Kei Truck Models ComparedSuzuki Carry, Honda Acty, Daihatsu Hijet, Subaru Sambar and Mitsubishi Minicab, side by side
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Which kei truck is right for you?
There is no single best kei truck — the right model depends on how you will use it. With long experience exporting Japanese vehicles, UCARWORLD helps you compare and import kei trucks, kei cars and kei vans directly from Japan. Suzuki Carry, Honda Acty, Daihatsu Hijet, Subaru Sambar and Mitsubishi Minicab are the best known mini trucks, and 4WD / 4x4 versions are popular for off-road and farm work.
Compare the Suzuki Carry kei truck, Daihatsu Hijet truck and the rest
Compare the main Japanese kei trucks
Suzuki Carry
Honda Acty
Daihatsu Hijet
Subaru Sambar
Mitsubishi Minicab
| Item | Suzuki Carry | Honda Acty | Daihatsu Hijet | Subaru Sambar | Mitsubishi Minicab |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Payload | 350kg | 350kg | 350kg | 350kg | 350kg |
| Fuel economy | 15.4km/L | 14.8km/L | 15.2km/L | 14.9km/L | 15.0km/L |
| Turning radius | 3.6m | 3.5m | 3.7m | 3.4m | 3.6m |
| Displacement | 660cc | 660cc | 660cc | 660cc | 660cc |
| Cabin space | Standard | Roomy | Standard | Compact | Standard |
| Price range | $1,800–2,800 | $2,200–3,500 | $1,700–2,700 | $2,300–3,800 | $1,500–2,500 |
| Safety equipment | Basic | Advanced | Standard | Basic | Basic |
| Running costs | Low | Medium | Low | Medium | Low |
Figures are general guides for comparison and vary by year and grade. Prices are typical FOB ranges for used kei trucks in Japan.
Reviews of the main Japanese kei trucks (by popularity)
Listed in order of popularity, with model code, drivetrain layout, 4WD system, engine and rough-terrain equipment. For what the equipment names mean, see the spec terminology guide.
1Suzuki Carry review FR
The most common kei truck in Japan. Number one for all-round balance, with a 650 mm bed height that makes heavy loads easy to lift in, and strong, easy-handling performance in the rev range you actually use. It is also the most widely traded, so parts supply is reassuring.
DA52T/DB52T 1999–2002
Lever for 2H / 4H / 4L (how to operate)
2Honda Acty review MR
The archetypal Honda kei truck. Well regarded for how it drives, with a high-revving engine. Its mid-engine (MR) layout gives it the largest cabin and best visibility in the class, and keeps the front-to-rear balance steady even when the bed is empty. It suits slow, precise work in rice paddies and orchards.
(viscous, automatic — no operation)
3Subaru Sambar review RR
Subaru's model, sold until March 2012. It is one of the few kei trucks with an inline four-cylinder engine, combined with an RR (rear-engine) layout that puts the engine weight directly over the driven wheels, so the rear tyres keep grip even with an empty bed. Its turning circle, though, is on the large side for the class.
AT = viscous type
supercharged version available
4Daihatsu Hijet review FR
The Daihatsu Hijet was designed with women working in agriculture in mind, and came in nine colors including pink and orange. It is popular as a work vehicle and as a base for kei campers, and its four-leaf rear springs handle heavy loads well.
S200P/S210P 1999–2004
Switch plus sub-transmission lever (how to operate)
5Mitsubishi Minicab review FR
The Minicab from the era when Mitsubishi built it in house. The U61T/U62T can switch between 2WD and 4WD on the move at up to about 80 km/h, which makes it easy to live with where paved and unpaved surfaces alternate constantly. The 5MT 4WD versions come with a sub-transmission as standard.
2WD to 4H on the move (how to operate)
inline-3 SOHC
The popularity order reflects US inquiries received by UCARWORLD. Equipment varies by grade, year and market, so confirm it on the individual vehicle's documents and the vehicle itself. → Compare in the kei truck model table
By use: which kei truck for which job?
The right model depends on how you use the truck. For jobs that need real off-road ability, see the use case to required spec matrix as well.
Urban delivery
Sambar / Acty for tight spaces.
Farm work
Carry / Hijet for durability.
Construction site
Hijet / Carry for steady performance.
Multi-purpose
Acty for versatility.
Ranch & barn
Carry Nohan / Hijet Noyo Special. Diff Lock-equipped FR 4WD is the standard choice.
Swamp & mangrove
Sambar 4WD / Acty. RR and MR put weight over the driven wheels, which helps. 4L essential.
Rice paddy
Acty ATTACK / Hijet Noyo Special. Diff Lock + Extra Low Gear do the work.
Snow & plowing
Sambar 4WD / Acty 4WD. A layout that keeps the rear wheels gripping even when empty is the advantage.
From the Suzuki Carry, Honda Acty, Daihatsu Hijet and Subaru Sambar to Mitsubishi and Nissan mini trucks and every other Japanese used truck, kei van and kei car, UCARWORLD ships direct from Japan. Browse kei trucks, kei vans and 4x4 mini trucks, and find out with confidence where to buy a kei truck in the USA.
