I'm a Car Expert: 4 Popular Japanese Cars I'd Skip in 2026

Cars from Japanese manufacturers are known for their reliability, but there are a few that are best to avoid.

To help you decide which popular Japanese cars to skip in 2026, MoneyLion reached out to Melanie Musson, an auto industry expert with AutoInsurance.org. She shared which Japanese cars are gas guzzlers, which are prone to problems, and which ones don’t handle winter conditions well.

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Nissan Armada

Many Japanese-made vehicles are known for their value retention, but Musson said the Nissan Armada isn’t one of them.

“The Armada usually loses well over half of its value in the first five years,” she said.

According to Carfax, average vehicles are worth 66% of their purchase price after five years, meaning they only depreciate 44% over those years.

In addition to the depreciation issues, Musson said that the Armada only gets 14 to 16 mpg in the city. Even though it does a bit better on the highway, getting up to 20 mpg, it’s still a gas guzzler. With gas prices up 75% from October of 2025 as per Trading Economics, gas mileage is a big consideration when purchasing a vehicle.

Toyota Sequoia

Despite being a hybrid, Musson said the Toyota Sequoia doesn’t deliver the fuel economy you would expect, and its fuel economy is comparable to the Armada at between 20 and 22 mpg combined. This is a bit higher, however, than other large SUVs.

The real issue is lack of interior space. Musson also criticized the amount of space the battery takes up in the cargo area.

“Even the passenger area is tight,” she said, noting that it’s surprising given its large footprint, and Car and Driver cites a tight third row and lack of cargo room as this vehicle’s cons.

Mazda CX-90 PHEV

This vehicle comes with a significant number of problems. Musson cited driver complaints about a jerky shift from EV to gas mode to start-up issues and a glitchy infotainment system.

“There was a major recall for a software issue that caused cars to shut off while being driven,” as well, she said. While this issue should have been remedied, “a problem of that magnitude makes me leery.”

This vehicle costs over $50,000 and gets 26 combined mpg with an EV range of 27 miles. Some other PHEVs have an EV range of over 40 miles, so if the energy efficiency is important, you can likely find a better option.

Mitsubishi Mirage

Musson said that while this isn’t a terrible vehicle, it’s not ideal for driving in snowy and icy conditions.

"It’s lightweight, so getting traction can be hard," she said, "and the narrow tires provide less surface area, which can worsen traction issues.”

The Kelley Blue Book review of the 2024 model cited difficulty getting it up to highway speeds, accompanied by quite a bit of engine noise while driving. This was the last year that the Mirage was available, as Car & Driver reported the company left the U.S. market starting with the 2025 model year, but even if you find an earlier model, it’s probably best to skip it.

Editor’s note: Photos are for representational purposes only and might not reflect the exact year, make or model of the vehicle(s) listed in this article.

This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.

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