Japan March 2026: Toyota RAV4, bZ4X, Nissan Leaf shine
The Toyota RAV4 reaches its best ranking in over 3 years.
In the all important month of March marking the end of the Financial Year and filled with promotions, new vehicle sales in Japan edge down -1.8% year-on-year to 490,640. This means the year-to-date tally is now down -2.5% to 1,253,357. Toyota (-6.4%) suffers and falls to 27.7% share vs. 29.4% so far this year. The Top 7 is unchanged on last month with Suzuki (+0.5%) stable at #2 followed by Honda (-8.2%) in difficulty. Like last month Daihatsu (+24.3%) and Mitsubishi (+30.1%) are in great shape. Nissan (-0.1%) is stable while Mazda (-6.5%) recedes. Below, large YoY increases are rare with BYD up 88.8% to #24, Alfa Romeo up 143.1% to #28, Lamborghini up 62% to #29 and Hyundai up 137.3% to #30. None of these carmakers surpass 0.1% share though.
In regular models ranking, the Toyota Yaris/Cross (-17.4%) remains on top while the Toyota Corolla/Cross (-21.5%) is back above the Toyota Sienta (-7.7%) for 2nd place. The Honda Freed (-1.6%) and Toyota Raize (+43.9%) exchange rankings vs. last month to #4 and #5 respectively. The Honda Vezel (+16.8%) and Toyota Voxy (+16.6%) also shine in the remainder of the Top 10. The Toyota RAV4 (+193.4%) is pushed up to #12 thanks to the new generation, the nameplate’s highest ranking since February 2023 (#12 also). The Suzuki Jimny Wagon (+67.8%) also makes itself noticed. The Toyota bZ4X (+9027%) seems to have finally found its groove at home and reaches a record #26, just as the Nissan Leaf (+583.2%) is boosted by the new model to #29, the nameplate’s best ranking since September 2021 (#28).
The new generation Nissan Leaf cracks the Top 30 in March.
As for kei cars, four of them outsell the Toyota Yaris/Cross, reiterating the significant footprint this segment commands. The Honda N-BOX (-9.7%) and Suzuki Spacia (-2.6%) dominate but are both down, whereas the next five models grow by the double digits. The Mitsubishi Delica Mini/eK (+54.1%), Daihatsu Move (+53.4%) and Nissan Roox (+40.8%) are the most dynamic. The Top 12 is identical to the Q1 order. Finally, looking at foreign models, the Mini lineup (-6%) sells over twice as much as the next car, the VW T-Cross (-24.7%). The VW Golf (-49.1%) implodes and rounds out the podium above a surging Mercedes GLB (+29.5%). The Mercedes C-Class (+12.4%) and BMW 2 Series (+6.9%) also progress below, with the Porsche Macan signing its first ever Top 20 finish, landing directly at #12.
Previous month: Japan February 2026: Daihatsu (+18.5%), Mitsubishi (+14.3%) impress
One year ago: Japan March 2025: Sales continue recovery at +10.7%
Full March 2026 Top 50 brands, Top 50 regular models, Top 31 All kei cars and Top 20 foreign models below.
