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Japan was rife with innovative and fun cars in the '90s. Sadly many of them were completely overlooked by buyers.

Toyota's Mega Cruiser has similar military roots to the Hummer H1. However, unlike the Hummer, the Mega Cruiser stayed hidden from the spotlight and alienated from American enthusiasts. Now, over 25 years after its production, it can touch American soil for people to see the Japanese version of a military utility vehicle.

The Mega Cruiser was a formidable Japanese military SUV that featured a centralized air compressor for all four wheels, four-wheel steering, and weapon mounting points for missile launchers, machine guns, and radar equipment. While it may not be comparable in terms of performance with other swifter cars on this list, it had its place in the market and came with a load of useful tech.

Related: H1 Hummer VS Toyota Mega Cruiser: Which Monster Belongs In Your Driveway?

Mitsubishi made the FTO as a small coupe or convertible to replace the Mitsubishi 3000GT but ended up placing it as a more affordable sports car option. Only a few gearheads who have been lucky enough to drive one can appreciate its performance and fun driving mechanics.

One of the major reasons the stylish FTO was underrated was because it never made it to the U.S. market. Mitsubishi offered it as a 1.8-liter four-cylinder good for 125 hp or a 2.0-liter V6 that made 180 hp. A third option featured a special Valve timing innovation by Mitsubishi (MIVEC) that could make 200 hp. The VR-4 model was the most special of the FTO, and with a 6-speed manual transmission delivering power to the all-wheel drive system, it could sprint from 0-60 mph in only 5.8 seconds.

The Mazda spirit of bringing serious competition upmarket was as lively in the '80s and '90s as today. In 1990, Mazda challenged the personal luxury car segment, and the third generation Eunos Cosmo was born. The coupe featured a 2+2 luxury setup and a special three-rotary engine with a sequential twin turbocharger.

Unfortunately, the Eunos Cosmo didn't do so well in sales, as Mada made only about 9,000 units. What makes it highly underrated is the fact that it was the most powerful Japanese car produced at that time. It was the first mass production car to feature the powertrain above setup, a navigation system, and an electro-luminescent gauge cluster.

Motorheads are not crazy enough about the MX-6 as it deserves. It came with a capable 2.5-liter V6 good enough for its lightweight chassis. The 160 hp and 160 lb.-ft of torque were good to speed the car from 0-60 mph in 7.7 seconds and deliver a fun driving experience. The power plant is easily tunable to 200+ hp.

The MX-6 also came to the U.S market in a special four-wheel steering package that made cornering at high speeds a breeze. It's easy to see why this car is underrated because of its reliability and revolutionary innovations at the time.

Perhaps one of the cars with the richest motorsport history on this list is the Nissan 300ZX. Nissan has always been at the forefront of making impressive Japanese sports cars and paid special attention to making the 300ZX.

The car has aged well with its timeless, high-tech, and capable engine. It could easily clear a 0-60 sprint in under 6 seconds, which was not only impressive in the '90s but is still fun and thrilling by today's standards.

Related: Here's What We Love About The Nissan 300ZX

When it comes to JDM legends, there are endless conversations about Evos, WRXs, Skylines, and Supras, as these icons had a big role in shaping the modern auto landscape. While those cars got the recognition they deserved, some other Japanese legends, such as Toyota's pocket rocket, the Starlet, remain underrated.

This tiny hatchback was interesting because of the turbocharged engine's heavy tuning potential. Most people might not even know that the G.R. Yaris has its roots in the Starlet; going ahead to show how this car is underrated.

As far as affordable and fun goes, this tiny, unique roadster is among the top on the list. The Japanese market is no stranger to small roadsters thanks to the "Kei" regulations, and the Suzuki Cappuccino is one of the finest and most amusing of the bunch.

It's now legal to import in the U.S, and people are already starting to see its appeal. Making just 65 hp, you might be surprised it can do an impressive 8.5 seconds to get to 60 mph from the start. Enthusiasts continue to fall in love with the little car because of its excellent nature of handling around corners on winding roads.

Related: Suzuki Cappuccino: Costs, Facts, And Figures

Toyota tried to fit luxury and performance in a small-sized car that would exempt it from major taxes, and the Cresta was born. However, later models in the '90s were no longer compact under Japanese regulations. Fortunately, updates to the engines and trims made it a capable and viable sedan at the time.

The final generation of the Cresta, the X100 series, came in 1996 and is the one you want to get. It makes an interesting JDM today, as it has decent power and good looks and is still luxurious enough for its affordable price.

People who know the Honda Prelude love it, as it exemplifies Honda's dedication to making fine cars. The fourth generation Prelude was introduced in 1991 and featured an electronic four-wheel steering system for better cornering at high speeds. Although pop-up headlights were no longer available for this era of the Prelude, its fourth and fifth generations are still the Prelude to get.

A Prelude is a great modifications platform, and the fifth generation is underrated. It can be a daily performance car that is practical and affordable. Like the S2000, there are speculations that it might see a comeback.

Related: The Coolest Automotive Comebacks We're Looking Forward To In The Next 3 Years

Another Kei car on this list should not be a surprise, as Kei cars are always underrated in a market where big displacement engines are preferred. The Beat is a rare Kei sports car that's funky, fun, and ideal for city driving.

What makes it an interesting car is that Pininfarina was involved in its design. Production for Honda Beat began in 1991, before a hiatus in 1996. It then made a comeback in 2015 as the improved Honda s650.

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