This Japanese Van Proves Once Again Why Kei Cars Make the Ultimate Campers

Suzuki’s Every kei van might be small, but it goes big when it comes to camping potential.

Suzuki

Published August 22, 2025

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Updated August 22, 2025

If you’re already a patron of the kei car scene, you’ll appreciate awesome compact overlanders like the Mitsubishi Delica and the Toyota HiAce.

In case you’re not, let this little Suzuki be a lesson — they’re essentially the tiny houses of the van life movement, and they can pack a big punch despite their diminutive size.

Orange Suzuki Every van parked on grass with its side sliding door and rear hatch open. A man is sitting inside the van near the open sliding door, and a woman wearing a red cap, blue skirt, and striped shirt is standing outside holding a rolled-up blanket. The van is loaded with picnic items including a basket and a cooler. Trees and a clear sky are in the background. — The Every won’t be up to tackling any hardcore trails, but its four-wheel drive capabilities should suffice for most glampers’ needs.

Small van, big attitude

The J Limited arrives as a special-edition version of the Suzuki Every’s top-tier Join Turbo trim. As such, it comes with a mid-mounted turbocharged 658cc three-cylinder engine.

While it’s hardly a powerhouse at 63 ponies strong, the Every measures just 133.7 inches long. Being shorter than a Fiat, then, it doesn’t need a lot of giddyup to get moving.

Nevertheless, buyers have the option of both two- and four-wheel drive, so it does offer real-deal all-terrain chops.

View from the back of a vehicle looking out onto a sandy beach and ocean. Inside the vehicle, there is a gray padded mat or mattress, a pair of sandals, a blue bag with patterned fabric inside, and a large silver water container marked with volume measurements. A person wearing a plaid shirt, jeans, and a backpack stands on the beach facing the water. The sky is clear and the ocean is calm. — Thanks to its folding rear seats, the Every goes big on utility.

What’s more, as part of the J Limited package, the Suzuki kei van dons black trim elements throughout the bumpers, the door handles and the mirrors.

In combination with the multicolored graphics and the gunmetal hubcaps atop the steel wheels, it gives the Every a look that’s far more rugged and adventurous than its size might suggest. It’s a bit like a shrunken Sprinter van or a would-be Toyota Land Cruiser.

Blue Suzuki Every van parked on a gravel surface near a body of water at sunset, with a man standing nearby holding a camera and looking towards the horizon. — With black bumpers, slick gunmetal wheels and multicolor decals, the Every J Limited certainly looks the part.

Packed with camping potential

Of course, a camping rig is about more than merely looking the part. Thankfully, kei cars — especially vans — like the Suzuki Every can be surprisingly practical.

In this case, Suzuki includes standard equipment such as power sliding doors and air conditioning, and the rear seats fold flat for sleeping.

A metal rod mounted on a brown surface with three black straps holding two metal cups and a green lantern hanging from a hook. There is also a round container with some contents visible in the upper left corner. — Suzuki offers nifty interior accessories like these luggage bars for hauling gear.

Moreover, along with an exterior roof basket and some luggage bars for the side walls, buyers can also build out their J Limited to haul gear with a nifty interior cargo net.

On the tech side, Suzuki offers features like an optional 7-inch infotainment display with built-in Bluetooth connectivity, a rearview camera, a GPS antenna and more.

Two Suzuki Every vans, one gray and one orange with a roof rack, are parked on grass in a wooded area near a lake. Three people are sitting and standing around a small wooden table with camping gear, enjoying a casual outdoor gathering. The scene is bright and sunny with lush green trees surrounding the area. — The Every J Limited isn’t destined for the United States any time soon, but it should inspire some space-conscious overlanding.

Japanese exclusive

At this time, Suzuki is only offering the Every J Limited in Japan, where it will be priced at roughly $12,500 for the two-wheel-drive version and $13,500 for the four-wheel-drive version. It’ll be available in four colors, including Ivy Green Metallic, Tool Orange and Denim Blue Metallic.

Although this kei van isn’t destined for the United States anytime soon, there are plenty of small overlanders to consider on the used market that can offer similarly space-conscious experiences.

And, given the growing popularity of kei trucks, it’s possible that similar options will start making their way stateside before too long. You can learn more on Suzuki’s website.

About the Author: Gray is an associate editor at Gear Patrol, covering cars, motorcycles and anything else with wheels. When he’s not chasing the latest industry news, he’s probably wrenching on one of many projects. For better or worse, he believes classics make perfectly practical daily drivers.