Japan March 2026 – brands:
| Pos | Brand | Mar-26 | % | /25 | Feb | 2026 | % | /25 | Pos | FY25 |
| 1 | Toyota | 136,139 | 27.7% | – 6.4% | 1 | 368,900 | 29.4% | – 6.1% | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | Suzuki | 72,533 | 14.8% | + 0.5% | 2 | 197,094 | 15.7% | – 2.0% | 2 | 2 |
| 3 | Honda | 70,037 | 14.3% | – 8.2% | 3 | 173,864 | 13.9% | – 5.5% | 3 | 3 |
| 4 | Daihatsu | 62,491 | 12.7% | + 24.3% | 4 | 156,787 | 12.5% | + 18.2% | 4 | 4 |
| 5 | Nissan | 52,374 | 10.7% | – 0.1% | 5 | 129,045 | 10.3% | – 3.2% | 5 | 5 |
| 6 | Mazda | 18,557 | 3.8% | – 6.5% | 6 | 43,501 | 3.5% | – 11.7% | 6 | 6 |
| 7 | Mitsubishi | 16,419 | 3.3% | + 30.1% | 7 | 38,121 | 3.0% | + 14.8% | 7 | 7 |
| 8 | Isuzu | 9,917 | 2.0% | + 7.2% | 9 | 21,952 | 1.8% | + 5.6% | 9 | 10 |
| 9 | Subaru | 8,954 | 1.8% | – 32.6% | 8 | 25,068 | 2.0% | – 21.6% | 8 | 8 |
| 10 | Lexus | 6,062 | 1.2% | – 32.0% | 10 | 18,603 | 1.5% | – 13.0% | 10 | 9 |
| 11 | Mercedes | 5,249 | 1.1% | – 11.6% | 11 | 11,792 | 0.9% | – 9.3% | 11 | 11 |
| 12 | Hino | 4,039 | 0.8% | – 8.5% | 12 | 9,713 | 0.8% | – 10.6% | 12 | 13 |
| 13 | Mitsubishi Fuso | 3,994 | 0.8% | + 15.4% | 13 | 9,124 | 0.7% | + 21.6% | 13 | 14 |
| 14 | BMW | 3,728 | 0.8% | – 17.5% | 14 | 7,273 | 0.6% | – 18.8% | 14 | 12 |
| 15 | Volkswagen | 3,127 | 0.6% | – 29.4% | 15 | 6,567 | 0.5% | – 33.5% | 15 | 15 |
| 16 | Audi | 2,488 | 0.5% | – 1.2% | 16 | 5,157 | 0.4% | – 2.0% | 16 | 16 |
| 17 | Mini | 2,269 | 0.5% | – 1.5% | 17 | 4,479 | 0.4% | – 6.0% | 17 | 17 |
| 18 | UD Trucks | 1,716 | 0.3% | – 3.8% | 18 | 3,617 | 0.3% | + 0.4% | 18 | 18 |
| 19 | Volvo | 1,534 | 0.3% | + 5.9% | 20 | 3,121 | 0.2% | + 2.2% | 19 | 19 |
| 20 | Land Rover | 980 | 0.2% | – 7.2% | 21 | 2,007 | 0.2% | – 25.0% | 21 | 22 |
| 21 | Porsche | 963 | 0.2% | – 32.5% | 19 | 2,852 | 0.2% | – 12.5% | 20 | 20 |
| 22 | Jeep | 793 | 0.2% | – 17.1% | 24 | 1,565 | 0.1% | – 31.5% | 22 | 21 |
| 23 | Peugeot | 654 | 0.1% | – 16.9% | 22 | 1,549 | 0.1% | – 6.2% | 23 | 23 |
| 24 | BYD | 625 | 0.1% | + 88.8% | 23 | 1,271 | 0.1% | + 110.1% | 24 | 25 |
| 25 | Renault | 533 | 0.1% | – 1.1% | 25 | 996 | 0.1% | – 2.4% | 25 | 27 |
| 26 | Citroen | 430 | 0.1% | + 8.3% | 27 | 748 | 0.1% | – 3.1% | 27 | 26 |
| 27 | Fiat | 363 | 0.1% | – 3.5% | 26 | 760 | 0.1% | – 15.5% | 26 | 24 |
| 28 | Alfa Romeo | 248 | 0.1% | + 143.1% | 28 | 502 | 0.0% | + 124.1% | 28 | 28 |
| 29 | Lamborghini | 149 | 0.0% | + 62.0% | 30 | 279 | 0.0% | + 32.9% | 31 | 31 |
