Since last year my wife and I have been living in Japan.
In our retirement years, we decided not to own a car in Japan because we live in the mid-sized city with plenty of good train and bus options. Japan also requires yearly car inspections and the cost are several hundreds dollars or more per year. They also discouraging seniors from driving cars because they are involved in so many accidents here.
Japan also has strict no-alcohol driving laws. And so non-alcohol beer is a big seller here.
Statistica claims 49% percent of cars sold in Japan in 2022 were hybrids --- and another 3% were pure EVs.
I've ridden in the Toyota Prius in the States and it's not a stylish car. But we often get rides to the Pickleball courts from two friends who own fine hybrid cars.
One couple has a Toyota hybrid with plenty of backseat comfort -- a bit boxy compared to American models, but something you and I would be proud to own and drive.
The second couple owns a racing-red Honda CRV, a spectacular car: great performance yet quiet idling, nice curves, tinted windows, comfortable backseat, big electronics for GPS / radio / TV. I have no idea what he paid for it.
The husband is actually a test driver for Honda which has a big R&D facility nearby where he works and drives cars on a huge tilted testing track that circles the Honda campus.
Yet the wife also has her own small boxy "plain jane" hybrid with tiny wheels that does the job of getting her around town economically. BTW, they live in a modest-sized single family home very close to the city and they have no kids.
So these are some comparative observations from Nippon.
“Japan also requires yearly car inspections “
Biennial . Costly , yes .