The Nine Coolest Cars You Can Finally Import In 2026

Our roads are about to get much more exciting

2026 is nearly here, and that means that a new batch of interesting, fast, or just downright quirky cars is available to import to the US. Under our current import restrictions (thanks, Reagan), the citizens of this country aren’t allowed to import a vehicle that’s under 25 years old. With the passage of the new year, vehicles like the Honda Integra Type R, VW Beetle RSi, and more are all legal to import. We’ve rounded up the ten most desirable (or downright weird) and put them all in one place.

Renault Avantime

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The Avantime seems a fitting place to start. It’s certainly the most practical car that’s worth importing this upcoming year, with seating for five and a good-sized trunk as well. But the Avantime is known more for its quirky styling, having gained a bit of a cult status in the last 25 years since its introduction. We can thank Top Gear for that, at least in part. The Avantime is also known for its wacky articulating doors and available manual transmission.

Honda Civic Type R (EP3)

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The last Type R before they got all edgy, the EP3 generation of the hottest available Civic is a quirky car in its own right. The huge headlights, unmistakably 2000s grille, and hatchback look give it a unique flair all its own – to say nothing of the car’s odd dash-mounted shifter. You’ll be able to liken your cheap Japanese hot hatch to a Carrera GT in that respect, though 197 horsepower isn’t quite what the Porsche makes. These were also sold outside Japan in places like the UK, so finding one is much easier than some rare imports.

Renault Clio V6

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The vaunted Clio V6 is finally legal for import. By far one of Renault’s stranger cars, the French automaker took a run-of-the-mill Clio hatch and fitted it with a monstrous V6. Tight on space under a hood built for smaller engines, Renault did what it usually does: put the engine in the back. A tradition harkening back to the Renault 5 Turbo, this modern take features a naturally-aspirated engine instead. Here, you’ll be robbed of both cargo space and a significant sum in exchange for one of the more unique cars ever built.

Volkswagen Beetle RSi

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The Beetle RSi is another such quirky European car we haven’t been able to get. It sought to answer an old question: What if Beetles were actually capable of 60 miles an hour? The RSi was able to do quite a bit more than that, thanks in large part to an uprated engine, better brakes, unique suspension tuning, and more. Fitted with a wing spanning nearly a quarter of the hatchback’s overall length, the Beetle RSi’s VR6 engine and quirky looks are an amalgamation of everything we love about Volkswagen.

Opel Speedster

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In case you’ve missed it, some early Lotus models have begun to appreciate in value quite rapidly. Their lightweight, analog experience is something not many have managed to replicate successfully, but thanks to some corporate badge engineering, a nearly identical alternative is now available for import. The GM-derived alternative made use of a different engine, but the Lotus chassis remained. The tiny roadsters are also obscenely light, coming in under 2,000 pounds.

Honda Integra Type R (EP3)

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Here in the US, we got a version of this car – the AcuraRSX Type S. It’s a bit short of the full-fat Type R, though, at least stylistically. This is a hatchback, largely mechanically similar to another Honda Type R hatch, the EP3. However, it uses a K20 four-cylinder, making a heartier 217 horsepower. It’s also a more modern shape, and it retained an older hydraulic steering rack compared to the EP3. The other big benefit is, of course, parts availability. Regular ol’ RSX stuff will fit, negating one of the biggest issues in importing a vehicle: you’ve got to find parts for it.

BMW 3 Series Compact

If you want weird, quirky, and a bit ugly with a little practicality on top, the Renault Avantime is not your only option. Following up on the arguably more handsome E36-generation Compact, the next BMW 3 Series compact is based on the E46 generation that followed. New looks and a new interior came with it, along with some dimensional changes. You’ll want the most powerful version, the 325ti, which pushed around 189 horsepower via a straight-six. Or you could put an S54 in it.

Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII

This image is probably how most Americans remember the Evolution VII. One of the star cars of 2 Fast 2 Furious, the Evo is a bellwether in enthusiast car culture. These marked the final year of Evolution models sold before Mitsubishi made the jump to the US market, which makes them remarkably similar to the Evolution VIII that would be introduced a few years down the road. Making use of the long-running 4G engine and the brand’s rally-bred all-wheel drive car, this is the kind of import you bring in when you don’t want to just be another guy in an STI.

Alfa Romeo 156 GTA

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If you’re a glutton for punishment, the Alfa Romeo 156 GTA can serve as a departure from your usual run of broken luxury sports cars. In exchange for Alfa Romeo quality, you’ll gain access to the brand’s 3.2-liter “Busso” V6, unquestionably the best-sounding V6 ever put into series production. You’ll also get iconic Alfa looks and a manual transmission, but these cars are cheap for a reason. Thanks to that weighty V6 at the front, most owners doing serious driving swap out the limited-slip differential.

Final thoughts

What do you think of the cars we’ve rounded up here? Are there others that deserved to be on the list more? Let us know in the comments below!