2019 Tokyo Motor Show Editors’ Picks

Our favorite cars from the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show

Typically chock full of far-out concept vehicles and Japanese-specific production cars, the Tokyo Motor Show is nothing if not entertaining. This year was no different, with everything from fanciful turbine/electric hybrid buggies to fully electric production cars hitting the show floor.

We voted for our favorites, tallied the scores and came up with one clear-cut runaway winner. Click on the image above to find out which car from Tokyo earned our Best-in-Show award.

Fourth Place (tie): Suzuki Waku Spo — 21 points

West Coast Editor James Riswick: It’s an electric car with retro styling, which I’m pretty much always a sucker for. Then! Then, it turns out to be both a coupe and a wagon. Those are the two best body styles! Special non-binding bonus points to Suzuki for this picture and the backwards Hustler graphic. I love Japan.

Consumer Editor Jeremy Korzeniewski: I’m so sad that I’ll never get to see the Wako Spo on the road. I love everything about this thing (save for its blocky chrome wheels), especially the way in converts from a coupe into a wagon.

Video Production Manager Eddie Sabatini: I like its retro-inspired look. Also neat that you can customizable the body style from Coupe to Wagon. 

Fourth Place (tie): Subaru Levorg — 21 points

Senior Producer Chris McGraw: This wagon is a good glimpse into what the next WRX could look like, though I’m not going to hold my breath. I’ve been disappointed too many times.

Social Media Manager Michael Ferrara: Because it’s a wagon, it’s got to get some points. But only 3; there’s no chance we’re getting in the U.S. Because it’s a wagon.

West Coast Editor James Riswick: We are Levorg. Resistance is futile. That is all.

Third Place: Lexus LF-30 — 29 points

Managing Editor Greg Rasa: Someone said this car looks like a doorstop — if so, it must prop open the door to the future. I think it looks cool, like a Lexus LC that’s been fitted with warp drive. It packs 536 horsepower and a 110 kWh battery, so if Lexus brings anything remotely like this to market, it’ll enter the EV derby in a big way.

Senior Editor, Green, John Snyder: Elegant and loaded with tech, Lexus looks like it intends to make a driver’s car for the EV set. Based on Lexus’ current offerings and the vision put forth here, I can’t wait to see what makes it to production.

Senior Producer Chris McGraw: It doesn’t look it from the photos, but this Lexus is big and beautiful, and shows that they’re actually going to get into the EV game. The design language is a bit too futuristic for me, but that’s exactly what they were going for, and 2030 will be here before we know it. 

Second Place: Mitsubishi Mi-TECH — 34 points

Editor-in-Chief Greg Migliore: The Mitsubishi Mi-Tech is the vehicle I most want to drive home from the show. The powertrain is clever and the design is fanciful. I would love to hit the dunes or trails in this.

Associate Editor Joel Stocksdale: This is what you want from a concept car: fanciful powertrains and sweet designs. This buggy looks like a blast, and anything with a turbine engine is instantly cool.

Consumer Editor Jeremy Korzeniewski: No roof. No doors. No chance it’ll ever progress past the concept stage. No worries; it’s still cool.

First Place: Mazda MX-30 — 75 points

Editor-in-Chief Greg Migliore: The Mazda MX-30 is a tantalizing blend of style and forward-looking EV tech. Mazda used its home auto show to highlight its engineering prowess and make a statement about the future. The fact that it looks great and will likely be very functional is icing on the cake.

Managing Editor Greg Rasa: In a show dominated by EVs, this one seems the most attainable. It’s a Mazda with an MX designation — translation: sporty, down to its nostalgic RX-8 half-doors. We are hearing its horsepower could be modest, though that’s true of its MX-5 cousin. But it’s an EV, so it’ll have torque, and it will combine a low center of gravity with Mazda handling sensibilities. Could be a lot of fun.

Assistant Editor Zac Palmer: I’m somewhat skeptical of this sporty electric crossover, but I also have faith that Mazda can pull off an EV in a way enthusiasts will love. Its strange packaging makes me doubtful of its future sales success, but I’m all-in on the idea of an MX-badged electric Mazda.