JDM Engines: 13 Best Japanese Car Engines Ever Made

Japanese cars aren’t necessarily known for their styling. If you’re looking for luxury, a German or British car would be better; if you want something that looks aggressive, an Italian or American car might be more up your alley. Japanese cars often have some strange styling quirks that make them stand out.

Some, of course, look incredible, like the iconic Trueno AE86, Honda NSX, and the Mitsubishi Evo. But for every great-looking car, there’s a Daihatsu Midget, Mitsubishi Toppo, Toyota Will Vi, and a Honda City Turbo II, which had a foldable 50cc motorcycle in the trunk.

What Japanese cars are known for, however, is their incredible engineering. Japanese engines stand out as some of the most durable, reliable, and well-made engines that can generate significant power with relatively small displacements and few cylinders. Because of this, they’re lightweight, easy to modify, and the perfect choice for a track car.

In this article, we’re going to talk about why JDM engines are so popular, how to buy them, how to use them, and the top 13 Japanese engines that you can buy right now for your next project.

What Makes JDM Engines So Special?

Engines from any country have their own quirks and personality that are defined by the market. American engines, for example, harness the brute force of V6 and V8 with enormous displacements to provide powerful straight-line speed. Older American engines, in particular, utilize a lot of cast iron because it's extremely durable and handles heat well, but because of this, they tend to be quite heavy.

European engines are known for their meticulously engineered motors that provide smooth power delivery and responsiveness. Older Euro engines were dominated by diesel for torque and fuel efficiency, but newer engines prioritize keeping emissions low to meet strict regulations.

Japanese engines have their own quirks and personality thanks to the market they were designed for. In Japan, the biennial vehicle registration and tax, shaken, is one of the biggest contributing factors here. The cost of shaken depends on three things: vehicle size, vehicle weight, and displacement. 

So those big, heavy, high-displacement V8s that Americans love are out, and lightweight, low-displacement engines are in. But, of course, nobody wants a slow and boring car. So Japanese car manufacturers have had to come up with other ways to make cars fast even when the displacement is low, such as:

• Turbocharging: By forcing more air into the engine, a turbo dramatically increases performance and speed. Many Japanese cars come with turbochargers as standard.

• High Revving Engines: The horsepower of an engine is determined by two factors: RPM and torque. Instead of relying on torque for power like in American muscle cars, Japanese performance engines produce much higher RPM.

• Variable Valve Technology: Honda's VTEC, Toyota's VVTL-i, and Mitsubishi's MIVEC optimize performance across the rev range, this allows for incredible power when the needle nears the top.

• Weight Reduction: By reducing weight to lower the shaken cost, Japanese cars end up outperforming American and European counterparts even with lower displacement.

Top 13 JDM Engines of All Time

13. CA18DET

Nissan's CA18DET inline-four engine came stock in the Silvia S12 of the late 1980s and the 200SX of the early 1990s. This tiny 1.8L engine is fitted with a turbocharger as stock, and produces only 166 horsepower.

However, with its lightweight aluminum head and ECCS fuel injection technology, it's known to produce fantastic power at the higher rev range. It also handles modification very well, meaning that with a few simple changes such as bigger injectors, a performance-oriented tune, and perhaps even a bigger turbo, it's not unheard of for these engines to produce 300 horsepower.

12. SR20DE

The SR20DE was used in so many Nissan models, it's hard to find a car that didn't have it. But that just means there are plenty of them available! This engine appears in the 180SX, 200SX, Bluebird, Liberty, Infiniti G20, NX2000, Pulsar, Sentra, Serena, Silvia and more! 

If you want a quality engine with good durability, good technology, and an enormous amount of support and replacement parts - but you don't want a turbo - the SR20DE is a good choice. This 2L engine is around Japan's standard for displacement, and produces up to around 200 horsepower at stock.

