Mitsuoka Buddy History
Catalog record
Photography for this nameplate has not yet cleared the archive’s licensing and identity checks. The researched text below remains available while the page stays out of search and advertising inventory.
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.
Body styles
- 4-door SUV
Related models
Collect the nameplate
Find a scale model of the Mitsuoka Buddy
Search Amazon across available years, colors, and scales. Exact releases vary, so confirm the listing before ordering.