How the same vehicle models are named differently across global markets
In the vicious battle for market share and brand recognition, car manufacturers have come up with some interesting names for their vehicle models. Some of them are quite compelling, others are simply memorable while others still are just plain ridiculous. But if you’re wondering why some European favorites are unheard of in Japan even though they are made by Japanese manufacturers, the reason is that some car models in the Japanese domestic market get a name-change when they are released in the North American and European markets.
Here is a useful guide on how these same models are named differently.
|
JAPAN |
NORTH AMERICA |
EUROPE |
|
TOYOTA |
||
|
Altezza |
Lexus IS200/300 |
|
|
Aristo |
Lexus GS300/400/430 |
|
|
bB |
Scion xB |
– |
|
Belta |
Yaris |
– |
|
Caldina (earliest model) |
– |
Carina E Estate |
|
2003 Caldina |
– |
2003 Avensis Estate |
|
1992 Camry Prominent |
1992 Lexus ES230 |
– |
|
Celsior |
Lexus LS430 |
|
|
2004 Corolla Spacio |
– |
2004 Corolla Verso |
|
Corona |
– |
Carina E |
|
Cynos |
Paseo |
|
|
Estima |
– |
Privia |
|
Fun Cargo |
– |
Yaris Verso |
|
Harrier |
Lexus RX300/330 |
|
|
Hilux Surf |
4 Runner |
– |
|
Ipsum (earliest model) |
– |
Picnic |
|
Ipsum |
– |
Avensis Verso |
|
ist |
Scion xA |
– |
|
Kluger V |
Highlander |
– |
|
Land Cruiser 100 |
Land Cruiser |
Land Cruiser 100/Amazon |
|
Land Cruiser Cygnus |
Lexus LX470 |
– |
|
Land Cruiser Prado |
Lexus GX480 |
– |
|
1996-2000 Land Cruiser Prado |
– |
Land Cruiser 90/Colorado |
|
MR-S |
MR2 Spyder |
MR2 Roadster |
|
Plaz |
Echo |
– |
|
Pronard |
Avalon |
– |
|
Scepter |
1997 Camry |
|
|
Soarer |
Lexus SC430 |
– |
|
Sprinter Carib |
– |
2001 Corolla Estate |
|
2006 Vitz |
2006 Yaris |
|
|
Voltz |
Pontiac Vibe |
– |
|
Windom |
2006 Lexus ES300/430 |
– |
|
HONDA |
||
|
Accord |
Acura TSX |
Accord |
|
1998 Ascot Innova |
– |
1998 Accord |
|
1986 City |
– |
1986 Jazz |
|
Civic |
Civic/Acura CSX |
Civic |
|
CR-X delSol |
Civic del sol |
CRX |
|
2000 Domani |
– |
2000 Civic |
|
2000 Domani |
2000 Acura EL |
– |
|
Edix |
– |
FR-V |
|
Fit |
Fit |
Jazz |
|
Horizon (Isuzu Bighorn) |
Acura SLX |
– |
|
Inspire |
Accord |
– |
|
1995-2003 Inspire/Saber |
1995-2003 Acura TL |
– |
|
Integra |
Acura RSX |
– |
|
Integra |
Acura Integra |
Integra (only Type R) |
|
Jazz (Isuzu Mu) |
Passport |
– |
|
2004 Lagreat |
2004 Odyssey |
– |
|
Legend |
Acura RL |
Legend |
|
MDX |
Acura MDX |
– |
|
NSX |
Acura NSX |
NSX |
|
1998 Odyssey |
Odyssey/ Isuzu Oasis |
Shuttle |
|
Vigor |
Acura Vigor |
– |
|
NISSAN |
||
|
1997 Avenir |
– |
1997 Primere Estate |
|
1996 Bluebird SSS (U13) |
1996 Altima |
– |
|
2005 Bluebird Sylphy |
– |
2005 Almera |
|
Cefiro |
Infiniti I30/35 |
Maxima QX |
|
Cima |
Infiniti Q45 |
– |
|
FairLady Z |
350Z |
|
|
FairLady Z (Z32) |
300ZX |
– |
|
Fuga |
Infiniti M45 |
– |
|
2004 Gloria |
2004 Infiniti M45 |
– |
|
Leopard (F31) |
Infiniti M30 |
– |
|
Leopard J Ferry |
Infiniti J30 |
– |
|
Lucino |
200SX |
– |
|
March |
– |
Micra |
|
1999 Mistral |
– |
1999 Terrano 2 |
|
Primera (P10/P11) |
Infiniti G20 |
Primera |
|
Pulsar (earliest model) |
– |
Sunny |
|
2000 Pulsar |
– |
2000 Almera |
|
Safari |
– |
Patrol GR |
|
Silvia (S14) |
240SX |
200SX |
|
Skyline |
Infiniti G35 |
– |
|
2005 Sunny |
2005 Sentra |
– |
|
2004 Terrano |
2004 Pathfinder |
|
|
Terrano Regulus |
Infiniti QX4 |
– |
|
Tiida/Tiida Latio |
Versa |
– |
|
Tino |
– |
Almera Tino |
|
MITSUBISHI |
||
|
2006 Airtrek |
2006 Outlander |
|
|
Chariot/Chariot Grandis |
– |
Space Wagon |
|
Challenger |
Montero Sport |
Pajero Sport/Shogun Sport |
|
Delica Spacegear |
– |
Space Gear |
|
GTO |
3000GT |
– |
|
Lancer Evolution |
Lancer Evolution |
Lancer/Carisma GT Evolution |
|
Legnum |
– |
Galant Estate |
|
Mirage |
Mirage |
Colt |
|
Outlander |
Outlander |
|
|
Pajero |
Montero |
Pajero/Shogun |
|
Pajero io |
– |
Pajero Pinin/Shogun Pinin |
|
RVR |
– |
Space Runner |
|
MAZDA |
||
|
Atenza |
Mazda 6 |
|
|
1996 Autozam Revue |
– |
1996 121 |
|
Axela |
Mazda 3 |
|
|
Capella |
– |
626 |
|
Cronos/Enfini MS-6 |
626 |
|
|
Demio |
– |
Mazda 2 |
|
Eunos 500 |
– |
Xedos 6 |
|
Eunos Presso Autozam AZ-3 |
MX-3 |
|
|
Familia |
Protege |
323 |
|
Millenia/Eunos 800 |
Millenia |
Xedos 9 |
|
Premacy |
Mazda 5 |
|
|
Roadster |
Miata |
MX-5 |
|
Sentia (First Model) Enfini MS-9 |
929 |
|
|
DAIHATSU |
||
|
Pyzar |
– |
Grand Move |
|
Coo |
– |
Materia |
|
Boon |
– |
Sirion |
|
2005 Storia |
– |
2005 Sirion |
|
Mira |
– |
Cuore/Charade |
|
Mira Gino |
– |
Trevis |
|
Be-Go |
– |
Terios |
|
Atrai 7 |
– |
Hijet MPV |
|
CHEVROLET |
||
|
Optra |
Suzuki Forenza |
Nubira/Lacetti |
|
FORD |
||
|
Aerio |
Aerio |
Liana |
|
Festiva |
Aspire |
– |
|
Escape |
Escape/Mercury Mariner |
Maverick |
|
OPEL |
||
|
Vita |
– |
Corsa |
|
RENAULT |
||
|
Lutecia |
– |
Clio |
Africa Used Vehicle Adviser 