11. VK45DE

There aren’t many V8 JDM engines available, and this big, powerful engine from Nissan is one of the few. At 4.5L its displacement is significantly higher than most Japanese engines, but much smaller than an American V8.

Unlike most Japanese engines, the VK45DE provides substantial torque, making it a unique choice for a Japanese chassis. Unfortunately, it's not a very popular engine among car modders, so there isn't much information about it available. If you're going to swap it, you're going to need to do a lot of the heavy lifting on your own.

But the fact that it's been used in various non-production Nissan racecars, such as in a Nissan GTR for the Super GT racing series, and that it took out a 1-2 finish in the 2011 Le Mans LMP2 24-hour endurance race, this engine has some serious potential!

10. 6G72TT

The Mitsubishi 6G72TT is a 3-Liter V6 engine that was used in dozens of Japanese and American cars from 1986 to 2011. Everything from the Mitsubishi Pajero SUV, to the enormous Dodge Ram pickup truck, the super fast Mitsubishi GTO, and the luxurious Chrysler LeBaron.

Strangely enough, it was also used in the Chrysler TC by Maserati. This one's a little hard to unpack. A Mitsubishi (Japan) engine, assembled by Maserati (Italy), and placed in a modified Dodge (US) Daytona Chassis, to be badged and sold by Chrysler (US). Of course, it was a flop, costing Chrysler roughly $600 million in the early 1990s.

But don’t let its spotty history scare you, this turbocharged version of the 6G72 produces up to 320 horsepower. An exceptionally durable, 3-liter, stock twin-turbo, Japanese V6. This engine is one of a kind.

9. 1UZ-FE

This is the second of two V8s on our list, and the second largest engine (losing out to the other V8, the VK45DE) however this engine takes a higher position in our ranking thanks to the JDM community.

The availability of this engine made it the perfect choice for anyone who wanted a powerful V8 in their Japanese chassis, and its popularity built a stellar community around it, meaning there’s an enormous amount of support, mods, and upgrades available.

Unlike the VK45DE, there are bolt-on performance parts, and high-performance tunes that can give the 1UZ an enormous amount of power with little effort.

8. 13B-REW

As the only rotary engine on our list, this engine truly is unique. If you want a car that makes an awesome sound (something between an F1 racecar and a chainsaw) then this is the engine for you! 

This twin-turbo engine boasts an impressive 255 horsepower - which, in a lightweight body like the Mazda RX-7 it originally came in, can hit speeds of up to 256km/h at stock. With significant modifications, 13B engines have been known to hit speeds of 340km/h - that's faster than a Japanese shinkansen!

Unfortunately, rotary engines are so unique that if you’re used to piston engines you’re going to have to tackle a significant learning curve to be able to work on one.

7. RB26DETT

The RB26DETT is a 2.6L twin-turbo inline-six engine that came out in the classic Nissan Skyline GT-R. As one of the most sought-after, collectible, and ultra-expensive JDM cars on the market, there's no wonder its engine is also hard to find and quite an investment. But if you've got the money, this is one of the best JDM engines around.

Pushing out 316 horsepower at stock, this engine is one of the most powerful engines on this list, and thanks to its iron block and forged internals, it's nearly bulletproof, making it perfect for performance modification.

Unfortunately as people love to push these engines to their limits, and they tend to have minor oiling issues that get neglected for too long, a vast majority of the used RB26DETT engines on the market aren't in the greatest condition.

6. K20A

The Honda K20A is an inline-four, naturally aspirated 2L engine. That doesn't sound very impressive. It's one of the smallest displacement engines on the list, with only four cylinders (competing with some of the big V6 and V8 engines we've already mentioned), and no turbo.

So just how fast can it be? Well, thanks to Honda's exceptional engineering, and their gamechanging VTEC technology, this little engine produces 221 horsepower at stock and can reach a top speed of 240km/h in the Type R Civic it originally came in.