| 30 | Hyundai | 121 | 0.0% | + 137.3% | 31 | 291 | 0.0% | + 120.5% | 30 | 30 |
| 31 | Ferrari | 99 | 0.0% | – 33.6% | 29 | 333 | 0.0% | – 0.6% | 29 | 29 |
| 32 | Maserati | 81 | 0.0% | – 39.6% | 35 | 152 | 0.0% | – 30.6% | 32 | 32 |
| 33 | Bentley | 73 | 0.0% | + 19.7% | 36 | 125 | 0.0% | + 14.7% | 35 | 37 |
| 34 | Scania | 62 | 0.0% | – 8.8% | 34 | 132 | 0.0% | – 3.6% | 34 | 34 |
| 35 | Chevrolet | 54 | 0.0% | + 22.7% | 37 | 121 | 0.0% | + 23.5% | 36 | 41 |
| 36 | Aston Martin | 43 | 0.0% | + 2.4% | 38 | 101 | 0.0% | + 3.1% | 38 | 39 |
| 37 | Cadillac | 38 | 0.0% | – 46.5% | 42 | 69 | 0.0% | – 53.7% | 39 | 36 |
| 38 | Alpina | 30 | 0.0% | – 23.1% | 32 | 137 | 0.0% | + 98.6% | 33 | 38 |
| 39 | Jaguar | 24 | 0.0% | – 79.1% | 49 | 25 | 0.0% | – 84.6% | 44 | 44 |
| 40 | Abarth | 23 | 0.0% | – 82.0% | 39 | 68 | 0.0% | – 78.9% | 40 | 33 |
| 41 | DS | 23 | 0.0% | – 61.0% | 41 | 53 | 0.0% | – 60.2% | 41 | 40 |
| 42 | Ford | 18 | 0.0% | + 5.9% | 40 | 52 | 0.0% | + 20.9% | 42 | 43 |
| 43 | Rolls-Royce | 16 | 0.0% | – 48.4% | 33 | 111 | 0.0% | + 11.0% | 37 | 35 |
| 44 | McLaren | 9 | 0.0% | – 65.4% | 43 | 39 | 0.0% | – 50.0% | 43 | 42 |
| 45 | Lotus | 8 | 0.0% | – 57.9% | 44 | 18 | 0.0% | – 78.6% | 45 | 45 |
| 46 | GMC | 3 | 0.0% | + 200.0% | 48 | 4 | 0.0% | + 0.0% | 48 | 48 |
| 47 | Dodge | 2 | 0.0% | – 81.8% | 45 | 8 | 0.0% | – 71.4% | 46 | 46 |
| 48 | Chrysler | 1 | 0.0% | – 50.0% | 47 | 3 | 0.0% | + 0.0% | 49 | 52 |
| 49 | Morgan | 1 | 0.0% | + 0.0% | – | 1 | 0.0% | – 50.0% | 51 | 51 |
| – | Others | 2,546 | 0.5% | + 101.4% | – | 5,197 | 0.4% | + 136.9% | – | – |
Japan March 2026 – regular cars:
| Pos | Model | Mar-26 | /25 | Feb | 2026 | /25 | Pos | FY25 |
| 1 | Toyota Yaris/Cross | 13,607 | – 17.4% | 1 | 36,079 | – 24.8% | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | Toyota Corolla/Cross | 12,835 | – 21.5% | 3 | 31,752 | – 28.9% | 2 | 2 |
| 3 | Toyota Sienta | 11,674 | – 7.7% | 2 | 31,589 | – 3.6% | 3 | 3 |
| 4 | Honda Freed | 10,932 | – 1.6% | 5 | 26,487 | – 4.1% | 5 | 6 |
| 5 | Toyota Raize | 10,646 | + 43.9% | 4 | 28,611 | + 29.0% | 4 | 4 |
| 6 | Honda Vezel | 9,519 | + 16.8% | 11 | 22,273 | + 14.1% | 7 | 13 |
| 7 | Nissan Note | 9,169 | – 8.4% | 10 | 21,724 | – 17.7% | 8 | 10 |
| 8 | Toyota Voxy | 8,580 | + 16.6% | 6 | 23,966 | + 19.5% | 6 | 9 |
| 9 | Toyota Noah | 8,075 | – 5.0% | 9 | 21,403 | – 1.9% | 10 | 8 |
