10 Cars Auto Brands Should Bring To The U.S.

Call it luck or a missed opportunity, but we are truly jealous of fellow enthusiasts and motorists across the pond and the Far East for some of the cooler and drool-worthy cars that they get, and we don’t. There are plenty of forbidden fruits that we have missed out on over the years. From hardcore JDM machines to some gorgeous-looking European driver cars, the list is vast.

There might be several reasons why automakers don’t give us these cool cars. However, there are a few cars out there that make perfect sense for America but are still restricted. This list explores ten such vehicles, ranging from peppy, city-friendly hardcore off-roaders to sports cars with the brawn to topple the driver-centric legacy of Porsches, and even worthy Japanese alternatives to the ultra-luxury likes of Rolls-Royces and Bentleys.

This list is organized in increasing order of price, from the most affordable to the most expensive cars that car brands should bring to the US. Also, the prices mentioned here are converted figures from the prices of the same from the UK, Australian, or Japanese market pricing.

Suzuki Jimny

Price: ~$12,200

This is arguably the most affordable true off-roader today, which we can’t have. The Jimny is an explosive little package for exploring the great unknown. This is due to its capable underpinnings, which include a ladder frame, four-wheel-drive setup, and even two solid axles, which are a dying feature even among hardcore factory off-roaders.

Furthermore, the Jimny looks gorgeous, thanks to its retro-styling cues, and personally, we love the poppy Kinetic yellow shade. Suzuki offers the Jimny in both a three-door and a more practical five-door version. But it is the prior that turns heads and is the more capable on the roads due to its compact form factor. It is also a good urban runabout for the same reasons.

Cool Features

• Compact off-roading capability
• Retro styling
• Long-range 4WD
• Ladder-frame chassis

Engine And Gearbox Specs

(AU-Spec Base Trim Data Mentioned Here)

Ford Puma ST

Price: ~$45,000

Ford has put together a very desirable beginner-friendly hot hatch with the Puma ST. It gets a peppy 999cc turbo three-cylinder engine that produces 167 horsepower and 183 pound-feet of torque. These figures sure are humble, but when you couple them with the relatively lightweight packaging of the Puma ST with a curb weight of 3,064 pounds, the grinny side comes out profoundly.

The handling side is sorted with specially tuned ST suspension and a stiffened chassis for improved control at all times. It looks cool too with 19-inch wheels, Matrix LED headlamps, and a bespoke ST body styling kit with Ford Performance embossed splitter and red brake calipers. Ford has also left no stone unturned in the interior, loading the Puma ST with plenty of comfort, convenience, and technology features to keep occupants cozy. Now, this is a wholesome package that needs to make it stateside.

Cool Features

• Five drive modes: Normal, Eco, Sport, Slippery, and Trail
• Sporty suspension tuning
• Cool-looking 19-inch alloy wheels with a Magnetite Dark finish
• Aerodynamic enhancements like a front splitter, rear spoiler, and diffuser

Engine And Gearbox Specs

(UK-Spec ST Trim Data Mentioned Here)

Toyota GR Yaris

Price: ~$60,000

This is the epitome of the modern hot hatches we have been craving since its launch in 2020. The Toyota GR Yaris is a ray of hope in the ever-dwindling line-up of purebred ICE sports cars. This mad-compact car packs a hardcore three-cylinder turbo mill that produces up to 300 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. This makes it a very energy-dense engine and puts it on par with the likes of Koenigsegg’s Tiny Friendly Giant in that regard. This engine is so wild that it is also capable of producing 1,000 horsepower!

Toyota’s GR division has leveraged years of motorsport experience and technology to curate the grin-worthy hardware on this Toyota. It comes with a six-speed manual as standard, with an eight-speed automatic available as an option, thanks to its comprehensive 2024 updates. All-wheel drive is standard, which further translates to superior driving dynamics. The interior is pretty loaded with technology features and creature comforts, but the highlight is the dashboard’s design, which focuses the elements on the driver. The layout strongly reminds us of the mesmerizing setup that 90s Japanese sports cars like the Toyota Supra used to have.