But the really special thing about this engine is the community built around it. With an enormous amount of information regarding performance tuning and modification, and easily accessible aftermarket turbo kits, heavily modified K20As have been known to produce 1000 horsepower, and top speeds exceeding 340km/h.

5. B18C

The B18C is another impressive offering from Honda, another inline-four and at only 1.8L, it’s smaller than the K20A.

The K20A, as mentioned above, can hit enormous levels of power and speed with modification, and all-in-all, it is a better platform than the B18C. However, the B18C is significantly more affordable.

For the same price as a stock K20A, you can get a B18C and a turbo kit, meaning you’ll be hitting those impressive levels of performance much quicker, and with much less investment if you opt for the B18C.

The world's fastest B18C build, a heavily modified Honda Integra that was featured on Top Gear, has hit an eyewatering top speed of 347km/h. 

4. EJ20

The EJ20 is the only offering from Subaru on our list, and comes in various displacements from 2L to 2.5L, with naturally aspirated and turbo options available. Highly modified EJ20 engines have been known to produce more than 800 horsepower and hit speeds exceeding 300km/h.

But while many of the other engines and vehicles mentioned here excel at fast speeds in a straight line, the EJ20 in a Subaru AWD hits these speeds on winding mountain roads in rally and hillclimb events.

I may have placed this engine a little higher in this list than some others might, but there are a couple of good reasons for that. First of all, it's the only boxer engine on our list. That creates a smooth ride, reduces vibration-related wear, and lowers the center of gravity. Secondly, these engines are bulletproof and extremely reliable.

The main reason though, is that Subaru's don't get enough love in the JDM scene. While other car manufacturers have started putting out cars that look like they were designed by the most boring people on the planet, Subaru keeps belting out classics with powerful engines and aggressive styling like the Levorg, the WRX S4, and the BRZ. 

The EJ20 is a powerful, reliable, and very affordable engine that accepts modification and tuning well. A fantastic start for any project.

3. 4A-GE

Toyota’s 4A-GE isn’t a particularly powerful engine. It’s a 1.6L, inline-four engine that only produces about 128 stock horsepower. However, it’s considered one of the most fun JDM engines available, thanks to its high-revving nature, incredible sound, reliability, and enormous wealth of knowledge regarding mods.

With enough time and money invested, it is certainly possible to modify a 4A-GE to exceed 300 horsepower. It’s also considered a JDM classic, with a rich history in motorsports, it’s somewhat of a collector’s item. If you like the 4A-GE, but want a little more power, the supercharged 4A-GZE may be a better choice.

2. 4G63T

The 4G63T is a turbocharged inline-four that came out in the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, an engine that blows most other four cylinder engines out of the water with the enormous amount of power it's capable of producing. In the Evo it had a top speed of around 282km/h stock, and produced up to around 300 horsepower. 

When this engine is modified, however, strange things happen. While most of the engines on this list will hit 1000 horsepower with the most extreme modifications, the most modified 4G63T engines have been known to produce 2000 horsepower. That's about triple the power output of a Lamborghini Aventador or a McLaren F1, double the horsepower of a Bugatti Veyron, and about 500 more horsepower than the fastest production car on the planet, the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport - not bad from an old Mitsubishi engine.

Of course, horsepower isn’t everything, and the fastest 4G63T build will be left in the dust by most of the cars mentioned here in anything other than a ¼ mile drag race. It's still a very impressive engine with enormous power potential, reaching top speeds exceeding 315km/h.

1. SR20DET

The 13th position on our list was held by the SR20DE, and first place goes to its much more powerful brother, the turbocharged SR20DET. 

This is a 2-liter inline four engine with a lot of potential, and a great reputation. It's widely regarded as not only one of the best engines Nissan ever produced, but also as one of the best engines coming out of Japan.

