Suzuki has built the Carry since 1961, and it was Japan's best-selling truck nameplate for 39 years in a row, from 1971 to 2009. Mazda also sold it as the Mazda Scrum truck from 1989. Like every kei truck, the Carry is built to Japan's kei rules: a 660cc engine (since 1990), a body no wider than 1.48 m / 58 in (1.40 m before late 1998), and a maximum load rating of 350 kg, about 770 lb.
Which Carrys can be imported
U.S. rules let a vehicle that was never sold here be imported once it's at least 25 years old, counted from its month and year of manufacture. In 2026 that means Carrys built in 2001 or earlier. These are the trucks you'll find:
4- or 5-speed manual; 4x4 also with an extra-low (EL) 5-speed; 3-speed automatic on some 2WD trucks from 1993
1999–2001
DA52T / DB52T
657cc 3-cylinder F6A: carburetor (41 hp), fuel injection (49 hp) or turbo (55 hp). All fuel-injected from late 1999; turbo dropped in 2000
5-speed manual or 3-speed automatic
The first 660cc Carrys (1990–1991, DA51T / DB51T) also used the carbureted F6A. Suzuki counts the 1991 truck as the 9th generation and the 1999 truck as the 10th. In late 2001 the Carry became the DA62T, with the newer K6A engine; those trucks are only now reaching 25 years old.
The 1999 truck changed shape: it's a semi-cab-over, with the front wheels moved ahead of the seats, and it grew to the new, larger kei size (3,395 × 1,475 mm, about 11.1 × 4.8 ft). The 1991–1999 truck is a full cab-over. Front disc brakes became standard in September 1993.
2WD or 4x4?
Carry 4x4s (DD51T, DB52T) use part-time four-wheel drive with a high and low range: the truck drives the rear wheels until you select 4WD, and low range helps with steep or muddy ground and heavy loads. Most farm, ranch and hunting buyers want a 4x4. A 2WD Carry is lighter and simpler and suits paved roads and flat yards.
Versions you'll see
KU, KA, KC, KD: Suzuki's grades, from the basic KU up to the better-equipped KC.
Nouhan (farm) Carry: a 4x4 farm grade. On the 1999-on DB52T it adds a switch-operated differential lock and work lights.
Turbo: offered from 1997 to 2000.
Dump: the 1990s "Kintaro Dump" (金太郎ダンプ) has a tipping bed. See our kei dump trucks.
What to check before you buy
Timing belt. The F6A engine in 1990–2001 Carrys uses a timing belt (the later K6A uses a chain). Ask for records, and plan on a new belt if there are none.
4WD engagement. On these trucks the front axle engages by vacuum, through a solenoid pack. On a test drive, select 4WD and make sure the front wheels pull. If they don't, the solenoid or vacuum lines are the usual suspects.
Rust. Look at the frame rails, cab corners, bed floor and wheel arches. Surface rust is normal at this age. Holes in the frame are not.
Clutch. Check where the clutch engages. A slipping clutch or a very high engagement point means a replacement is coming.
Fluids. Plan on fresh brake fluid, coolant and oils after import.
Any Carry that's in Houston can be inspected and test driven at our lot.
Questions buyers ask
Can I title and register a Carry in Texas? Since September 1, 2025, Texas law (SB 1816) lets kei trucks be titled and registered as "miniature vehicles." Our Texas title and registration guide walks through the paperwork. Other states have their own rules, so check with yours before you buy.
Is the odometer in miles? No. Japanese trucks read in kilometers, and our listings show the odometer in km. 1 km is about 0.62 miles.
Is it right-hand drive? Yes, like every Japanese-market kei truck.
Can I buy one that's still on its way from Japan? Yes. Reserve an In Transit Carry with a $1,000 deposit. See how buying works.