| 10 | Nissan Serena | 7,794 | – 17.9% | 8 | 21,281 | – 9.0% | 11 | 11 |
| 11 | Toyota Aqua | 7,738 | – 18.8% | 14 | 18,602 | – 21.0% | 13 | 12 |
| 12 | Toyota RAV4 | 7,513 | + 193.4% | 19 | 13,170 | + 86.0% | 20 | 25 |
| 13 | Toyota Alphard | 6,462 | – 21.5% | 12 | 20,528 | – 21.4% | 12 | 7 |
| 14 | Honda Fit | 6,367 | – 9.2% | 20 | 13,687 | – 8.2% | 18 | 19 |
| 15 | Toyota Roomy | 6,336 | – 15.3% | 7 | 21,478 | – 0.3% | 9 | 5 |
| 16 | Suzuki Jimny Wagon | 6,151 | + 67.8% | 13 | 18,367 | + 119.3% | 14 | 21 |
| 17 | Toyota Harrier | 5,964 | – 16.7% | 15 | 15,825 | – 14.9% | 16 | 18 |
| 18 | Honda StepWGN | 5,804 | – 16.1% | 16 | 15,833 | – 2.7% | 15 | 15 |
| 19 | Suzuki Solio | 5,528 | + 9.6% | 17 | 14,482 | – 10.9% | 17 | 17 |
| 20 | Toyota Prius | 5,228 | – 46.3% | 18 | 13,650 | – 47.1% | 19 | 14 |
| 21 | Toyota Crown | 4,287 | – 27.2% | 22 | 11,822 | – 25.5% | 21 | 16 |
| 22 | Honda ZR-V | 3,823 | + 40.9% | 34 | 6,272 | – 14.7% | 32 | 32 |
| 23 | Mitsubishi Delica D5 | 3,699 | + 34.1% | 21 | 9,150 | + 27.9% | 23 | 29 |
| 24 | Mazda CX-5 | 3,617 | + 3.5% | 25 | 8,830 | + 3.5% | 24 | 28 |
| 25 | Mazda2 | 3,530 | + 19.4% | 28 | 7,006 | – 3.2% | 27 | 30 |
| 26 | Toyota bZ4X | 3,377 | + 9027.0% | 30 | 7,098 | + 8250.6% | 26 | n/a |
| 27 | Nissan X-Trail | 3,114 | + 10.9% | 27 | 6,841 | – 3.7% | 28 | 34 |
| 28 | Toyota Vellfire | 2,922 | + 0.3% | 26 | 8,629 | – 2.1% | 25 | 22 |
| 29 | Nissan Leaf | 2,514 | + 583.2% | 41 | 5,065 | + 347.0% | 35 | n/a |
| 30 | Suzuki Xbee | 2,348 | + 139.8% | 29 | 6,626 | + 123.9% | 30 | 38 |
| 31 | Subaru Impreza | 2,253 | – 37.6% | 31 | 6,775 | – 25.8% | 29 | 24 |
| 32 | Subaru Forester | 2,203 | – 41.0% | 24 | 6,503 | – 19.6% | 31 | 23 |
| 33 | Daihatsu Rocky | 2,182 | + 50.5% | 35 | 5,300 | + 18.0% | 34 | 37 |
| 34 | Suzuki Swift | 2,091 | – 23.0% | 32 | 5,440 | – 29.1% | 33 | 26 |
| 35 | Toyota Land Cruiser W | 1,917 | – 51.3% | 23 | 9,350 | – 25.6% | 22 | 20 |
| 36 | Lexus NX350H | 1,828 | – 24.7% | 36 | 4,679 | – 30.4% | 36 | 33 |
| 37 | Mazda CX-30 | 1,664 | – 8.2% | 39 | 3,968 | – 13.5% | 40 | 40 |
| 38 | Lexus LBX | 1,614 | – 31.6% | 37 | 4,551 | – 21.4% | 38 | 31 |
| 39 | Mazda3 | 1,459 | – 4.3% | 40 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 41 |
| 40 | Honda WR-V | 1,374 | – 71.9% | 33 | 4,657 | – 57.4% | 37 | 27 |
| 41 | Mazda CX-60 | 1,298 | – 23.1% | 50 | 2,735 | n/a | 45 | 42 |
| 42 | Subaru Levorg | 1,289 | – 36.7% | 43 | 3,415 | – 25.5% | 41 | 39 |
