America has some of the most diverse car culture in the world, but it’s still not perfect. Every worldwide region has its own preferences, desired features, and quirks, so what works in the US may not work in Europe. Just think — could you ever see the Hummer EV making its way through thin medieval streets? Still, that leaves US car enthusiasts on the inside looking out at what Europe and Asia get to drive, feeling more than a little jealous.
The Paris Motor Show showed off some of Europe’s biggest names going big on retro shapes, like the Citroën 2CV, but there’s very little hope that it’ll make it over to the Land of the Free. That got CarBuzz thinking: what new cars do other regions get that America wishes it did? Turns out, the list is pretty expansive, but here are our 10 favorites.
Alpine A290
We think Alpine would do just fine in the USA, and until recently, they agreed with us. Renault announced that this sporty sub-brand would launch in America by 2027, but tariffs, shifting EV demand, and a challenging market mean it probably won’t materialize.
Shame, because the Renault 5-based Alpine A290 is cute, has up to 220 horsepower, and can travel over 230 miles on a charge. It’s also not as small as you might think, so even size-obsessed US buyers would love it. The electric A110 may be coming one day, however…
Fiat Panda
If all Fiat Panda cars in Italy disappeared, the country would probably crash and burn. For years, this has been the workhorse of the Mediterranean nation, selling in great numbers with a genuinely useable 4×4 variant. This latest model has hybrid or electric power, and despite its narrow dimensions, its tall profile means you get a commanding view of the road and lots of interior room. This car has personality — check out the bamboo dashboard, embossed Panda writing on the side, or even the center console inspired by Fiat’s rooftop test track.
Lexus LBX Morizo
Lexus is known to bring the heat in its performance versions, and even if the regular LBX isn’t sold in the States, the Morizo version could be a bigger hit than a grown-up version of the GR Corolla. In fact, it shares the 1.6L turbocharged three-pot, meaning this small SUV produces 300 horsepower and can be yours with a manual transmission. This car is only sold in Japan and Australia, but we could see US buyers loving this thing. The GR Corolla is great, but it does feel like a rally car all the time. This plush version would certainly solve that for modern SUV-obsessed buyers.
Renault Twingo
The Renault Twingo is one of those cars you look at and say ‘Awww.’ Its design is hugely reminiscent of the original Twingo, and thanks to some cost-cutting measures, it’s available from less than €16,000, or the equivalent of $18,000. Most manufacturers only produce cars in muted colors now, so this cute city car brings a pop of color back to traffic. It may only have 163 miles of range and 80 horsepower, but in congested cities like New York or San Francisco, it makes perfect sense.
Hyundai Staria
Compared to European roads, US highways are generous. That’s why minivans would probably make more sense than SUVs for large families. Instead of glitzy off-roaders, minivans are seen more as luxury vehicles in Asia. Kia even made a private jet-like Carnival for its home Korean market.
The Hyundai Staria is everything you love about the Palisade or Ioniq 9, just bigger. Minivans may have a bad image in the US, but if Hyundai tried something like this, we think people would see the benefits over an SUV.
Toyota GR Yaris
The GR Corolla may be loved by its customers, but the GR Yaris puts all that performance in a size that’s easier to chuck about into a corner. It’s certainly not underpowered in comparison – the engine makes a strong 280 horsepower, with tuners able to get over 300 easily. GR Corolla hatches are made in the UK and then shipped to the US, and the Yaris is made in Japan and shipped to the UK. Surely Toyota could make both markets happy and offer these hatchbacks side by side?
Honda Super-One
The Super-One could have just come out of an anime. It’s small, angry, and not afraid to have fun with an all-too-tempting boost button that makes it feel like hot hatches of old. It may be all-electric, but there’s a rev gauge and fake manual shifting, similar to the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N.
Expert
insight
I’m glad this exists. This is the fun, affordable EV the world needs, and if Honda’s managed it, others will soon follow. I can’t think of a brand-new vehicle on sale in the US that makes me smile as much as this did.
Tall proportions and an infinitely customizable second row of seating make this car flexible, and adults can comfortably sit in the back and be tossed around as you unleash all 94 horsepower.
Suzuki Jimny
You can take all your fancy SUVs with off-road trims, as the Suzuki Jimny makes do with old-fashioned characteristics. The 1.5L engine may make only 95 lb-ft of torque, but there’s low-range gearing, a robust ladder frame, and even a limited-slip differential for getting you out of tricky situations.
So many off-roading SUVs are getting expensive in the US as brands try to load their cars with software, but the Jimny brings it back to what off-roading is really about. With its low mass, it will probably outgun most full-size SUVs on the trail, too.
Audi RS 5 Avant
The BMW M5 Touring is actually outselling the sedan version, which few saw coming. Surely Audi sees this as a way to introduce the RS5 wagon into the States, as BMW still doesn’t sell the smaller M3 wagon in the USA yet. It’s powerful, of course, with a PHEV 2.9L twin-turbo V6 that produces 630 horsepower and 608 lb-ft of torque.
It’s a handsome car that would do well in the US – 51 miles of electric range and a 3.6-second sprint to 60 miles per hour mean it can get you to the track silently and then beat supercars with your kids in the back. It does weigh 5,225 lbs, but that’s the price you pay nowadays for all this performance.
Mitsuoka LA1
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In what is effectively a Mazda MX-5 wearing a C1 Corvette disguise, Mitsuoka has crafted a brilliant tribute to one of the US’s most important cars. The LA1 may not have a V8 in the front (the company will likely use the Japanese Miata’s 1.5L four-pot producing 132 hp), but it’s more about what it feels like to drive.
With the rise of restomods, we think America would take well to this sort of thing. Don’t expect there to be many made, but full details are due later this year. This would certainly appease not only driving enthusiasts in the US with its strong Mazda foundations, but also old-timers who want a taste of the old Americana without overwhelming buckets of power.
Sources: Renault, Mitsuoka, Alpine, Toyota, Audi, Hyundai, Honda, Suzuki, Fiat, Lexus
