Comparing European cars and Japanese cars can be quite tricky to some extent. Cars are more universally similar to one another these days and one can have a hard time trying to compare and differentiate them.
However, both European cars and Japanese cars have where they excel and where they struggle. The purpose of this article is to demonstrate how European cars are better than Japanese cars. That’s if they are.
Meanwhile, find out whether Japanese cars last longer than American or European ones.
Table of Contents
1. European Cars Are Usually the First To Use Innovative Technology While Japanese Cars Often Rely on Proven Technology
One of the major features of modern cars that captivate the hearts of car enthusiasts today is the level of high technology that comes standard with them.
It is no more news that modern cars these days come equipped with a myriad of technological features that can literally blow one’s mind.
From the inception of the automobile industry over a century ago, European cars have been able to trail a blaze, technologically wise, for other cars to follow. What else did you expect?
Seeing that Europe was the place where the first cars were designed and manufactured.
The Europeans set the flagship of what a standard car should be like.
European cars are known and revered to be at the forefront when it involves the employment of high-end technology.
Their car engineers and technicians put in so much energy to deliver ground-breaking technological features for their vehicles.
They are almost always thinking about and cooking up new ideas for technological innovations to be featured in their cars.
Japanese cars on the flipside are respected for their moderate and quite satisfactory technological features.
Japanese cars usually are equipped with the basic everyday technology that consumers are already familiar with. This is not to say Japanese auto engineers and technicians are lazy, in fact, it is far from that.
Japanese automakers do not favor what could be termed “complicated technology,” they have a preference for only simple and proven technology.
The Japanese are careful not to spend too much time and focus on just the technological aspect of their cars. Hence, they just put in the right or appropriate amount of energy on technological features.
However, it is pertinent to note that Japanese cars are not too far left behind in terms of technology by their European counterparts.
This is because Japanese automakers are constantly updating and improving their cars’ technology as well.
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2. European Cars Take the Lead in Design and Style While Japanese Cars Follow the Lead
Among the things that intrigue and thrill car buyers or car enthusiasts is the overall exterior design and style that comes with the car.
People tend to be more attracted to cars with sleeker designs to the extent of sometimes turning a blind eye to the car’s performance or reliability.
Regarding design and style, European cars are second to none because European automakers place a premium on what a European car should look like.
Europeans have a need, or more of an obligation, to appeal to the sense of sight of their consumers with mesmerizing and eye-catching car exteriors.
The Europeans’ mild obsession with aesthetics for their cars is evident in the appearance of the cars. Noticeably, European automakers frequently change the designs and styles of their cars to keep up their aesthetic lead on the market.
Japanese cars on the other side of the coin are just comfortable with the typical or traditional designs and styling.
Japanese automakers prefer to employ symbolic or regular designs and styling for their cars because these kinds of designs do not quickly get outdated or out of style.
For this reason, Japanese automakers change the designs and styles of their automobile brands less frequently than their European counterparts.
Hence, the designs and styling of Japanese cars over the years remain more or less the same.
3. European Cars Are More Highly Esteemed for Quality and Performance Than Their Japanese Counterparts
When foraging onto the auto market to buy a car, some people are fascinated by the outward design of the car they want.
Some others are more interested in the level of technological innovations or advancements that have been made, while another set of potential car buyers is aroused by the said quality and performance of their intended dream car.
As far as quality is the center of discussion, European cars take the lead yet again.
One noticeable long-time trait of European auto engineers is that they spend a lot of time trying to maximize their chances of achieving the perfect cars.
They do this by ensuring that high-rate materials are used in the process of manufacturing. Quality materials are used to intricately form components of the car to guarantee strength and longevity.
This is one of the reasons why European cars are more expensive than Japanese ones.
Japanese automakers, on the other hand, are more interested in selling as many cars as possible on the auto market. They are more engrossed in the mass production of affordable vehicles that can meet regular everyday needs.
Therefore, they use less expensive components to make their cars. This does not mean that Japanese cars are inferior to European cars, it simply means that Japanese automakers take cognizance of the average car owners’ needs
Performance is another stronghold of European cars, it is a sort of birthright for them.
This is so, thanks to the unrelenting efforts of European automakers. European cars are more often than not, fitted and equipped with very powerful standard and optional engines that give them outstanding performance.
European cars are more powerful than their Japanese counterparts because it is a kind of trademark for some European car brands. Their cars are popular for their high performance, they are solidly crafted to impress on the road.
European car brands like Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Volvo, only to mention a few, are esteemed for their powerful engines and rapid acceleration.
Overall, Japanese cars do not stand a chance against European cars when it all boils down to quality and performance.
European vehicles are the beasts of the road devouring any competition that stands in their way.
4. European Cars Have More Streamlined Target Consumers While Japanese Cars Have More Decentralized Target Consumers
Another way in which European cars differ from Japanese cars is that both car manufacturers have a different set of target consumers.
European cars are produced using expensive and high-end components to produce the needed quality and the quality of European cars price is reflected in their prices.
Japanese cars on the other side of the same coin are designed and manufactured using long-lasting and low-cost materials that can be handily reproduced.
The aim of this is for these cars to have a high rate of mass production in very large numbers.
European cars and Japanese cars, because of their differences in production methods, resultantly have different target consumers in the same market.
Since European cars are manufactured using costly materials and components, they produce quite a moderate number of cars.
Many cars that are considered European heavyweights such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz, or Land Rover are minimally produced.
These European cars and more have streamlined target consumers, which means that they are targeted toward a particular class in society.
That is, for those who do not mind spending a significant amount of money on the purchase and maintenance of these cars.
The Japanese on their part are more interested in designing and manufacturing cars that are quite affordable and reasonably reliable. Japanese automakers have the interests of the common man at heart.
This is why they produce cars using second-rate materials and components that can be easily accessible.
Their aim for using low-rate materials is to be able to meet the needs and demands of a wide range of people, thereby decentralizing the target consumers.
Japanese champs such as Honda, Toyota, and Nissan have been able to realize this vision, and it is proven in their sales index.
Also, explore the ways in which European cars are different.
Final Thoughts
It is no news that European cars are the ones to beat when it comes to quality and luxury cars.
They are built for
- Top quality
- Enhanced performance
- Enviable strength
- Sleek modern design, and
- Cutting-edge technology.
Because of these attributes, most European cars would give you a run for your money.
It is pertinent to clarify that, this article does not mean to imply that Japanese cars are bad as compared to European cars. Instead, that they each have their known strengths and weaknesses that they enjoy and suffer.
Japanese cars are known and greatly esteemed for their
- High rate of reliability
- Easy maintenance costs
- Unbelievable fuel efficiency
- Impressive safety ratings, and
- Sufficient longevity
Their affordable and relatively low costs save them the spot of the most sold cars on the planet, as they are very popular in all the continents.
You would definitely want to know why European cars are smaller.
Sources
Comparison Between Japanese, European, And American Vehicles | JapaneseCarTrade