| 43 | Honda Civic | 1,151 | – 60.0% | 38 | 4,035 | – 35.1% | 39 | 36 |
| 44 | Mazda MX-5 (Roadster) | 1,109 | – 34.3% | 44 | 2,837 | n/a | 43 | 43 |
| 45 | Mitsubishi Outlander | 1,095 | – 2.8% | 45 | 2,774 | n/a | 44 | 48 |
| 46 | Suzuki Fronx | 1,027 | – 60.7% | 42 | 3,208 | – 41.9% | 42 | 35 |
| 47 | Honda CR-V | 944 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| 48 | Toyota Hiace W | 848 | + 40.2% | 47 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 46 |
| 49 | Subaru Rex | 825 | + 255.6% | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| 50 | Daihatsu Thor | 781 | + 13.0% | 46 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Japan March 2026 – kei cars:
| Pos | Model | Mar-26 | /25 | Feb | 2026 | /25 | Pos | FY25 |
| 1 | Honda N-BOX | 21,342 | – 9.7% | 1 | 56,383 | – 4.2% | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | Suzuki Spacia | 16,039 | – 2.6% | 2 | 44,528 | – 5.4% | 2 | 2 |
| 3 | Daihatsu Move | 14,690 | + 53.4% | 3 | 36,623 | + 40.8% | 3 | 4 |
| 4 | Daihatsu Tanto | 14,393 | + 19.8% | 4 | 35,877 | – 1.4% | 4 | 3 |
| 5 | Nissan Roox | 11,768 | + 40.8% | 5 | 30,619 | + 39.0% | 5 | 7 |
| 6 | Suzuki Hustler | 9,225 | + 10.1% | 6 | 24,249 | – 1.8% | 6 | 5 |
| 7 | Mitsubishi Delica Mini/eK | 8,353 | + 54.1% | 8 | 19,171 | + 36.9% | 7 | 8 |
| 8 | Suzuki WagonR | 6,792 | + 0.6% | 7 | 17,335 | – 10.8% | 8 | 6 |
| 9 | Daihatsu Mira | 6,432 | + 9.4% | 10 | 15,493 | + 0.1% | 9 | 10 |
| 10 | Nissan Dayz | 5,433 | + 4.4% | 9 | 13,793 | – 0.2% | 10 | 13 |
| 11 | Suzuki Alto | 5,235 | + 4.1% | 11 | 13,698 | – 14.4% | 11 | 9 |
| 12 | Daihatsu Taft | 4,932 | – 14.2% | 12 | 12,575 | – 22.9% | 12 | 12 |
| 13 | Honda N-WGN | 2,906 | – 9.3% | 14 | 6,785 | – 8.2% | 14 | 14 |
| 14 | Suzuki Jimny | 2,683 | – 47.8% | 13 | 8,096 | – 43.5% | 13 | 11 |
| 15 | Suzuki Every Wagon | 2,094 | – 0.3% | 15 | 5,580 | + 2.0% | 15 | 15 |
| 16 | Mazda Flair Wagon | 1,799 | + 5.6% | 17 | 4,537 | – 1.2% | 17 | 18 |
| 17 | Honda N-ONE | 1,672 | – 0.1% | 16 | 4,796 | + 24.2% | 16 | 16 |
| 18 | Nissan Sakura | 959 | – 52.2% | 18 | 2,381 | – 60.7% | 18 | 17 |
| 19 | Toyota Pixis | 902 | + 15.6% | 19 | 2,254 | + 8.9% | 19 | 19 |
| 20 | Nissan Clipper Rio | 852 | + 21.7% | 21 | 2,037 | + 0.6% | 21 | 21 |
| 21 | Mazda Flair Crossover | 765 | + 2.7% | 22 | 1,785 | – 14.6% | 22 | 20 |
| 22 | Daihatsu Copen | 664 | + 83.4% | 20 | 2,088 | + 90.0% | 20 | 22 |
