Pickup trucks are one of the most popular types of vehicle in the US. Although they are commonly used as family haulers and daily commuters today, they originally started out as work vehicles, hauling construction materials and goods around work sites and farms.Today, someone who is shopping for a pickup truck for commercial use could also opt for something a little more left-field: a kei truck. These tiny Japanese vehicles are a part of the wider kei car family; they are often imported to the US to be used for work purposes, thanks to their small dimensions and ability to squeeze into any space. One kei truck model that’s especially popular in the US is the Honda Acty, so let’s take a closer look at this little-known Honda’s history and features. The Third-Generation Honda Acty: A Pocket-Sized Pickup Truck Bring A TrailerThe Honda Acty is a kei truck model that has been around for nearly 50 years. Its third generation, introduced in 1999, is the most recent one to be eligible for import to the US. If you’re looking for a no-frills, practical, small work vehicle, the Acty may be a great choice for you.Although the third-gen Acty was available in both van and truck form, the vehicles imported to the US mostly belong to the latter group.This truck is powered by a three-cylinder engine, just 656 cc in size. This engine is part of Honda’s E0 family, found in several of the brand’s kei cars. E0 engines were used for a very long time, with some so-powered examples remaining in production as late as 2020. Today, however, they have mostly been replaced by another engine group, the “P” series.The Acty’s output was initially 45 hp, but later went up to 52 hp and 45 lb-ft of torque. Transmission options included a three-speed automatic, four-speed automatic, and five-speed manual.The Acty offers several advantages over a more traditional pickup truck. It can transport around 750 lbs of cargo, but requires far less fuel and maintenance than most trucks. Insurance costs are likely to be much lower as well. This is largely due to its legal status: kei trucks are typically only allowed on private property, which means the standards of maintenance and the insurance requirements are far less stringent than for vehicles used on public roads. The Honda Acty On The Market Today As the earliest examples of the third-gen Honda Acty became eligible for import last year, a few of these vehicles are now available on the used market, an ideal opportunity for buyers who don’t want to go through the hassle of importing a vehicle themselves. Prices range between $5,000 and $6,000, depending on the vehicle’s mileage, maintenance record, and overall condition.The second-gen model is slightly cheaper and easier to find, as it has been eligible for import for a few years longer. For this generation, prices range between around $3,000 and $7,000. Prices do tend to soar a little for those with rarer and more useful specifications, for example, dump truck models. These regularly sell for north of $10,000, as do well-modified examples, which are tailored more specifically to off-road driving. Generally speaking though, if a nice standard Acty is what you're looking for in ready to go, servicable condition, $5,000 should be enough. The Acty's Origins And Early Generations Bring A Trailer Although the third generation is the most popular in the US, the Acty has been around since long before 1999, tracing its origins back to the mid-70s. The first generation of the model was introduced in 1977; two years later, a van version joined the lineup as well. The first-gen Acty was powered by a 545-cc two-cylinder engine, which produced just 28 hp and 30 lb-ft of torque. Transmission options included a four- or five-speed manual as well as a three-speed “Hondamatic”, Honda’s first semi-automatic transmission. The Hondamatic was offered a little later, from 1982 onwards.Unlike its successors, the first-generation Acty was sold in a few export markets around the world, mainly the UK and Australia. It was never sold in the US, although of course it is now eligible for import due to its age.Bring A Trailer After just over a decade of production, the Acty introduced a second generation in 1988. This version introduced the E0-series engines to the model, which would also be used in the third-gen version. Initially, power came from a 547-cc three-cylinder unit, which produced 34 hp and 33 lb-ft of torque. In 1990, however, the engine was changed to a 656-cc unit (closely related to the one used in the third-gen Acty), which produced 37 hp and 40 lb-ft of torque. Transmission options remained unchanged from the previous generation.The second-gen Acty underwent a few design changes over the course of its lifespan. The 1990 facelift did not just upgrade the engine, it also changed the design of the headlights: the Acty truck, which originally had round headlights, received the same rectangular headlights as the van version (dubbed the “Street”). The Street remained in production a little longer than its pickup truck counterpart, continuing to be sold until 2001. The Acty, on the other hand, was replaced by the third-gen version in May 1999. Why Are Kei Trucks Enjoying A Wave Of Popularity In The US? Bring A Trailer Kei trucks are a distinctly Japanese type of vehicle, but in recent years they have also become quite popular in the US. Most imported kei trucks can be found in rural areas, earning their keep in the agricultural sector. American farmers discovered the practical, nimble kei truck was well suited to being employed as a work vehicle, ideal for navigating tight farm roads, where larger home-grown trucks might struggle. They soon began to import these tiny pickups from Japan in sizable numbers. Due to the 25-year import rule, only trucks from 2001 or earlier are eligible for import, however this still leaves plenty of options for those who want a pocket-sized truck in their garage.Kei trucks could not be more different from the kinds of vehicle most Americans think of when hearing the word “pickup truck”. This is a core part of their appeal: they offer something that’s completely absent in automakers’ American lineups. Their ultra-compact size makes them agile and able to squeeze into places larger vehicles can’t. They may only sport dinky payload and towing capacities, but unpaved paths, narrow roads, and small nooks and crannies are no match for the kei truck, making it easy to haul goods around a work site or farm. These trucks’ maneuverability, small turning circle, and fuel efficiency all play in their favor as well.Of course, there are some downsides as well. Performance is not a core aspect of the kei truck, and most models in this group will only be able to achieve a top speed between 50 and 80 mph. You are also unlikely to find any of the safety features we have become accustomed to in modern American vehicles. This has an impact on the legality of kei trucks, which are largely confined to private property and banned from public roads in the States. In Texas, for example, kei trucks are completely banned except for agricultural use. There are a few areas where regulations are more lenient: some states, like Alabama and Louisiana, allow kei trucks on public streets and back roads, but not on highways. The Acty's Arch Rival: The Suzuki Carry Bring a Trailer The Honda Acty is not the only kei truck that has enjoyed unexpected popularity in the US. There are a few other models in this category that have been imported in sizable numbers, one of them being the Suzuki Carry. Like the Acty, the Carry also has a fairly long history behind it: it was first introduced at the start of the 1960s and has gone through eleven generations so far, ten of which are eligible for import.Bring a Trailer Throughout most of its lifespan, the Carry has also been available in both pickup truck and van form. The only generation to exclusively offer the pickup body is the eleventh and current one, which US-based buyers won’t be able to import until 2038.The Suzuki Carry shares many of the Honda Acty’s characteristics which make it an attractive option for American buyers looking for a work vehicle. Its design is simple and basic, with little to no tech, safety features, or complex mechanical features. The model is small, reliable, and easy to maintain. Replacement parts are also especially abundant for the Carry, making the repair process smoother. The Carry is also equipped with high/low dual-range gearing, which enables it to tackle rough terrain with ease.Sources: Honda, Suzuki