Popular Japanese Car Models in Kenya: KRA Import Taxes Compared

Updated 25 October 2026

Quick answer: on KRA’s July 2025 CRSP list, the taxes on popular Japanese imports assessed in 2026 range from about KSh 436,000 for a 2021 Honda Fit 13G.F to about KSh 2.55 million for a 2022 Toyota Land Cruiser Prado TZ-G diesel. The table below shows eleven common models, each run through our car import duty calculator and checked against KRA’s own worksheet. Add the car price, freight and clearing to get your landed cost.

How Many Cars Kenya Imports From Japan

Japan is by far Kenya’s main source of used cars. JapaneseCarTrade, a Japanese export marketplace, reports that 71,070 used cars were exported from Japan to Kenya in 2025. Almost all are small hatchbacks, saloons, station wagons and compact SUVs, because those fit the 8-year rule, Kenyan roads and the 20% and 25% excise bands.

KRA Taxes on Popular Models in 2026

Each figure is KRA’s total of import duty, excise duty, VAT, Import Declaration Fee and Railway Development Levy, using the CRSP for that exact grade and KRA’s depreciation for the car’s age. We tested every row against KRA’s TEMPLATE 2025 worksheet, recalculated independently, and all match to the shilling.

These are taxes only. They do not include the car’s price in Japan, freight, clearing, port charges or NTSA registration.

What the Table Tells You

Engine Size Moves You Between Bands

The Nissan X-Trail 20Xi has a 1,997cc engine and pays 25% excise. The Mazda Demio, Toyota Axio and Vitz, all at or under 1,500cc, pay 20%. That five-point difference is charged on the customs value plus duty, so it adds up quickly on bigger cars.

Diesel Over 2,500cc Is Expensive

The Prado TZ-G with its 2,754cc diesel engine falls into the 35% excise band, the top rate for ordinary cars. A Mazda CX-5 XD with a 2,188cc diesel stays at 25%. If you want a diesel SUV, check the engine size before anything else.

Age Lowers Tax but Not Below a Floor

A 2019 car gets 60% depreciation in 2026, the most allowed for a car that still meets the KEBS age rule. A 2022 car gets 40%. The Toyota Corolla Axio shows the effect: as a 2022 car its taxes are about KSh 763,926; the same car from 2021 would be about KSh 636,605.

Grade Matters as Much as Model

KRA lists many cars several times with different grades and prices. The Honda Fit appears as the 13G.F petrol with a CRSP of KSh 2,218,296 and as several hybrid grades priced above KSh 2.9 million. Match the chassis code on your export certificate to the right row, or your estimate will be off.

From Taxes to Landed Cost

To turn KRA taxes into a full cost, add:

1. The car’s price in Japan, converted to shillings at the rate your bank will use.
2. Freight and insurance to Mombasa from the exporter’s quote.
3. Port charges under the Kenya Ports Authority Tariff 2025: handling of US$80 per saloon up to 1.5 tonnes or US$105 per SUV up to 2 tonnes, plus storage if the car stays beyond the five free days.
4. The clearing agent’s fee, which varies by firm. Get written, itemised quotes.
5. NTSA registration and plates, paid on eCitizen.

The calculator has boxes for each of these so you can type in the quotes you receive and see one total in shillings.

Picking a Model on Total Cost

Buyers often compare cars on auction price alone. A better approach is to shortlist three or four cars and compare the landed total. A slightly dearer car in Japan with a 1,500cc engine can end up cheaper in Nairobi than a cheaper car with an 1,800cc engine, because of the excise jump. Also check running costs: fuel use, insurance and the availability of spare parts in Kenya. Our car insurance premium estimator and car loan calculator help with the rest of the budget.

Hybrids, Diesels and Electric Cars

Many of the most common Japanese imports are hybrids: the Vitz Hybrid, Axio Hybrid, Fit Hybrid and Note e-Power. KRA does not give hybrids a separate tax band. They pay excise by engine size exactly like petrol cars, so a 1,496cc hybrid sits in the 20% band and an X-Trail hybrid with a 1,997cc engine sits in the 25% band. What often differs is the CRSP: hybrid grades are usually listed higher than the petrol version of the same car, which pushes the tax up even though the rate is the same.

Diesel buyers face a different line. Diesel engines up to 2,500cc pay 25% excise, while petrol engines get up to 3,000cc before the top band. That is why a 2.2-litre diesel CX-5 stays at 25% but a 2.8-litre Prado diesel pays 35%.

Fully electric cars follow their own KRA block: 25% import duty and 10% excise. Few used electric cars come in from Japan today, but the lower rates are worth checking if you are considering one, along with charging access where you live.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my dealer quote a different duty?

Dealers sometimes quote for a different grade or an older list. Ask which CRSP entry they used and compare it with the calculator.

Will these figures change?

Yes, every January as cars age by a year, and whenever KRA publishes a new CRSP list. The calculator always uses the current year and shows the list date.

Read next: how KRA’s CRSP works and car import duty rates in 2026.