A friend of mine suggested me to write a comparison report between the imported 660cc JDM cars and the locally built hatchbacks, of which there are a few. But before I begin writing on about the actual comparison, here’s an insight: I currently own a 2009 Honda Life, it is a 660cc JDM and is many ways (especially interior), similar to Daihatsu Move, Mitsubishi EK Wagon, and the lot. While on the local car front, we have many options such as Mehran, Cultus, Cuore, Santro, and Swift to put against Honda Life. However, my story will be based on facts. So here goes:
On a hot day of May, I had to exit the office for some reason and as I sat on the back seat of my car under this bright and shiny sun, there is ease of getting in and out of the back seats and once you’re in them, there is a lot of leg space and even a 6’0″ tall person has ample space left so, I adjusted my seat and crossed my legs and boot up my laptop to look into some office work that I couldn’t within the office.
The most ridiculous thing about local hatchbacks (except the Swift) is that there air-con work mildly during the day and work rather well at night. Here, in the Life, the air-con works like a charm, performs very well even in this weather.
Then there’s a cup holder right next to me and on every door, you don’t get one of these in Mehran. An armrest and a tray to hold my mobile (I don’t smoke) so that every message and call can be attended without reaching in my pocket every time. The speakers on every door play music that is vivid and crisp. I cannot afford a Mercedes or a BMW, but in this budget, this is the closest I can get to some level of luxury. You can’t even half expect in your local hatchback of what I have in the Life, I mean Honda Life.
I have a driver therefore, I was a passenger in the backseat but if you have to drive this car yourself, it is as simple as ABC as well. The in-dash gear saves space in the gear area of normal vehicles and Pakistanis may squeeze three people on the front seat as well. Just hop on, set the car to D mode and enjoy the drive. The electronic steering is as light as a feather and virtually effortless.
And once you’ve parked your car, the built-in immobilizer technology also ensures you will find it there once you come back. With all this, the car gives you 15-16 Km/L in city. In this budget, I’d say that it is a fair bit of bargain.
Now, if you would, please compare all these features with the local cars. Does it have this much space, features, comfort, fuel economy, etc. If no then, it is time to switch over to JDMs.
If you worry about spare parts and mechanics then let me assure you, that they are available, the skill and tech required to work on these cars is available, though it may not be as cheap as Mehran but then Mehran is just an engine from the early 80s connected with some wheels and a steering. Even Honda service stations provide maintenance services to my Honda life. The era of no spare parts or mechanics is long gone.
I made switched over to Honda Life from a Cultus VXL, and I consider it one of my best decisions. There is a world of a difference between these cars. If you want luxury in a limited budget, 660cc JDM is the right way to go. Or you can enjoy your local assembled car in the shelter of cheaper maintenance and good resale.
Here are few Guides you should read to know how to buy an imported car.
How to read an auction report.
Complete Guide on buying used imported car.
Here’s how you can buy a good Prius.
great post
100 times agree. Japanese imported car is Gift.
You have made me a fan of Honda life !
i love jdm bcz these r 1000 times batter than our local cars and superior in all aspects.
Is that a car? Oh Boy that thing looks more like toilet seat to me. Sweet heart, thing is that you don't know the first thing about cars or writing reviews. Hell, here we have someone who doesnt drive himself and uses a laptop in the back seat giving us all a comparative review about cars. Well, i never thought things will get this bad one day, but then the world has to come to an end after all, so who cares right?
Son, there ain't no luxury which comes cheap, so get a Merc when you can afford to coz you aint get even remotely close to anything Daimler Chrysler has to offer in that 660cc range of yours
very informative and logical
bro just want to ask one question that i heard that there 660cc imported cars are not family cars they can only use as a student car. My family consist of 5 members including me ( 4 adults and 1 under ten years ) and I'm currently driving MEHRAN for 1 year and now thinking to upgrade on a imported jdm which can i afford, so what u say that these cars can handle this much weight .
