JDM specs by model code
Every car sold new in Japan is listed by the transport ministry (MLIT) under its model type, such as DBA-GRS204, with its engine, gearbox, drive, weight and official fuel economy. Enter a model type, model code or chassis number to see what the factory built.
Specs by make
Popular imports
Models we have a buyer’s guide for, with the codes MLIT lists for them.
- Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VII to IXCT9A
- Toyota Alphard 30 seriesAGH30WAGH35WGGH30WGGH35W
- Toyota Alphard Hybrid 30 seriesAYH30W
- Toyota AquaNHP10NHP10H
- Toyota PriusZVW30
- Toyota Alphard 20 seriesANH20WANH25WGGH20WGGH25WATH20W
- Toyota Estima 50 seriesACR50WACR55WGSR50WGSR55WAHR20W
- Toyota PriusZVW50ZVW51ZVW55
- Toyota Voxy 80 seriesZRR80GZRR80WZRR85GZRR85WZWR80GZWR80W
- Toyota Hiace H200KDH201KKDH201VKDH206KKDH206VGDH201KGDH201VTRH200KTRH200VTRH214WTRH219W
- Toyota Crown S180GRS180GRS181GRS182GRS183GRS184
- Toyota Mark X X120GRX120GRX121GRX125
- Toyota Mark X X130GRX130GRX133GRX135
- Toyota Mark II X110JZX110JZX110WJZX115JZX115WGX110GX110WGX115GX115W
- Toyota Celsior UCF30UCF30UCF31
- Nissan Skyline V35CPV35V35HV35PV35NV35
- Nissan Elgrand E51E51NE51ME51MNE51
- Nissan Elgrand E52TE52TNE52PE52PNE52
- Nissan Serena C26C26FC26NC26FNC26HC26HFC26
- Nissan Serena C27GC27GFC27GNC27GFNC27HC27HFC27
- Mitsubishi Delica Space Gear L400PD8WPE8WPF8WPD6W
- Mitsubishi Delica D:5CV5WCV1W
- Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution XCZ4A
- Subaru Impreza WRX STI GDGDBGDA
- Subaru Impreza WRX STI GRGRBGVBGRFGVF
- Mazda Bongo Friendee SGSGLRSGL5SGLWSGEWSGE3
- Honda NSXNA1NA2
- Honda Integra DC5DC5
- Honda Civic Type R FD2FD2
- Honda N-BoxJF3JF4JF1JF2
- Suzuki Jimny JB64JB64WJB74W
- Suzuki Jimny JB23JB23WJB43W
- Suzuki Carry DA16TDA16T
- Daihatsu CopenL880KLA400K
- Daihatsu Hijet Truck S500S500PS510P
Reading a model type
Take DBA-GRS204. GRS204 is the model code: the same letters start the chassis number, so a Crown with this code has a chassis number like GRS204-0012345. The letters before the hyphen, DBA, are Japan’s emissions code, and they change when a model is re-certified to newer rules even if nothing else does. Our ULEZ checker for imports explains what each one means.
You’ll find the full model type on the model plate (marked 型式), the export certificate and the auction sheet. The UK V5C only carries the chassis number, which gives you the model code: that’s enough to look a car up here.
Questions
What is a Japanese model type?
It’s the code a car was approved under in Japan, such as DBA-GRS204. The part after the hyphen (GRS204) is the model code, which also starts the chassis number. The letters before it say which emissions rules the car met.
Where do I find the model type on a Japanese import?
On the model plate in the engine bay or door shut (型式), the export certificate, and the auction sheet. The chassis number on the V5C gives you the model code without the emissions letters, and that’s enough to look it up here.
Why doesn’t my car’s code show up?
MLIT’s lists start in 2004, so cars that went off sale before then aren’t in them. Most 1990s imports (Skyline R32 to R34, Supra JZA80, early Imprezas) are too early.
Why is the fuel economy so much better than my car gets?
Japanese tests are gentle, especially the old 10-15 mode test, which has low speeds and no motorway driving. Use the figures to compare versions, not as a promise. The newer WLTC figures are closer to real life.
About this data
We read every yearly list MLIT has published from 2004 to 2026: 2,076 model codes from Japanese makes. Each list shows the cars on sale that March, so the years on each page are the lists a version appears in, not exact production dates. MLIT doesn’t give power or torque for cars. The lists are in Japanese; the English model names, mpg conversions and emissions code explanations are ours. Lists before 2013 were printed as PDFs that we read by machine and checked against the later spreadsheets: of 2,200 rows in the 2012 list for model types still listed in 2013, every capacity matched and all but three engine codes did, and we’ve corrected those. MLIT’s own lists can still contain slips, so check anything that matters against the car’s own papers.
Source: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), Japan, fuel economy lists 2004–2026, used under the Public Data License 1.0. Edited and translated by JDM History.