Sometimes, we feel a sense of relief when a vehicle leaves the auto market never to return. Other times, we’re saddened by the discontinued cars.
Every year, we see some models leave while others arrive. Over the next few years, we’ll likely see the largest shift in the auto market that’s ever been experienced. The movement away from fossil fuels to sustainable energy options in electric vehicles has begun. The car world will never be the same and sometimes that’s a good thing. Let’s rate these ten departing cars and SUVs as either one we’re sad to see leave or a vehicle that we’re not sad about its departure.
Not Sad: Acura ILX
The Acura model lineup isn’t large enough to have two compact luxury sedans and the new Integra has much more to offer drivers than the outgoing ILX. We’ve already fallen in love with the new car and the old one is barely out of our minds and certainly isn’t cold in the grave yet. That said, its pretty easy to move on from one car to the next and the blandness of the ILX is immediately upgraded by the 2023 Integra.
Sad: Acura NSX
Sold under the Honda badge in Europe, the Acura NSX is a supercar that offers an exciting personality. Whenever we discuss the Acura NSX we’re swooning over this car and what it brings to the track. This is the second time the two-seat performance machine has been on the list of discontinued cars. For now, a replacement for the NSX hasn’t been announced. If this name returns, don’t be shocked if uses an all-electric powertrain.
Not Sad: Buick Encore
Even though we love our subcompact crossovers, the time has come for the Buick Encore to go off into the sunset. We won’t miss this little SUV because we already have its replacement. The larger and more upscale Buick Encore GX has been offered for a couple of years and it delivers more of what we want during a drive. Similar to midsize trucks, our definition of a subcompact is growing larger and might eventually become much bigger than we ever anticipated.
Not Sad: Chevrolet Spark
Although there was a place for a tiny hatchback, the time has come for the Spark to head out and leave the car world for good. The Spark has been one of the most affordable little cars in the market, but it lacked much in the realm of power and usefulness. The Spark had its time in the sun, but its one of the discontinued cars that we’ll quickly forget and not think about every again. Don’t expect to see this little Chevy on the auction blocks fetching high price tags in the future unless that model was owned by a celebrity.
Not Sad: Ford EcoSport
Some though that the EcoSport was unnecessary in the Ford SUV lineup. Wasn’t the Escape small enough that you didn’t need something smaller? While this thought was tossed around, the EcoSport “filled a gap” that was somewhere in the Ford lineup. Thankfully, after only a few short years, this small and basically useless SUV is leaving the automotive market. The sales of the EcoSport have proven that we didn’t need this thing to start with.
Sad: Honda Insight
The Honda Insight has tried three times to catch on and be the hybrid car that we want to enjoy. Sadly, this is another one of the discontinued cars going into the 2023 model year. The Insight name was offered from 1999-2006 when it was pushed out of the market by the Toyota Prius. It came back from 2010 to 2014 and then again in its most recent iteration. Unfortunately for the Insight, the third time is not the charm. Could Honda bring this name back for one of its EVs or will the name be mired by defeat for all eternity?
Not Sad: Hyundai Accent
Similar to the Chevy Spark, the Hyundai Accent had its time in the market and is no longer required. Thank you for your service and have a great time in the great beyond. The Accent joints the rest of a dying breed of small cars. The movement toward subcompact crossover SUVs has make the subcompact car market all but obsolete. We don’t expect to see the Accent name to return for this brand.
Not Sad: Hyundai Ioniq
The Ioniq name lives on in the new electric models. The original version, which came in traditional hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and EV versions is leaving the market and won’t return. That’s just fine, we already have the Ioniq 5, which is a compact crossover SUV that has taken the EV world by storm. It won’t be long before we forget that the original Hyundai Ioniq paved the way for the new models to give us the electric driving experience that we enjoy.
Sad: Hyundai Veloster N
The Hyundai Veloster N was just getting interesting and now the plug has been pulled. Truth be told, the Veloster N was on life support and couldn’t continue to survive in the market. Maybe Hyundai will make an electrified version in the future, but that’s not expected anytime soon. The Veloster N joins the other discontinued cars on this list and its too bad. This car was a hot hatch that gave us the power and performance desired. It would have been fun to see if it could ever have the chops to challenge some of the other hot hatches in the market.
Not Sad: Toyota Avalon
The Toyota Avalon has certainly been a great car and its one we can remember fondly, but it won’t be a car we’re sad to see go. So many drivers have moved on to SUVs and look for these upright vehicles to offer them the spacious cabin desired. Additionally, the Toyota Crown is entering the market as a hybrid-powered sedan that should fit right in the spot that’s vacated by the Avalon.
How do you feel about these ten discontinued cars? Would you like to see any of them remain in the market or are you ready for the movement forward?
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