I’m a Car Expert: 4 Most Improved Japanese Cars That Are Now Worth Your Money
Written by
Josephine Nesbit
Edited by
Cory Dudak
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Several Japanese car brands are some of the best in the industry, but not every model has always lived up to their reputation.
Some vehicles have struggled in the past with reliability issues, dated interiors or higher-than-average ownership costs. In recent years, though, a handful of these models have made serious improvements. Below are the most improved Japanese cars that are finally worth your money.
Mazda 3
- MSRP: $25,335-$37,185
- Consumer Rating: 78/100
- Quality and Reliability: 77/100
- Driving Experience: 77/100
- Resale: 78/100
“Ten to 20 years ago, Mazda, in general, was not known for making reliable vehicles,” Melanie Musson, auto industry expert with CarInsurance.org, wrote in an email. ” The Mazda 3, in particular, was prone to major breakdowns thanks to transmission failure.”
Its biggest issue was water getting into the braking system, causing rust and leading to corrosion and weakness. That’s changed recently.
“Its transmission issues have been worked through, and the brake system is protected from water. Other improvements include advanced safety features and Skyactiv.” Mazda developed its Skyactiv technology to improve fuel efficiency and engine output.
Mitsubishi Outlander
- MSRP: $31,535-$45,035
- Consumer Rating: 84/100
- Quality and Reliability: 82/100
- Driving Experience: 88/100
- Resale: 77/100
The Mitsubishi Outlander has been on sale in the U.S. since 2003. The latest model was codeveloped with Nissan based on the Rogue, according to CarBuzz. The first generation lacked power and was only on the market for four years before its redesign.
“The old version had the reputation of being kind of cheesy and behind the times, but now it’s pretty much just a rebadged Nissan Rogue with a massive upgrade on technology,” explained Alex Black, chief marketing officer at EpicVIN.
Subaru Forester
- MSRP: $31,415-$43,015
- Consumer Rating: 83/100
- Quality and Reliability: 83/100
- Driving Experience: 77/100
- Resale: 85/100
“Over the past decade, Subaru has turned the Forester from a car that notoriously had reliability issues into one of the most dependable vehicles on the market,” Musson wrote. “Older models had issues with head gaskets, electrical systems and oil consumption. Those problems aren’t showing up in newer models.”
A notable improvement for 2025 was its interior soundproofing. Musson noted that it’s now much easier for passengers to enjoy conversation or music without the engine and road noise.
Nissan Pathfinder
- MSRP: $37,790-$50,030
- Consumer Rating: 82/100
- Quality and Reliability: 81/100
- Driving Experience: 83/100
- Resale: 79/100
The earliest Pathfinders date back to the 1980s, and each redesign was an updated interpretation of the mid-size body-on-frame SUV concept, CarBuzz noted. The Pathfinder got a major overhaul for the 2008 to 2012 model years before another redesign in 2013.
“The older versions were clunky and had the CVT problems, but the new redesign addressed all of it — improved transmission, nicer cabin and much more reliability,” Black explained.
Editor’s note: MSRP data for all models was pulled from Kelley Blue Book, while Consumer Rating, Quality and Reliability, Driving Experience and Resale data was sourced from J.D. Power.
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