10 Best Japanese Luxury Cars

Almost every automaker starts out making economy cars. That’s because they’re easy to build and consumers don’t have to risk a lot of money on a brand they don’t yet trust. Over time, the new automaker builds a loyal following of customers and eventually starts to build more profitable luxury cars.

Most of the time, an automaker launches its luxury line with a new name. Honda, Toyota, and Nissan did this in the 1980s with the new Acura, Lexus, and Infiniti brands (respectively). Buyers who had learned to expect high quality and great value from the Japanese brands eagerly bought the new high-end products. Today, Japanese luxury brands are some of the most desirable vehicles on the market. To assist your decision process, here are 10 of Japan’s top luxury cars.

Acura is among the most highly awarded Japanese luxury brands, and the midsize 2019 RLX Sport Hybrid sedan shows why. As a spacious executive sedan, the RLX is among the most comfortable cars you can buy. But in addition to its world-class interior, the RLX boasts a state-of-the-art hybrid system that improves performance as much as fuel economy.

The Acura hybrid system includes an electric motor integrated with the 3.5-liter V6 engine to drive the front wheels, and then augments that system with dual electric motors to drive the rear wheels. Finally, the Sport Hybrid system achieves excellent curve handling by using selective electrical regeneration to place a little drag on the inside rear wheel, and then it uses the electricity generated to drive the outer rear wheel. The effect on steering response is almost magical.

If you want a compact sport sedan with breathtaking performance, consider the 2019 Infiniti Q50. You can make your choices from mild to wild, starting with the Q50 Pure model; a rear-wheel-drive sport sedan with 208 hp on tap from a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine. If that’s not enough to raise your pulse rate, try the Q50 Red Sport, with a 400-hp 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 and optional all-wheel drive.

Inside, the Q50 is aimed at younger buyers who want a sport driving experience comparable to a BMW or Audi. Dark chrome trim gives the interior of the Red Sport an almost menacing look. The Q50 also is among the most technologically advanced vehicles on the road, with features like direct adaptive steering, 360-degree around view monitor, and active lane control steering assistance.

The midsize sedan is the dominant class of luxury car, and Lexus brings a strong contender with the 2019 GS 350. There’s nothing stodgy about this four-door, however, because the GS has been dramatically updated inside and out. The basic GS looks great, but for a little more aggressive statement, consider the F Sport package with a lowered stance, sport-tuned suspension, and available rioja red leather interior.

The GS is available with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine offering 241 hp, or a 3.5-liter V6 bringing 311 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque. The GS can be specified with rear-wheel or all-wheel drive, depending on your preference. As an incentive to upgrade, the voice-activated navigation package includes a huge 12.3-inch split screen display with 3D map views. A 17-speaker Mark Levinson sound system also is available.

Mazda always has been a different kind of brand. So rather than create a new name for their luxury cars, Mazda is simply raising its own reputation with “Mazda Premium” models like the 2019 Mazda6 Signature. With features like hand-stitched leather and open-grain wood in the interior, the Mazda6 Signature competes directly with any luxury Japanese car, and does it at an economy car price point.

Mazda offers premium brand performance with up to 250 hp from its turbocharged 2.5-liter engine, and it delivers high-tech handling through its innovative G-Vectoring Control system. As you turn the steering wheel, the G-Vectoring technology adjusts engine torque to shift a little more weight onto the front wheels. That gives you a more solid, confident feeling as the car turns.

Performance is synonymous with luxury in the modern world, and Japan’s luxury-exotic is the 2019 Acura NSX. The NSX is driven by a mid-mounted 3.5-liter twin turbocharged V6 and a hybrid system rated at 573 hp. That driveline will push the NSX to 60 MPH in just three seconds at a fraction of the price of a typical European exotic.

Inside, the NSX offers snug sport seats trimmed in race-inspired suede and leather, plus some carbon fiber on the steering wheel. The NSX features a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation and premium sound. Above all, the NSX comes with Acura’s reputation for precision and quality.

A proper extended-wheelbase executive car should be the pinnacle of luxury. Infiniti understands this, and offers the 2019 Q70L with more than 5 inches of additional legroom when compared to the standard Q70 sedan. The rear seats are heated and the rear doors feature soft-close technology. Inside, optional white ash wood trim imbues the Q70L with old-world craftsmanship and charm.

Buyers can choose from a 3.7-liter V6 engine, or the top-of-the-line 5.6-liter V8 rated at 416 hp, mated to a sure-footed all-wheel-drive system. The Infiniti InTouch system offers voice-activated apps and connections for weather and traffic information. Finally, a Bose 16-speaker surround sound system offers the potential for restorative listening during your journeys.

The 2019 Lexus LC 500 is a near-exotic personal luxury sports car. The LC 500 comes with a 5.0-liter V8 engine and a 10-speed automatic transmission that will get to 60 MPH in just 4.4 seconds.

Inside the LC 500, both the driver and passenger sit nestled in their own little cockpits. Technically, it has rear seats, but you wouldn’t want to try to sit back there. The front seats are both supportively sporty and warmly comfortable. Heated and ventilated seats are standard, while the optional All Weather Package adds a heated steering wheel and an advanced windshield de-icing system. The standard 10.3-inch high-resolution split screen infotainment system is a wonderful interface to the optional Mark Levinson sound system.

Acura’s compact sedans always have been popular with younger buyers, and more millennials buy the 2019 Acura ILX than any other luxury compact. The ILX is powered by Acura’s 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. Drivers appreciate that the engine’s 201 hp is achieved without a turbocharger, and the fast-shifting 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission delivers that power to the front wheels for crisp acceleration.

In the cabin, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are supported on most trims, and the dual-screen setup of the Acura infotainment system means there’s plenty of space for climate, entertainment, and the optional navigation system. Drivers will appreciate the leather-trimmed seats in the mid-grade trim, or the perforated leather and suede in the top A-Spec trim.

Panache is the name of the game with the freshly updated Lexus RC coupe. The 2019 Lexus RC F is the top of the RC line, but more affordable than the LC 500. Under the hood, you’ll find the same 5.0-liter V8 engine with 467 hp, and an eight-speed automatic transmission driving the rear wheels. All-wheel drive is available in the RC line if you get the 3.5-liter V6.

There’s more to the RC F than a big engine. This sport-luxury model is lowered a bit, featuring wider fender flares to cover oversized wheels and tires. The RC F also features active aerodynamics with a moving rear wing, air scoops leading to brake-cooling ducts, and a bit of optional carbon fiber trim if you want to show off.

If you’re looking for luxury and performance in a midsize sedan, why not consider the 2019 Acura TLX? This car comes with your choice of a capable four-cylinder engine rated at 206 hp, or a muscular 3.5-liter V6 with 290 hp. If you buy the V6 you also can include Acura’s Super Handling AWD system, and both models can opt for the sporty A-Spec package.

You’ll find plenty of room inside the TLX. Open the door and you’ll love the sport-luxury interior with black Alcantara upholstery for a racing-inspired look, or sexy red leather with contrast piping and top-stitching. Acura provides the TLX with a modern infotainment system using Acura’s two-screen solution. Buyers enjoy a standard push-button start and heated 10-way seats as standard equipment on all trims.