Well 660cc can handle that much weight, but pick and fuel economy will be compromised a bit..
driver to drive this box shaped thing ..meh and meh and yet again a big meh
might as well tell me a single place in whole pakistan which sells ALLthe parts for this thing………..do you even drive???this 660cc a/t with a/c is slow as a buffalo
i am wondering if those sandals come with this car from japan
Trying to compare 660 JDM with Merc and Chrysler.. Man, end of the world is surely near!!
1. I drive it myself as well
2. Bilal gunj in LAHORE, and many others in various cities where you can get 100% parts, personally seen myself
3. what pick you expect from 660cc? A formula 1 car? Bhai pleasee
Get your facts straight bro 🙂
it's a chappal not a sandal 😛
and they're from here, Bata store,
anything else? :v
Salman Ali, He wins man, I cant argue now that he's brought in a Chrysler to his side. the level of intellect.. Agreed the end is coming
Mujtaba Abbas .. i agree with ur artical ..but onething must not be ignore that u cant drive this on long drive. cause i have mira and i found many problem on long way.. cause of heating problem.. and slow speed as well..
Junaid Mughal To be honest,I didn't take it on a long drive. but yes I've driven it on Ring road at about 100-110 Km/h for a while, No problems there..
A nice article, but its name is a bit wrong. You start with 660cc jdms and talk only about one car for a whole category… injustice 🙁
Those who criticise the looks of 660cc JDMs, please take neutral look at the mehran and cultus from stone age. They are just as absurd as first Gen santro, you have just gotten used to them. believe it or not, these JDMs are way more practical then the meh meh mehrans and potato cultuses queued up at the CNG stations.
Junaid Mughal that heating problem should be specific to your car and needs to be fixed. I have driven my mira custom isb to lahore and back plenty of times already. no problem whatsoever. Without any exageration Gives me 21-22 km/l over GT road. Though nothing more than 17-18 in local.
Just like any other local car, make sure you get your car maintenance on time.
the Interior of Honda life is similar to many 660cc JDMs in that regard.. Leg space.. side cups.. comfortable etc.. that is why i said.. It is practically impossible to compare every single JDM.. 🙂
what about AC cooling in long n city
engine life
AC Cooling is much better than Mehran/Cuore etc if you want to compare. Works good in City, so i am assuming it will work equally well at highway as well.
Engine life, Well my Honda life has clocked 120,000 km on odometer (Bought it at 90,000 Km) and Alhamdulillah Engine is still strong, Did not face even any problem so far.
I hope your questions are answered 🙂
price plz………….-
Of? If Honda life then starting from 8 onwards.. depends on model year and condition..
Mujtaba Abbas ok thx
Waqas Khalid Sheikh Np 🙂
lol i bet you drive a mehran
Integration Of CVT transmission in Kie cars has eradicated this problem.
Well I find it ridiculous when people start criticizing this article and comparing luxury of cars worth millions of rupees to this category,, I thought the comparison was with local assembled low price range vehicles …. and being an owner of 660 cc JDM myself I can surely and completely vouch for its edge over our local cars in every aspect ( except from resale or cheap maintenance maybe ), my stingray turbo has more leg space and features than my 9th gen civic and its got 64HP( compare that to mehran,alto,cuore and cultus ) and you ll know what im talking about, hell it doesn't let a 1.3L local overtake till 100kmph 🙂 enough said, if resale isn't your top most and final priority, then there s simply no match between these cars ,, peace 🙂
Mustafa Altaf haha 😀
I think we have lost the perspective here.. the article reads," Comparing an Imported pony ride with a Local Shoe Box !!! "
The verdict on the subject is, ' No Comparison…."
And we've come to this stage because like many other things in this land of the Pure, the Local Auto Maker, does business on the same lines as," Mr. Double Shah.." and we have no shortage of Suckers…
An Import ANY DAY, no matter how puny the ride is..
Slow as buffalo ? Just because they are 660 cc ? Ever heard about suppressed RPM ? These are lightweight car with supressed Rmp ffs man. I bet they can beat ur mehran anyday with added bonus of an airbag incase something goes wrong 😉
So you make a stupid bet and assuming you are right you laugh about it. Well, you my dear Altaf are a common condition of our society, and nobody needs an intro to our society, right?