This came standard in the 180SX and the Nissan Pulsar GTi-R, but can be swapped into so many other bodies, such as the Toyota AE86, and the Mazda Miata. The versatility of this engine is one of its key features. In addition, thanks to its enormous run in Nissan vehicles from 1989 to 2002, aftermarket parts companies had significant motivation to create replacement parts, upgrades and more for this engine.

There's an unlimited supply of bolt-on performance parts such as intakes and downpipes on the market that give the SR20DET a kick, and it's not too difficult to find parts for the more mechanically-minded, such as aftermarket stroker kits, camshafts, and more. Some reputable aftermarket parts companies, like Japan’s ENDLESS, have even developed twin turbo kits to add another turbocharger onto this already powerful engine.

With all of these great parts comes a huge wealth of support and a large online community making it easier than ever to build this engine past 500 horsepower. Unfortunately SR20DET engines are highly sought-after, especially as it was never featured in any cars sold in the US, which makes them very expensive.

Why Are Japanese Engines Considered Better?

It’s all a matter of taste really. Some people like big V8 engines that make that signature grumbling sound and produce bucketloads of high-torque power. Some people like overengineered engines that run like a Swiss watch and balance performance and comfort. Others prefer little engines that pack a big punch, are easy to work with, exceptionally durable, and provide consistent power and maneuverability on a track or course. 

If you’re in that third category, Japanese engines are the best choice for you.

Can I Buy a Japanese Engine?

Japanese engines are extremely popular around the world. Whether you’re replacing the broken engine in your car with another of the same model or swapping out a lower-performing engine for one with higher horsepower, there are plenty of reasons you might want one.

Thankfully, there are many companies online that get Japanese engines out of cars in Japan and ship them worldwide. So the availability of JDM engines is top-notch, unfortunately, the recent popularity has driven up the prices by quite a lot.

What Tools Do You Need to Work on Japanese Engines?

If you're working on Japanese engines and don't imagine yourself spending much time working with American engines, it makes sense to buy only Japanese standard tools. If you see yourself working on both Japanese and American engines, however, you're probably going to end up with two complete sets of tools.

Japanese engines are held together by bolts, nuts, and screws. For the screws you'll need JIS screwdrivers, as Phillips screwdrivers will cause them significant damage. For the nuts and bolts, you'll need millimeter sockets and wrenches, not SAE sockets or wrenches, as they won't quite fit.

Most Japanese engines on this list come from older models, so you'll also need some rust remover and a breaker bar to make sure you can loosen those tough nuts.

While it may be daunting to start a tool set with Japanese tools, don't worry, as you're completely spoiled for choice. Japanese wrenches are among the best in the world, and their ratchet wrenches are known to be extremely precise and durable.

If you want an easy get-started guide for the tools you'll need, check out our article on the most important tools every mechanic needs.

Can You Put a Japanese Engine in an American Car?

Technically, yes. There is a fabricator and Toyota Supra fanatic out of Florida called Andrew Carroll who swapped a 2JZ-GTE engine from a Supra into a 1972 Chevy El Camino.

The result is outstanding. The beautiful design of a classic American car in pristine condition with an enormous 800 horsepower engine in its bay, giving it a 450 horsepower increase. 

However, the process is not something most people can handle. Cutting out the transmission tunnel, fabricating mounts from scratch, designing and fabricating a new transmission tunnel that fits the new engine and welding it in place. It’s certainly not a simple engine swap.

Unless you’ve got unlimited resources, you’re better off swapping Japanese engines into Japanese chassis’, particularly chassis’ of the same make (ie. a Toyota 1UZ-FE into a Toyota Corolla chassis).

So there you have it, the best 13 Japanese engines available. If you’re mechanically-minded and want to build your own racecar, or you’d like to swap out the stock engine in your Japanese car for something with a bit more power, then there are plenty of options out there. You just might need a bit of a financial investment to get the ball rolling.

The JDM scene is full of great engines, great parts, a lot of support, and a lot of different opinions. So what’s yours? What’s your favorite JDM engine and why? Let us know in the comments down below.