List of Japanese cars discontinued in Japan but active overseas

Reports say that Honda will no longer be selling the CR-V in the Japanese market in favor of a new midsize SUV to be called the ZR-V, according to sources. With the next CR-V going to be an overseas-only model, it's sad to say that Japan will be left out for no reason, meaning the Honda CR-V is the latest victim of Japanese cars no longer available in Japan but active overseas.

The fifth-generation CR-V would be the last
CR-V to be sold in the Japanese market

As the Honda CR-V becomes the next victim, here is the list of Japanese cars that are no longer sold in Japan but are available overseas;

Toyota Hilux Surf - Launched in 1983, the Hilux Surf is the SUV derivative of the Hilux pickup truck. It spawned four generations until it was discontinued in 2009 and it continued in the US with the offroad-focused fifth-generation model.

Toyota Kluger - Launched at the end of 2000, the Kluger is a crossover that serves as the mainstream version of the Harrier luxury SUV. The Kluger lasted one generation in Japan while the rest of the world carried on with three full model changes with the current version available in the US, Oceania, China, and now the rest of Europe, among many others. It's a shame that Japan missed out on such a global crossover.

Toyota Belta - Launched in 2005, the Belta is a compact sedan that was sold not just in Japan but also in North America and Asia (outside Japan). Toyota stopped selling the Belta in 2012 while the rest of the world got newer versions.

Nissan Murano - The Nissan Murano was launched in Japan in the fall of 2004 and underwent a full model change in the autumn of 2008. Sadly, it was discontinued in Japan in 2015 while the rest of the world moved on with the third-generation model made in the USA, China, and Russia.

Nissan Terrano - The Nissan Terrano is the SUV equivalent of the Datsun Truck. It was launched in Japan in 1986 and spawned two generations until it was discontinued in 2004. In other countries, the Terrano, under the global name of P________, carried on with the third-generation model up to the latest fifth-generation model which now runs on a FF platform. It even spawned an Infiniti QX60 equivalent as well.

Nissan Safari - Launched in 1980, the Safari is Nissan's response to the Toyota Land Cruiser. While the Land Cruiser sells big, the Safari failed and it was discontinued in 2007 after three generations. However, it lived overseas with the current fourth generation, which is more luxurious than the Land Cruiser. The Middle East, Oceania, Russia, the US, and the Philippines, got the fourth-generation full-sized luxury offroader.

Nissan Maxima - The Maxima was launched in Japan in 1981 and it was originally the last rear-wheel-drive model for the Bluebird. The second-generation Maxima made a switch to front-wheel-drive. The final generation Maxima sold in Japan comes with a V6 engine. After three generations, the Maxima series was discontinued in Japan in 1994 with the front-wheel-drive second-generation Cefiro taking its place. Overseas, the Maxima packs a different story as its current generation is by no means the most stylish Maxima ever existed. It packs a powerful 3.5L V6 engine that powers the front wheels. The current Maxima is not just sold in the US but also in China and South Korea as well.

Nissan Juke - Launched in the summer of 2010, the Nissan Juke is a compact SUV that draws inspiration from the Qazana concept. Although it draws criticism due to its radical styling, it was the first and only crossover to be powered by Nissan's DIG TURBO engine. While the Juke is no longer available in Japan after 2019, the rest of the world had the second-generation model made in the UK. It even spawned a hybrid variant that runs on Renault's E-TECH powertrain instead of Nissan's e-Power. It's a shame that Japan didn't get the newest Juke and got the smaller and less powerful Kicks e-Power instead.

Nissan Sylphy - Launched in 2000, the Bluebird Sylphy is a midsize sedan well known for its ultra-low-emission and clean design. It was good for three generations in Japan until Nissan axed it in 2021. Overseas, the Nissan Sylphy underwent a full model change and it's available in China, Taiwan, the US, and other countries.

Nissan Dualis - Launched in 2007, the Dualis is a sporty equivalent to the X-Trail that features European styling and handling. Sadly, Japan stopped selling the Dualis in 2014 while the rest of the world got newer versions of it with the latest generation launched in 2021. Europe has one, Hong Kong has one, and Oceania has one, why does Japan miss out on this radically-styled turbocharged crossover?!

Nissan Teana - The Teana is the successor to the Cefiro when it was launched in 2003 and lasted for three generations. Nissan stopped selling the Teana in Japan in 2020 while the rest of the world got the new version that comes with the VC-TURBO engine, the engine that hasn't been introduced in a Japan-spec Nissan vehicle as of now.

