Mitsuoka Buddy History

Revealed on October 26, 2020 and on sale by November 26, the Buddy is Mitsuoka's sole SUV: a fifth-generation Toyota RAV4 with a full exterior redesign that channels the squared-off, chrome-grille aesthetic of the K5-generation Chevrolet Blazer. The retro body is paired with RAV4's modern underpinnings, available as a 2.0-litre petrol (168 hp) or 2.5-litre hybrid (175 hp). The initial 200-unit allocation sold out within four days.

Over roughly 1,200 units were produced before a semiconductor shortage forced a production halt in 2024. Mitsuoka announced the Buddy would return in May 2026 with a new batch of 150 units. Despite its low volume and Japan-only market, the Buddy attracted international media attention as one of the more visually striking retro-restomod SUVs in production.