The Suzuki Cappuccino Is The Pocket Sized Roadster You Need
The Suzuki Cappuccino is often overlooked because all the hype is around KEI trucks and vans at the moment. Don't sleep on these mini roadsters because there is so much to appreciate about them.
Top Products
Since When Did Suzuki Sell Cappuccinos??
No, Suzuki does not actually sell coffee of any kind. We are here to talk about one of the best looking KEI cars ever made, the Suzuki Cappuccino. A turbo-charged 3-cylinder beast that has an incredible power output of…
Wait for it..
63 horsepower.
Jokes aside, the Cappuccino is one of Suzuki’s best cars ever… In my opinion, probably because I know that with how things are going, I won’t be able to afford a Dodge Viper or even a S2000. The Cappuccino is the closest I can get without breaking the bank.
This mini roadster was produced from 1991 to 1998. It is a small 2-seater convertible “sports car” that was designed to be classified as a Japanese Kei car. I didn’t know much about them until recently. All I knew was that it was a car that I would mistake for the iconic Miata back in GT2. I hope you’re not claustrophobic because it’s time to hop in the Cappuccino and take a closer look at this pocket-sized roadster.
The Suzuki Cappuccino Is Actually A Kei Car
Kei cars are the smallest highway-legal passenger cars you can own in Japan. These cars are restricted in size, power output, and engine capacity. The reason is so the owners of these vehicles can have insurance and tax benefits. Plus saves them some money on gas.
The most popular Kei cars in the 90s were mini SUVs like the Honda Z and Mitsubishi Towny. The Suzuki Cappuccino was part of the ABC Kei car group. ABC stands for the three small sporty Kei cars of the time, the Autozam AZ-1, Honda Beat, and Suzuki Cappuccino. Of the three, the best looking and most comfortable is the Cappuccino.
Is That A Miata? Or Is It An S2000? Wtf Is That Thing?
The Suzuki Cappuccino looks nothing like any of the typical Japanese Kei cars of the 90s. People almost always mistake it for a Miata or, if it has a large wing in the back, an S2000. I can’t blame them because, from afar, it can easily look like either or.
The best thing about the Cappuccino is the fact that it is a convertible. Not just any convertible, though. It has three roof panels that, when removed, turn the car into a T-top. You can then take it a step further and pull a small latch on the center console that lets you retract the rear windshield into the car, converting it into a full convertible. The three panels were specifically designed for you to pack in the trunk of the car to always have with you.
The exterior of the car is quite appealing. It gives off a squished Miata vibe. Suzuki did a good job when it came to the design. It is very well-proportioned and doesn’t look like an oddball. Most Kei cars are very odd looking.
Odd looking to us in North America. It’s like seeing a Smart Car on the road; it stands out like a sore thumb. Odd looking doesn’t necessarily mean ugly because, as you can see, the Cappuccino looks pretty damn good.
The Typical Japanese 90s Interior But With Hidden Latches
The interior of the Suzuki Cappuccino is nothing to go crazy about. It is a typical analog interior that you find in many Japanese cars from the 90s. You have a center console that houses your rear window latch, a key-lock compartment, the dome light, E-brake, and your two power window switches.
The car does have AC which is pretty neat, considering it is such a small car with a small engine. The vents are tiny, just like the car, so I don’t know if it does a good job of keeping the cabin cool. I can assume that if you want to experience the full 63hp, you will have to turn the AC off.
The glove box is also key-locked, and that is where you’ll find your hood latch. If that’s not odd enough, the fuel door release is inside your key-lock center compartment. Small details that make me like the Cappuccino even more.
One Of The Smallest Roadsters You Can Get Your Hands On
The Suzuki Cappuccino is a small ass car. Once you see one in person, you will be shocked. The Cappuccino is about 11ft long, 4.5ft wide, and weighs roughly 1,600 lbs. To compare, a 1991 Miata is about 13ft long, 5.5ft wide, and weighs about 2,200 lbs. I didn’t think there was anything out there smaller than that.
The Cappuccino can be quite uncomfortable to drive for taller individuals, but that goes for all the ABC Kei cars. You won’t be daily driving one of these Kei cars or taking long trips in one, so it’s not that big of a deal. Once you’re behind the wheel, that won’t even matter because this little car is so much fun to drive.
Tiny Car + Tiny Engine = FUN
The Cappuccino is not the fastest Japanese car you can get your hands on. That’s a fact, but that doesn’t mean it’s boring. This little Suzuki roadster has a turbocharged intercooled 3-cylinder, 657 cc engine that puts out roughly 63 hp stock. Crazy to think that there are motorcycles on the road with bigger engines.
Suzuki obviously couldn’t go past the 660 cc max displacement that Japanese Kei cars were allowed, so they decided to get as close as possible. If they did, it wouldn’t be considered a Kei car. The small size of the Cappuccino, paired with this small engine, rear-wheel drive, limited slip diff, and a 5-speed manual transmission, makes it feel like you’re flying down the road. You probably aren’t, but who cares. You’ll definitely have a smile on your face.
Turn This Cappuccino Into An Espresso
This little Cappuccino can really become an espresso. There are people out there crazy enough to swap the engine out for something much more powerful like this Hayabusa turbo-powered Cappuccino. That thing is insane. Here are more videos on this specific Cappuccino.
The car can house a larger engine, but the car is already small and dangerous to speed in as is. It has a speedometer that only reads a max speed of 87 mph, so it was never intended to go faster than that, but I mean, why not.
A rare site to see
The Suzuki Cappuccino was only sold in Japan and in parts of Europe. Hate the fact that they were never sold in North America because it makes it so hard to get your hands on one. I have only ever seen one at a local Cars and Coffee meet-up.
Anyways, if you are lucky enough to find one for sale, I’d jump on it. There are a few for sale in the U.S., but it’s rare. You’re probably better off importing one if you really want one. It is a car that most people have never seen in person or even know about. It is a car that will draw attention no matter what. I believe that in the next ten years or so, the demand will most likely grow, and you will see a lot more on roads here in the U.S.
...