You think your abnormal behaviour excludes you from the society smart ass ? How many times have you driven a chrysler or a merc ? The guy owns the car, he knows what he's speaking unlike you whose busy defining his fantasies. If only maturity came from a freaking gym this world wouldve been a better place.
Mustafa Altaf The Entire body except the brain area got developed..
So you make a stupid bet first, laugh like an idiot assuming you are right, and then go about starting a fight once you realize you are wrong, that is truly mature. Well, what did I say about our society? Oh yes, nobody needs an intro….you know why?…..coz it explains itself very well. Keep it up buddy, that a great way to make a better world.
Rizwan Qureshy I guess you copy pasted your above comment by mistake 😀 Bleh
I agree…! Wonderful post indeed.
BUT….
Vitz = shit for 14 lakh
Passo= shit for 12 lakh
Any JDM dinki hatch above 10 lakhs = BS
Corolla GLi, City steermatic, idsi, Ivtec, Corolla Altis, Civic 7th -8th Gen, Suzuki Swift etc over these small boxes any day anytime for me. 🙂
True JDM market lies above 18 lakhs for Axio/premio and below 1000k Rs in comparison to alto cultus and other local crap (except swift).
Getting a JDM hatch for 11-15 lakhs is ultimate foolishness.
The most Stupid Argument and Comparison I have ever seen,Get a Life Rizwan Qureshy,Did you even read the article ? do you know what Honda Life is and what a Chrysler is?Brother Life is not so simple to compare a A380 to A Cesena
What car do you have Rizwan?
I have owned Honda Life 2010. My car is driven 26000 km and I have very much satisfied with its performance. The word Honda means luxury with comfort.
I have also driven other 660 CC cars but Life is better than those. Fuel economy is 14 km/L in city with AC.
Mr Rizwan i think your comments are not justified as he is comparing JDM with Local Cars, He is not comparing small JDM with Merc or crysler. I think u also have heard names of crysler and Merc or just have seen photos of these cars on net. Be realistic and be focused on the topic. Stop acting like a dealer who always prefers a local car for his profit. Regards
This is one side of the paper which is bright and levish, on the other hand if you need spare parts and other related accessories, you will end up with alot of trouble. On the other hand local cars will not face such issues.
Honda Life or Japanese other no doubt it is luxurious but Pak car still very very economical coz i visited Lhr from Gujranwala for a business reason that give me 150km in just 450Rs cng. Which Japanese cat can't
Cars assembled in Pakistan are technically crap due to the falling industry standards, thanks to politics. Its a tradition in our country that with the passage of time, as a vehicle is being sold in the market, its quality gets deteriorated and its price gets escalated. Most of the models do not justify their price. If you compare our cars with Indian models, which I have experienced, they are 1000 times more perfect than ours, even the vehicles carrying GCC specification are a class apart from those that are manufactured in Pakistan.Honestly, the specification standards of Vehicles in our country are inferior to the toy cars available in the market. Pak Suzuki, a politics infested organisation is producing vehicles, that has been obsolete, a long time ago, in other parts of the world and with minor and cheap incremental augmentations. The imported vehicles from Japan, US, Australia, South Africa via Dubai are much much superior in terms of metallurgy, engine and its technology and performance and of course, much more comfortable to drive due to a much better suspension system. Plus their manuverability and road grip is quite superior too as compared with locally manufactured models.
I own a a 2006 Life and this car is awesome!! Plan to buy a newer model: wonder how mmuch this ones worth!?
This shape is about 8.5 Onwards
where do you buy CNG for last 6 months, by the way???
what kind of maintenance required in jdms? i own 2013 model wagon R. need to know about maintenace, oil change and tunning??
Very nice article. I love Japanese car. I never bought a Pakistani cars. Now I own a Honda Life 2007 for 5 years. This is a very beautiful and wonderful car