| 23 | Subaru Stella | 492 | n/a | 23 | 1,776 | n/a | 23 | 25 |
| 24 | Mazda Flair | 425 | + 145.7% | 25 | 1,106 | + 59.1% | 25 | 26 |
| 25 | Mazda Carol | 401 | + 27.3% | 24 | 1,161 | + 21.3% | 24 | 24 |
| 26 | Subaru Chiffon | 327 | – 37.5% | 28 | 696 | – 56.7% | 26 | 23 |
| 27 | Subaru Pleo | 176 | – 38.5% | 26 | 586 | – 21.2% | 27 | 27 |
| 28 | Mazda Scrum Wagon | 109 | – 14.2% | 30 | 263 | – 28.5% | 29 | 29 |
| 29 | Mitsubishi eK Cross EV | 104 | – 24.1% | 27 | 403 | – 37.7% | 28 | 28 |
| 30 | Toyota Copen GR Sport | 86 | – 21.1% | 29 | 262 | + 14.4% | 30 | 30 |
| 31 | Mitsubishi Town Box | 67 | – 34.3% | 31 | 139 | – 26.5% | 31 | 31 |
Japan March 2026 – foreign models:
| Pos | Model | Q1 2026 | /24 | Q4 | FY25 |
| 1 | Mini | 4,479 | – 6.0% | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | VW T-Cross | 2,070 | – 24.7% | 5 | 3 |
| 3 | VW Golf | 1,904 | – 49.1% | 3 | 2 |
| 4 | Mercedes GLB | 1,633 | + 29.5% | 6 | 7 |
| 5 | Mercedes G-Class | 1,618 | – 13.1% | 7 | 6 |
| 6 | Mercedes GLC | 1,560 | – 17.9% | 2 | 4 |
| 7 | Audi A3 | 1,449 | – 5.0% | 4 | 5 |
| 8 | Mercedes C-Class | 1,196 | + 12.4% | 15 | 12 |
| 9 | Volvo S/V/XC60 | 1,145 | – 10.0% | 12 | 13 |
| 10 | BMW 2 Series | 1,100 | + 6.9% | 10 | 9 |
| 11 | Mercedes GLA | 1,027 | – 7.8% | 13 | 14 |
| 12 | Porsche Macan | 1,026 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| 13 | BMW X3 | 1,008 | – 1.2% | 8 | 10 |
| 14 | BMW 1 Series | 1,006 | – 33.9% | 16 | 11 |
| 15 | BMW X1 | 972 | – 12.6% | 9 | 8 |
| 16 | Audi A5 | 950 | + 83.4% | 14 | 17 |
| 17 | Land Rover Defender 110 | 932 | – 23.1% | n/a | 18 |
| 18 | VW T-Roc | 894 | n/a | n/a | 21 |
| 19 | Volvo XC40 | 883 | – 19.7% | 17 | 19 |
| 20 | Mercedes E-Class | 830 | – 39.9% | 20 | 16 |
Source: JADA, JMVA, JAIA
This Post Has One Comment
At last – a good looking RAV. Good news, cuz we’ll be seeying this SUV often: World’s #1!
See similarities with the 2026 Citroen C5 Aircross.
Curious to see if the LEAF gradually will gain volume. Till now, Japan equals hybrids, not BEV.
If I recall well, the first LEAF had a couple of months in Japan with a similar volume (+/- 2.500 units a month) only to lose traction fairly quickly. Anecdotal volume in its homeland for many years.
A lot can change in 18 months: “Honda and Nissan to merge. In fact, Honda taking over Nissan!”
April 2026: Espinosa’s recovery plan for Nissan seems to works well vs the Honda CEO admitting he fxcked up.