The little Japanese truck that could be your salvation amid rising fuel prices
While gas prices are skyrocketing and American pickups keep getting bigger, a tiny Japanese kei truck listed on Bring a Trailer is starting to look surprisingly attractive. Sure, it won’t tow your boat across three states, but it can definitely save you a lot of money at the pump.
This is a 2001 Subaru Sambar — one of Japan’s legendary kei trucks. Recently imported to the US, it combines a five-speed manual transmission, selectable all-wheel drive, and a tiny 658cc four-cylinder engine that sounds more like a lawnmower than what you’d expect to find in a pickup.
Why are kei trucks so special?
While American buyers have been supersizing their vehicles for decades, Japan has perfected the art of doing more with less. The kei truck formula prioritizes affordability, efficiency, and practicality over brute force. And although they don’t make as much sense in the US as they do on the domestic market, they have gained a cult following among American enthusiasts.
This particular Sambar looks like a solid example. It has 77,000 km (48,000 miles) on the odometer and comes equipped with drop-down bed sides, power steering, selectable low range for tougher terrain, and little else. If you value functionality and disregard excess, you’ll find common ground with this vehicle.
Trump’s Approval
Last year, President Trump made headlines after returning from Japan with an unexpected fondness for kei cars. Describing them as “very cute,” he asked why Americans couldn’t buy more of these tiny vehicles and suggested regulators should make life easier for manufacturers interested in importing them to the US.
This will almost certainly never happen. Kei cars still face significant regulatory hurdles in the US regarding emissions and, most obviously, crash safety. And even if they were available, their appeal beyond the enthusiast community would be correspondingly small. We just can’t imagine most Americans being thrilled by something that looks like it would crumple as easily as a box of noodles when hitting a Silverado.
Should You Trade Your Pickup for This Subaru?
Would you trade your full-size pickup for this little Subaru? Probably not. But as a second car, a weekend vehicle, or an urban workhorse — the Vespa equivalent of a truck that gets 40 miles per gallon — it’s hard not to see its appeal.
At the time of publication, the highest bid on the auction is just $1,137 with no reserve, with five days left until bidding ends.
This story shows how even in a world of giant pickups and SUVs, there is room for small, economical vehicles that could become an unexpected solution to rising fuel costs. While kei trucks are unlikely to become mainstream in the US due to regulatory restrictions, they have already found their niche among collectors and enthusiasts who value uniqueness, practicality, and low operating costs. This Subaru Sambar is a great example of Japanese automotive design focused on efficiency, and a reminder that sometimes less really is more — especially when it comes to your wallet.