Importing the Eunos Cosmo 20B to the USA: 2026 Costs
The only three-rotor car Mazda ever built, the 20B Eunos Cosmo was never sold in America, which is precisely why enthusiasts now ship it across the Pacific.
The 20B-REW is the only three-rotor engine ever fitted to a production car, and the Cosmo wrapped it in sequential twin turbos two full years before the FD RX-7 got the same trick. Roughly two liters of rotary spinning out 280 PS made this the fastest and thirstiest thing in Mazda's 1990 range.
Sold only through Japan's short-lived Eunos luxury channel and never federalized for the US, every 20B Cosmo on American roads arrived under the 25-year rule. Genuine mechanical rarity, a bubble-era touchscreen nav system, and scarce parts make it a grail JDM import rather than a cheap grand tourer.
Launched in 1990 as the flagship of Mazda's upmarket Eunos brand, the JC Cosmo was a front-engine, rear-drive luxury coupe aimed at Japan's bubble-era buyers. Its party piece was the 20B-REW: three rotors, sequential twin turbochargers, and roughly 300 lb-ft of torque delivered with eerie smoothness. It even debuted a built-in touchscreen GPS system years ahead of the wider industry. No other production car has ever used this engine, and that is the whole appeal.
Values have climbed hard as rotary interest matured, and 20B cars command a clear premium over the twin-rotor 13B versions, since clean, unmolested examples are genuinely rare. Compression numbers matter more than paint here: a tired rotary hides behind a smooth idle, so demand a recent compression test on all three rotors. Check for coolant seal weeping, dead or cracked touchscreen units, rust in the rear arches, and a service history that proves the apex seals were respected.
Because the Cosmo is well past 25 years old, the federal side is straightforward: an auction purchase in Japan, deregistration paperwork, and RORO or container shipping from Yokohama or Kobe to a US port, after which a customs broker files the HS-7 and 3520-1 exemptions. The pitfalls are practical, not legal. Right-hand drive, a Japanese-language nav screen, and 20B parts that must be sourced from Japan all add cost and patience long after the car clears the dock.
The full cost breakdown
Every line below is a researched 2026 estimate in USD. We start from the $30,000 purchase price, add marine insurance at about 1.5% and ocean freight, then 2.5% US duty on the declared value, and the broker, compliance and registration fees. Change the purchase price and everything else scales only modestly.
| Vehicle (purchase price) | $30,000 |
| Export agent & auction fees | $1,200 |
| Ocean freight | $2,800 |
| Marine insurance (~1.5%) | $450 |
| The standard US passenger-car import duty is 2.5% of declared value | $750 |
| Customs broker & port handling | $830 |
| EPA / DOT entry & compliance paperwork | $300 |
| Inland transport & registration | $1,500 |
| Estimated all-in landed cost | $37,830 |
Into USA the duty is light, just $750, so tax is the small part of the bill. It is shipping (about $2,800), compliance and registration that make up most of the roughly $7,830 you add on top of the $30,000 purchase price — around 26% before you turn a wheel.
Step by step: how importing this car works
- Agree the purchase and secure the title/export paperwork in Japan (an export agent or auction house usually handles de-registration).
- Book ocean freight — roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) is cheapest, a sole-use container is safest for a high-value car.
- Confirm eligibility from the build month — the US 25-year DOT exemption is calculated month by month, not by model year.
- Clear US customs and pay the 2.5% duty, then file EPA Form 3520-1 and DOT Form HS-7 at entry.
- Arrange inland transport, then title and register in your state — a few states add emissions or kei-vehicle checks.
Compliance & the fine print
Every Eunos Cosmo qualifies for import under the federal 25-year rule, since production ran from 1990 to 1995 and the youngest cars cleared the threshold back in 2020. Vehicles this age are exempt from NHTSA safety standards (declared on DOT form HS-7) and from EPA emissions certification (EPA form 3520-1), so no engine changes are needed for federal entry. Passenger cars carry a 2.5% import duty. State registration is the real variable, as California scrutinizes direct 1990s imports, and many owners title the car in a friendlier state first.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a 20B Cosmo with a manual transmission?+
No. Mazda only ever built the Eunos Cosmo with a four-speed automatic. Any manual 20B you see has been swapped, usually onto an FD RX-7 gearbox, and that conversion should be documented and inspected closely before you commit to buy.
Is the 20B harder to own than a 13B Cosmo?+
Yes. The three-rotor is unique to this car, so apex seals, housings, and turbo hardware are scarce and expensive, and very few shops have ever rebuilt one. Always insist on a fresh compression test on all three rotors before shipping.
What is the total estimated cost to import a Mazda Eunos Cosmo (20B)?+
About $37,830 all-in for a $30,000 example — the purchase price plus roughly $7,830 in freight, insurance, duty, compliance and registration. Your figure shifts with the exact price, route and exchange rate.
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