5 Great Yet Underrated Japanese Sports Cars That Are Still Affordable Today

From the late 1970s onwards, Japanese manufacturers began eating an ever-growing global sports market slice, leading to some truly iconic vehicles.

It all started with Nissan's S130 Fairlady Z (also known as Datsun 280ZX), a model that became a global sensation.

From that point on, all other major carmakers from the land of the rising sun started developing their own sports car, which, in the vast majority of cases, were affordable and reliable.

The golden era of Japanese sports cars came in the 1980s and 1990s when legends such as the modern Nissan Skyline GT-R, the Toyota Supra, the Mazda RX-7, and the Honda NSX came into being.

While the prices for these icons have skyrocketed in recent years, there are a few exciting but still underrated Japanese sports cars you can buy without breaking the bank.

Mitsubishi GTO/3000 GT

Known domestically as the GTO and dubbed 3000 GT in other parts of the world, this gorgeous Mitsubishi was introduced in 1990.

Available with naturally aspirated or twin-turbo V6 engines combined with front- or four-wheel-drive, it was produced for 20 years over three evolutionary (rather than revolutionary) generations.

A surprisingly high-tech car, the GTO/3000 GT was e available with four-wheel-steering, adaptive suspension, and, until 1996, active front and rear spoilers.

In terms of performance, the most potent versions were the GTO Twin Turbo (JDM) and 3000GT VR-4 (US). Both were powered by a twin-turbocharged, DOHC 24-valve V6 that made between 276 and 320 hp.

However, the VR-4's engine was factory-tuned for more power and featured a permanent four-wheel-drive system.

Today, the GTO/3000 GT (and its nearly identical Dodge Stealth sibling) is much more affordable than expected. Depending on model year, mileage, and engine option, one could be had for around $10,000.

If you're aiming for a third-generation VR-4 model, which is the most sought-after, you'll have to pay around $30,000 for one in good shape.

Toyota Celica GT-Four ST185

If you love Japanese sports cars but also have a soft spot for rallying, you'll know that the ST185 Celica was responsible for two Manufacturers' titles and three Drivers' trophies during the 1990s.

Apart from the rally cars, Toyota also produced a street-legal version of the ST185 from 1989 to 1993.

Donning a WRC-spec, permanent 4WD system with a viscous coupling limited-slip central differential (and a Torsen rear diff in some versions), it was one of the most potent all-wheel-drive sports cars of its era.

Power came from a 2.0-liter 3S-GTE turbocharged inline-four rated at 200 hp. Though not an impressive figure today, it was (and still is) enough to make the ST185 a thrill to drive.

Today, a GT-Four ST185 has an average value of $16,869, according to classic.com.

The most sought-after GT-Four ST185 remains the RC (or Carlos Sainz, in Europe) edition conceived in a limited run of 5,000 units to homologate the car for rallying.

However, prices for this edition are still relatively low, rarely exceeding the $20,000 mark for a low-mileage example in great condition.

Eunos Cosmo

The next entry on our list is dedicated to those who want an affordable JDM exclusive that few people still remember.

In the 1990s, Mazda launched an upscale brand called Eunos, but unlike Nissan's Infiniti and Toyota's Lexus, it targeted Japanese buyers, not those from the US.

Although the Eunos Roadster (aka Mazda MX-5) was the most popular Eunos model, the most impressive was undoubtedly the 1990–1996 Cosmo.

A 2+2, GT-style coupe, the Cosmo was the first production car to feature a built-in GPS navigation system. Moreover, it came with an LCD rendering analog gauges and a CRT color touch-screen - in the early '90s.

Under the hood, the Cosmo's standard engine was a dual-rotor, twin sequential turbo 13B-RE rated at 226 hp.

Even more impressive, the car could be ordered with the 276-hp, triple-rotor 20B-REW, which made the Cosmo the first and only street-legal Mazda to use a triple-rotor.

Despite being awesome in more ways than one, the relatively unknown Cosmo's current value stands around $7,000 to $15,000

Toyota MR2 W20

Throughout its history, Toyota has made a name for itself by building ultra-reliable, budget-friendly vehicles, and in the 1980s, it applied this recipe to a mid-engine sports car.

Named MR2, the tiny two-seater was built from 1984 until 2007, in three distinct generations. Arguably, the coolest was the second-gen, codenamed W20.

Boasting a more curvacious, streamlined design than its predecessor, the W20 MR2 was quickly nicknamed "Baby Ferrari."

Produced from 1989 to 1999 and available in either hardtop or T-top body styles, the tiny RWD sports car was powered by a series of 2.0-liter inline-fours.

Most were rather dull in terms of performance, with the most potent 200 hp courtesy of a turbocharger.

Still, with a curb weight of around 2,866 pounds (1,300 kg) and a mid-mounted engine, the W20 delivered an exciting driving experience, regardless of the output.

These days, a naturally aspirated W20 MR2 has an average value of $13,000, while the turbocharged versions go for around $21,000.

Nissan Fairlady Z/300ZX Z32

As mentioned earlier, the original S30 Fairlady Z kicked off the sports car craze among Japanese manufacturers and became a global phenomenon for the next generations.

Launched in 1989 and produced until 2000, the fourth-generation model known as the 300ZX outside Japan introduced a wider, rounder, and more modern design.

Available as a coupe, targa top, or convertible, it was powered by a couple of potent V6 engines.

The first, codenamed VG30DE, was a naturally aspirated DOCHC 3.0-liter with variable valve timing that produced 222 hp, while the second was a twin-turbo version (VG30DETT) rated at a healthy 300 hp.

Though it's the least-underrated entry on this list, the Z32 is still somewhat affordable, especially compared to the Skyline GT-R from the same era.

Equipped with a naturally aspirated V6, an example in excellent condition is currently valued at around $15,000, whereas the more sought-after twin-turbo version can go for nearly twice as much.