Nissan Skyline Coupe - While the R32, R33, and the R34 were made famous by speedo boys, the V35 and V36 versions felt understated, especially when the latter's armed with the 3.7L V6 VVEL engine derived from the Z34 Fairlady Z. Long story short but Nissan stopped selling the Skyline Coupe in Japan in 2016 and its Infiniti Q60 successor didn't make it to the Land of the Rising Sun, despite the fact that it runs on the same mechanicals as the current Nissan Skyline V37 saloon.

Nissan Skyline Crossover - Launched in 2009, the Skyline Crossover is the Japanese version of the Infiniti QX50. Nissan stopped selling the Skyline Crossover in Japan in 2016 while the Infiniti QX50 equivalent sold overseas underwent a full model change and became the first to be powered by the VC-TURBO engine. That successor didn't make it available to the Japanese public because of the fact that it's now running on a front-wheel-drive platform instead of a rear-wheel-drive one.

Nissan Latio - The first-generation Latio is basically the sedan equivalent of the Tiida while the second-generation Latio is the sedan equivalent of the March K13. Sadly, Nissan stopped selling the Latio in Japan in 2016 while the rest of the world got the new version.

Nissan Tiida - The Tiida is a premium compact hatchback that was launched in Japan in 2004 until it got discontinued in 2012. Overseas, the Tiida is still active in Taiwan and it's basically a hatchback version of the Sylphy.

Honda Lagreat - The Lagreat is basically an Americanized version of the second-generation Odyssey and this fully-imported minivan was launched in Japan from 1999 to 2005.

Honda MDX - Like the Lagreat, the MDX is a seven-seater Honda SUV that was fully imported from the US, where it was sold as the Acura MDX. It was available in Japan from 2001 to 2006.

Honda Grace - The Grace is the four-door version of the third-generation Fit and served as the direct successor to the Fit Aria. It got discontinued in the summer of 2020 while the rest of the developing world got the newer version that comes with the e:HEV hybrid variant and a hatchback too for the first time.

Honda Integra - The Integra is by no means one of the most iconic Hondas ever made since the Civic because of the street cred speedo boys gave. The Integra lasted for about four generations until it was ultimately discontinued in 2007. However, the folks from Acura gave the Integra a much-needed comeback in a form of a five-door hatchback with aggressive looks and an available 6-speed MT, but the Chinese Honda Integra is a simple-looking version of the current-generation Honda Civic.

Mitsubishi Challenger - No, not the Dodge Challenger. The Mitsubishi Challenger. The Challenger is a sporty equivalent to the Pajero when it was launched in 1996. Sadly, it was discontinued in Japan in 2001 while the rest of the world continue selling it and spawned two full model changes, which are based on the Triton pickup truck.

Mitsubishi Triton - When the Toyota Hilux became absent in Japan, the Mitsubishi Triton is a fully-imported pickup truck from Thailand that serves as the only Japanese pickup truck sold in Japan. It was launched in 2006 until it was sadly discontinued in 2011 while the rest of the world had the newest versions.

Daihatsu Be-Go/Toyota Rush - The Be-Go and the Rush are compact SUVs launched in Japan in 2006 until they stopped selling the two compact SUVs in 2016. In some parts of the globe, the Be-Go and the Rush continued to sell with Indonesia its strong selling customer. The Be-Go and the Rush continued overseas with their bigger second-generation model sold in emerging markets, especially ASEAN. Don't worry, there's a Perodua version called the Aruz, and because Perodua's Malaysian, this is as close as you can get.

Suzuki Baleno - Launched in the spring of 2016, the Baleno is fully imported from India, making it the first Indian-made vehicle sold in Japan. It was offered with a choice of a 1.2L and a turbocharged 1.0L petrol engine. Suzuki stopped selling the Baleno in Japan in 2020 while India unveiled its newest version. Fair enough. Little did you know that Toyota sold the Suzuki Baleno as a Starlet or a Glanza in other countries?

And these are the list of Japanese cars no longer available in Japan but active overseas. Expect the list to grow when the CR-V joins the list of casualties.

Japan may be the home of anime but when it comes to cars, it starting to feel isolated from the world. Unless the Japanese motoring associations come up with a plan to revive the Japanese motoring industry and make it accessible to the world, it will still become a pariah state in the motoring world because of Japan's carmakers' decision to stop selling their globally-hit cars while letting the rest of the world continue selling with newer versions that will make Japan look meek. 

Why are the Japanese are feeling meek about this trend of having Japanese cars that got discontinued in Japan but continued selling overseas?! The Japanese motoring associations and manufacturers deserved a wake-up call.