Kei Truck Model Comparison Table: Suzuki Carry, Honda Acty, Subaru Sambar, Daihatsu Hijet, Mitsubishi Minicab
As of 2026, the 25-year rule covers vehicles manufactured in 2001 or earlier. Eligibility is judged not by model year or first registration but by the date of manufacture (the plate in the door opening). Click a model code to jump to the matching entry on the kei truck engine code and spec page.
| Rank | Model | Model code / production (specs) | Layout | 4WD system | Engine | Low range / traction gear | Stock |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suzuki Carry Suzuki Carry | DC51T/DD51T 1991–1999 DA52T/DB52T 1999–2002 | FR engine under the seat | Part-time 4WD 2H / 4H / 4L | F6A inline-3 SOHC from 2001.9 K6A DOHC | NOHAN farm grade = sub-transmission + Diff Lock (4WD and 5MT only) | View stock → |
| 2 | Honda Acty Honda Acty | HA3/HA4 1990–1999 HA6/HA7 1999–2009 | MR mid-engine | Real Time 4WD (viscous, automatic) | E07A / E07Z inline-3 SOHC 12-valve | ATTACK grade = Diff Lock + Ultra Low and Ultra Reverse | View stock → |
| 3 | Subaru Sambar Subaru Sambar | KS3/KS4 until 1999 TT1/TT2 1999–2012 | RR rear-engine | MT = Part-time AT = viscous type | EN07 inline-4 SOHC supercharged version available | Extra Low 5MT available. Diff lock varies widely by grade and year | View stock → |
| 4 | Daihatsu Hijet Daihatsu Hijet | S100P/S110P until 1999 S200P/S210P 1999–2004 | FR | Part-time 4WD | EF-SE inline-3 SOHC EF-VE inline-3 DOHC | NOYO SPECIAL farm grade = Super Diff Lock + Extra Low, four-leaf rear springs | View stock → |
| 5 | Mitsubishi Minicab Mitsubishi Minicab | U41T/U42T 1991–1999 U61T/U62T 1999– | FR | Part-time 4WD 2WD to 4H on the move | 3G83 inline-3 SOHC | 5MT 4WD models get a sub-transmission. No diff lock; a mechanical LSD was optional | View stock → |
OEM versions: different badge, same truck underneath
Today only two makers build kei trucks in house: Suzuki and Daihatsu. Subaru stopped building the Sambar itself in 2012 and it became an OEM Daihatsu Hijet. Mitsubishi stopped building the Minicab Truck in 2014 and it became an OEM Suzuki Carry. Honda ended Acty production in 2021 and left the kei truck market altogether.
The Nissan Clipper (only the first generation was built by Mitsubishi), the Mazda Scrum and some Mitsubishi Minicab generations are OEM Suzuki Carrys, mechanically identical. The Toyota Pixis Truck (2011 onwards) is an OEM Hijet.
Yoshisuke MayumiFormer Editor-in-Chief,
Carsensor
Mayumi's POINT
In October 1998 Japan's kei trucks moved to new standards built around crash safety, growing 100 mm in length and 80 mm in width. New-generation models followed, and the makers split two ways: switch to a semi-cab, or keep the full cab.
The third-generation Honda Acty (June 1999) went semi-cab and stretched its wheelbase by 520 mm in one go, from 1,900 mm to 2,420 mm. A longer wheelbase creates a crush space ahead of the cab and helps stability, but it made the turning circle larger. The 10th-generation Suzuki Carry (January 1999) also became a semi-cab-over; its 2,350 mm wheelbase is shorter than the Acty's but longer than before, and that November Suzuki answered strong demand from customers with a large-bed version. The sixth-generation Mitsubishi Minicab (1999) went semi-cab too, but held the truck's wheelbase to 2,200 mm to balance safety against turning ability.
The sixth-generation Subaru Sambar (February 1999) took the opposite route: it kept the full cab and met the new safety standards with a new ring-shaped reinforcement structure and a Y-shaped chassis frame that spreads the energy of a frontal impact. The ninth-generation Daihatsu Hijet truck (January 1999) likewise kept its full cab and a short 1,900 mm wheelbase. Stricter safety rules or not, neither gave up bed length, turning circle or manoeuvrability on narrow farm roads.
The 1998 standards made kei trucks safer across the board. Note, too, that against the Acty's 2,420 mm and the Carry's 2,350 mm, the Hijet and Sambar kept short wheelbases of around 1,900 mm. Kei trucks of this generation are now starting to qualify under the 25-year rule, and I expect North American interest to shift toward these new-standard models.
Buying notes by maker
Suzuki Carry
The Suzuki kei truck is the volume seller and the easiest to source in any specification. Late 1990s DB52T and early 2000s DA63T examples are the common US-eligible generations.
Honda Acty
Acty trucks put the engine under the bed, which frees up the cabin. The ATTACK grade is the one to look for if you want a diff lock and an ultra-low crawler gear together.
Daihatsu Hijet
The Daihatsu Hijet truck has the widest body choice, including factory dumps, and the farming grades carry a super diff lock plus extra low.
Subaru Sambar
Subaru Sambar Japan-market trucks are rear-engined, which puts weight over the driven wheels and helps them pull away on soft or slippery ground. The turning circle is on the large side for the class. A Subaru Sambar truck 1997 or later (TT2) uses the EN07, one of the few inline-fours in the segment.
Mitsubishi Minicab
Usually the cheapest of the five and mechanically straightforward. Sold as the Nissan Clipper and Mazda Scrum in some years — the same vehicle with a different badge.
Toyota
Toyota has no kei truck of its own. The Pixis Truck is a rebadged Hijet built from 2011, which puts it outside the 25-year rule until 2036.
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