door? Can we show them the inside? Now, the Delica Mini, Dad, is what they call a K-car. So this is a classification of vehicle here in Japan of ultra-small, ultra-efficient vehicles, and they're designed to fit in small spaces and pay a lower tax on. What'd you push there? That. It didn't open. Oh, there you go. Look at this, Dad. It's got, even this little van has an off-road mode. You see that? Yeah, yeah. Really cool. So, in the back, you've got these almost reclining chairs. Look at that. Here, I'll get in. Wait, weren't you going to tell me that? I bet you'll have a ton of room back here. Oh, look at that. Unbelievable. So this car is smaller than a Mini Cooper, and I have room for days, like three, four feet of legroom. There's a lot to be said for driving a box. It's incredible. This is incredible. You know what else I love? I love, you know, you've got WeatherTech, but I love that. That's like a real rubber floor mat. WeatherTech is fine, but that's so much nicer. Yeah, I mean, it's amazing how much space they are able to package into such a small vehicle. Look at that cute little mud flap, Tommy. Look, look, oh, it's such a cute little mud flap. The world's smallest mud flap. This one's a hybrid. Now, total horsepower on this vehicle is about 60 horsepower, which is not a lot of power, but keep in mind, you know, it'll still do 75, 80 miles an hour pretty comfortably. It's got good space in the trunk. I got to say, it's the smallest car with the largest name across the back. Yeah, really like the Delica Mini, and this is a good case of a vehicle I wish they would bring into the States. I'm not sure there's a huge market for it, but, you know, it just goes to show that, especially here in Japan, they have such creative thinking about problem solving. Yeah, bring it and they will buy it. That's what I see. How about over here? What do you think of this guy? Yeah, this is even cooler. Now, this is the full-size Delica, and this one's been outfitted with this neat Rally Art livery, and this is a true four-wheel drive, all-wheel drive van with a nice set of knobby tires, a lift kit on the suspension, and a real off-road capability. Oh, man, look at those tires. Those are, well, those are the kind of knobby tires that the Suzuki should have. Those are Yokohama... Geolanders. Yeah, exactly. A true MT tire. As we make our way along the side here, you can see that we've got that roof rack there, Delica-branded, with that spare on the roof. How about the inside? Let's check it out. Yeah, can I grab the camera here? Yeah, show them the inside. So, you can see big, comfortable captain's chairs. You've got the automatic transmission selector there. I mean, it's a comfortable, capable vehicle in here. What's up with the furry Rally Art carpets? Yeah, that's pretty interesting. Yeah, exactly. Yeah, they're really into, like, their suede and... How much room is in the back? Do you want to try it? I think it's got a lot of room. All right, give it a shot. Let's open it up. We're not sure we're supposed to be sitting in cars here in Tokyo. Yeah, so you can see here. I won't sit in it because they've given us the stink eye, but lots of room. Three row. Please hop in before I close it already. Here's the thing, Dad, right? In the U.S., we don't consider vans as being very capable. The most capable we get is, like, the Sienna Woodland, but this is an awesome option for folks that live... How's the back? Let's see how much room there is. Are you worried about it? Tommy's worried about it. Oh, come on. Let's show them the back. Is it huge? Yeah, it's got three rows, so... Yeah, it's pretty huge. All right, but I got to say, Tommy, if that concept right there is the next Delica, which is a plug-in hybrid, by the way, seating for six, that's going to be pretty awesome because that thing is, like, rolling on... Look at those tires. Those things are probably, like, 37s or something. Yeah, so Mitsubishi guys built some really interesting, innovative off-roaders here for other markets that we don't get in the States, and petition your local dealer. Let's get some cool Mitsubishis out to the U.S. I think I like the Mini the best. The Mini's the coolest! It is the coolest. All right, we got one more to show you. Let's cut to the next manufacturer. And lastly, we've got the Toyota EPU concept, a truck which just rolled out here in Japan. This is a Maverick-sized truck which previews the future of Toyota EV pickups. Really interesting little truck here. You got a full LED front end. Looks really, really futuristic. Toyota badging there. And hopefully, this truck's going to make it to production with something really, really cool. So, Dad, what do you think? A unibody little truck. Probably a four-foot bed. You want to take a little peek on the inside there? You got that yoke-style steering wheel. Yeah, so this was designed in California at Coyote Studios. Yeah. So it's got a very American feel to it, right? It looks a little bit Caribbean. Looks like a Caribbean and a Santa Cruz got together and after a passionate night of trucking, this is what came to be, Tommy. All right, we're getting kicked out of here, Dad. But this should be a fully electric, electric bev concept here. And I think it rides on a skateboard concept with a, thank you, yeah, with a potentially all-wheel drive system. You want to end on Land Cruiser, Tommy, since we're not getting kicked out of Land Cruiser? Yeah, for sure. That's right behind you. I mean that one. Oh, yeah. And this is a vehicle that's not forbidden fruit here in the U.S., the new Toyota Land Cruiser, which is the Prado here, I believe, Dad. It says Land Cruiser on it. But this is, of course, not the 300 Series Land Cruiser. This is the 250 Series Land Cruiser with the 2.4 liter hybrid engine and, of course, a proper four-wheel drive here shown with an interesting, can I see this? Yeah, with the interesting yoke, huh? Yeah. Open it up. There you go. Why don't you show them the yoke? Yeah, look at that. We don't get that in the U.S. I wonder what's going on with that crazy steering wheel. What do you think of the color? I love it. This is, I think, a first edition Land Cruiser. But it's got the two-tone yellow with the white roof. It's got the knobby tires. Yeah, this thing is really, really cool, Dad. You know what? I feel like we broke a lot of rules here at Tokyo that kicked us off the stage. And this one is, by the way, the SE. This is another concept. It's a Toyota Land Cruiser concept called the Land Cruiser SE. And, yeah, really cool design. Very, maybe, on-road worthy, right? For a Land Cruiser. But definitely unique. All right, well, guys, thank you for joining us here from the Toyota stand at the Japan Mobility Show. And we've got a lot of videos that we're producing here. The coolest one so far is, of course, Mazda. And if you want to see the new Mazda RX-7 concept, head on over to altfl.com. We'll see you at the next one. Ciao.