Cool Features

• A three-cylinder engine producing an explosive 280 horsepower
• Comes standard with a six-speed manual
• All-wheel drive system for such a compact car
• Hardcore cooling system similar to those seen on older rally-spec Mitsubishi EVOs

Engine And Gearbox Specs

(Japan-Spec Standard Trim Data Mentioned Here)

Cupra Formentor VZ3

Price: ~$64,850

This is a crossover that screams of sportiness in every sense. The design is unique and sharp, with cool elements like a futuristic LED headlamp, triangular elements all around, and some of the most drool-worthy color options on a car. It’s a certified head-turner. Powering the Formentor VZ3 is a peppy 2.0-liter turbo four producing 328 horsepower. Its driving dynamics are further enhanced by features such as multiple drive modes, including Drift mode, and Torque Splitter technology.

The cabin also oozes sportiness with features like bucket seats and a heated sports steering wheel. While Cupra has confirmed its entry into America, it has been further delayed from the earlier-claimed 2030 pitch. Furthermore, by the time they start selling cars in America, we are pretty sure that the Formentor will have been replaced. Hence, his badass-looking crossover is a forbidden fruit for us.

Cool Features

• Killer looks with unique Matrix LED Ultra headlights
• Independent suspension with Dynamic Chassis Control
• Futuristic and sharp-looking cabin with loads of technology features
• All-Wheel Drive System for superior driving dynamics

Engine And Gearbox Specs

(UK-Spec VZ3 Trim With The 2.0 TSI Engine Data Mentioned Here)

Mercedes-AMG A45 S 4Matic+

Price: ~$66,000

This is one of the wildest hatchbacks out there, and one that we won’t get. The Merc-AMG A45 S 4Matic+ is the ultimate evolution of the German hot hatch. It packs an energy-dense 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 421 horsepower and 368.7 pound-feet of torque. It gets an all-wheel-drive system, an adaptive suspension setup, and a slew of ride modes, including a dedicated drift mode.

Other cool track-focused features include its advanced performance-monitoring AMG Track Pace, an adjustable exhaust valve system, and optional AMG ceramic brakes. On the inside, it gets sporty seats with contrasting stitching, a flat-bottom steering wheel, and a 10.25-inch MBUX infotainment system. This is the most explosive compact AMG Merc that we can’t have.

Cool Features

• Drift Mode
• All-Wheel Drive
• Handcrafted turbocharged four-cylinder engine
• Adaptive suspension coupled to ride modes

Engine And Gearbox Specs

(UK-Spec Standard Trim Data Mentioned Here)

Alpine A110

Price: ~$72,000

For a long time, Porsche has been at the forefront of making pure, driver-centric cars. The Cayman is undisputedly the most affordable of the bunch. However, across the pond, there exists a worthy rival that can replace the Cayman in driving appeal and sheer road presence, too. The A110, even in its base form, has a lightweight aluminum construction that enhances nimbleness and improves the power-to-weight ratio.

Then there’s the unique design language, an ode to the original 1970s Alpine Renault A110. It looks cool, sporty, and dare we say, even a lot more dramatic than the Porsche Cayman. Clever aerodynamics, multiple drive modes, and an available sports exhaust help elevate the A110’s desirability. For those who crave more, there’s the more hardcore A110 R model.

Cool Features

• Impressively lightweight chassis
• Mid-engine layout helps with a balanced weight distribution
• A worthy Porsche Cayman alternative that is unique, stylish, and driver-centric
• Sporty cabin elements like Sabelt seats, carbon fiber accents,

Engine And Gearbox Specs

(Base Trim Data Mentioned Here)

Audi RS 4 Avant

Price: ~124,000

This is the more affordable sports wagon to tickle the senses (and hurt us more!) for those who feel like the BMW M3 CS Touring is absurdly priced. The RS 4 Avant packs a sprinty twin-turbo V6 that produces 444 horsepower and 442.5 pound-feet of torque. Couple these numbers with a slick-shifting eight-speed automatic and the famed Audi all-wheel drive system, and we have a machine that puts a lot of emphasis on driving appeal.

