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Have you heard of Mitsuoka?
This company is a small Japanese automaker known for its quirky, retro-looking cars that include the Orochi, Le Seyde, and most recently the Rockstar; a Mazda Miata made to look like a classic Chevrolet Corvette Stingray. Now they’ve expanded their lineup even further with the addition of a new model, the Buddy, and it’s a crossover.
Like all other Mitsuoka vehicles, both past and present, the Buddy is made to look like an older vehicle, specifically an ’80s Chevrolet pickup: the C10. From the square two-tier headlights to the chrome bumpers and even the large trunk trim, the Buddy has all the elements of an ’80s Chevrolet truck and SUV. Yet they incorporated modern touches including LED DRLs on the grille and lights. modern LED taillights. To complete the look, it even comes with retro wheels and chunky off-road tires.
However, underneath the American-inspired design, the Buddy is actually a Toyota RAV4. Even though the front and rear ends have been heavily redesigned, it is still easy to distinguish the original lines of the RAV4. From the doors to the blackened fenders, it looks a lot like the Toyota crossover. No interior photos were provided, but we expect it to carry over much of the Toyota counterpart, albeit with some of Mitsuoka’s design touches.
Like the RAV4 in Japan, the Mitsuoka Buddy is available in various trim levels. Depending on the model, it is also available with a 2.0-liter gasoline engine or a 2.5-liter hybrid grinder with the option of 4WD. Lower tier variants are finished in a single color and do not include the retro-styled wheels. Meanwhile, the two-tone variants have a white roof, more bizarre color options, and the classic SUV-look wheels.
The Mitsuoka Buddy will officially debut on November 26 in Japan. No pricing has been announced, but we assume it will be slightly more expensive than a standard Toyota RAV4. The design isn’t to everyone’s liking, but it sure stands out.
