Car Pros Reveal 4 Japanese Vehicles That Finally Fixed Their Flaws
Japanese car brands are among the best in the industry, but not every model lives 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 have made serious improvements. Below are the most improved Japanese cars finally worth your money, according to numerous automotive professionals.
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1. Mazda 3
"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.
2. Mitsubishi Outlander
The Mitsubishi Outlander has been on sale in the U.S. since 2003, with more recent models being codeveloped with Nissan based on the Rogue, according to several automotive sources. 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.
3. Subaru Forester
"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 it's now much easier for passengers to enjoy conversation or music without the engine and road noise.
4. Nissan Pathfinder
The earliest Pathfinders date back to the 1980s, and each redesign was an updated interpretation of the mid-size body-on-frame SUV concept. 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.
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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