Not to mention that this Audi is pretty fast, with 62 mph coming up in 4.1 seconds. An almost 50:50 body weight distribution further helps with nimbleness and agility. The design is athletic and sharp, a sure-shot head-turner on the road. The cabin, while contributing to the sporty side, also makes sure to take care of this Audi’s lux-appeal too, with leather-wrapped seats and steering wheel and a slew of convenience and technology features.

Cool Features

• Killer looks
• Audi Virtual Cockpit with customizable performance displays
• Dedicated RS Mode button for instant access to performance settings
• Highly practical with a cargo capacity of up to 52.8 cubic feet with all seats down

Engine And Gearbox Specs

(UK-Spec Base Data Mentioned Here)

Lexus LM 350h

Price: ~$128,000

Luxury MPVs are not quite as famous in America as they are in the Far East, which is why we are blown away by what the lucky peeps on the other end of the world get, with the Lexus LM 350h. This forbidden fruit is an ultra-luxury mothership on wheels, designed for the utmost comfort and convenience of its occupants. The lounge-like interior layout includes a standard six-seater setup, with the standout feature being the business-class-level second-row captain seats.

However, the four-seater model is the one that screams luxury, comfort, and convenience the most. The occupants have a dedicated space with privacy glass isolating the driver, too. This panel also features a massive 48-inch widescreen display for entertainment and connectivity. The rear seats are loaded with features, including heated armrests and a dedicated warmth-sensing IR Matrix sensor that maintains a comfortable temperature for each occupant.

Cool Features

• Aniline leather upholstery for the seats
• Rear captain seats with massage and relaxation functions; also get heated arm rests.
• Heated, ventilated, and power-adjustable seats in all the rows
• Privacy partition with electronically operating dimming window

Engine And Gearbox Specs

(350H AWD Trim Data Mentioned Here)

BMW M3 CS Touring

Price: ~$165,300

This is the hot long-roof BMW M car that we can’t have. The most desirable of the bunch is the ferocious M3 CS Touring, a more track-focused, edgier version of the already grin-worthy M3 Competition Touring. Powering this family-friendly sports wagon is a twin-turbo six-cylinder that produces 551 horsepower and 479.4 pound-feet of torque.

Powe is sent to all four wheels via a crisp eight-speed M-Steptronic automatic that propels this Beamer from 0 to 62 mph in just 3.2 seconds. The interior is equal parts of sportiness, practicality, and luxury, with elements like an Alcántara steering wheel, full leather-wrapped sports seats with elevated side supports, and a cargo space that can easily eat up a weekend’s worth of luggage for four. This is the perfect do-it-all performance car, a forbidden fruit for us.

Cool Features

• Bespoke chassis reinforcements and suspension upgrades over the standard model
• All-Wheel Drive and active rear differential
• Up to a whopping 53.3 cubic feet of cargo space
• Design cues inspired by BMW’s GT racing car

Engine And Gearbox Specs

(CS Touring Trim Data Mentioned Here)

Toyota Century SUV

Price: ~$172,000

Want to have Rolls-Royce appeal for a fraction of the cost, with the added benefit of an undoubted reliability quotient? Then, the Toyota Century SUV fits the bill perfectly. The ‘Century’ nameplate has a rich history in Japan and is associated with opulence. The level of craftsmanship and attention to detail makes you question the sub-$200,000 Japan-spec price of this gorgeous-looking SUV, because it’s too good to be true. Premium leather on the seats, doors, and dashboard, an exclusive four-seat layout, and custom-made elements throughout the cabin dial up its lux-appeal.

The cabin refinement levels are made to lock horns with the likes of the Rolls-Royce Cullinan and the Bentley Bentayga. Extensive use of sound insulation helps cocoon the occupants in an acoustically laminated glass. Even the cargo compartment is isolated to offer the utmost luxury experience in the cabin. Toyota has already embraced the Century’s potential and split the nameplate into a new ultra-luxury brand. This is the opulent Japanese SUV that needs to come stateside ASAP and make the big guns sweat!

Cool Features

• Automatic electric retractable side steps
• Wide 75-degree opening rear doors
• Neutrally positioned captain seats with various seating modes, including a full flat mode
• Plush leather and wood elements spread throughout the cabin

Engine And Gearbox Specs

(Base Trim Data Mentioned Here)