When looking at the auto industry, it’s easy to get excited about all of the upcoming options that are slated to hit the road next year. Whether you’re hoping to get your hands on the monstrous 2023 Ford Raptor R, looking forward to enjoying style and efficiency with the 2023 Toyota Prius, or watching the Hyundai Ioniq 6 with great interest, there’s plenty to get worked up about coming soon. That being said, as 2022 draws to a close, it is worth remembering those models that won’t be joining us in 2023. Here are some of the biggest names among the discontinued vehicles for next year––the 2022 model year is their final hurrah, so act now if one of these models has been on your short list of vehicles to check out.
Acura
Acura is dropping two models from its lineup going into 2023, although they filled very different roles in the market. The Acura ILX is the brand’s entry-level sedan and is finally being discontinued in favor of the new Acura Integra. The ILX was still being built on the ninth-generation Honda Civic platform, while its replacement uses the current eleventh-generation Civic for its basis, so we expect not many people will be shedding a tear for this one.
The second discontinued model is a different story. The gorgeous Acura NSX supercar is also saying goodbye after a seven-year run on the market. It’s an absolutely amazing vehicle and helped pioneer the concept of a high-performance hybrid. Still, the second generation never managed to match the reputation of the original NSX, and sales have been slow for years.
Ford
Much like Acura, Ford also has two models entering the great unknown, and they are also a budget model and a halo car. The Ford GT is an amazing piece of machinery with a stunning mid-engine supercar design, but it starts at half a million bucks and makes the NSX look like a hot seller. It also wasn’t really a Ford, being assembled by the independent race car builder Multimatic.
The more noteworthy cancellation to the average driver is the end of the Ford EcoSport. This isn’t exactly a surprise since EcoSport sales were never all that high, and it’s essentially competing with the much more popular Bronco Sport. At the end of the day, it really doesn’t have a place anymore in the Ford lineup.
General Motors
General Motors isn’t making the most substantial cuts, with only one model reaching the end of the line. Sadly, it is the Chevy Spark that is getting the ax, and the 2022 model will be the last we see of it. The Spark has been the least expensive car in America for years, and with prices being so high these days, it’s sad to see an incredibly affordable option sailing into the west. With the loss of the Spark, the Mitsubishi Mirage will be the new pick for the cheapest car on the market. The Buick Encore and Chevy Trax also won’t be joining us for 2023, but they are already scheduled to return for 2024 after full redesigns.
Honda
Honda is only cutting one vehicle from its lineup, but it is an icon. The Honda Insight was the first hybrid available in America and has proven quite popular over the years. However, Honda is determined to make hybrids more mainstream by offering hybrid versions of its best-selling models instead of separate hybrid-only models. Going forward, a new Civic Hybrid will fill the Insight’s role in the Honda lineup. While unfortunate, this is a move that makes total sense and helps clean up their offerings a bit.
Hyundai
This year, Hyundai is taking drastic measures by eliminating three models from its lineup, but these choices are a bit of a mixed bag. The biggest loss here is the Hyundai Accent, a very affordable subcompact sedan that’s been popular with a lot of drivers and critics alike. Sadly, sales numbers for the Accent just didn’t support keeping it around––with so few sedans still being made, I’m always a bit sad to see another car bite the dust like this.
The other two discontinued models aren’t much of a surprise and come down to Hyundai cleaning up its lineup. First up, the Hyundai Ioniq hasn’t been around very long, but it is still something of a relic from an earlier age of electrification. The name “Ioniq” will live on as Hyundai’s electric sub-brand, but it will now represent a family of purpose-built electric vehicles rather than a single compact model with hybrid and electric variants.
The Hyundai Veloster N is another remnant of the old Hyundai that was due for the chopping block. The base Veloster was discontinued for the 2022 model year, but the sporty Veloster N lived on, at least until now. This discontinuation is a shame because the model really delivered excellent performance in a unique package. However, it is difficult to argue that the new Elantra N isn’t a better high-performance car.
Jeep
Only a single Jeep model won’t be rolling forward into next year, and it’s absolutely no surprise. When Jeep introduced a new generation for the Grand Cherokee this year, it retained the previous generation as the “Grand Cherokee WK” to keep it on the road a bit longer. After one overlap year, Jeep is giving the Grand Cherokee WK the ax. Going forward, you’ll only be able to find the standard, current-generation Grand Cherokee. However, the new model is quite a bit more expensive than the starting price of the WK, so if you want to save some money on a Grand Cherokee, this is an excellent time to look for the older model before they’re gone.
Mercedes-Benz
As we go into next year, if you’re interested in a Mercedes-Benz sedan, then you might be sad to see that the entry-level A-Class will no longer be with us. Mercedes-Benz created competition for itself by having both the A 220 and CLA 250 available in the same segment. The A-Class was about $4,000 less expensive, so I’m somehow not surprised to see that’s the one Mercedes-Benz is cutting in the next model year. With luxury cars, the high cost is part of the point, but it’s a shame to see an accessible option get the ax.
Nissan
The Nissan Rogue Sport has been in a strange position in the US and has failed to generate much traction with buyers. Slotted between the Kicks and the Rogue, its name is confusing, and it lacks much of an identity. In other markets, like Canada, it’s sold as the Nissan Qashqai, and it recently received a redesign and update. In America, the Rogue Sport is getting discontinued, and there have been no announcements about changes or updates, so we’ll have to see what future model years bring (hopefully a new name).
Toyota
Toyota is joining many other manufacturers by canceling a sedan––surprise, surprise––as the full-size Avalon is meeting its end. This is a shame because the Avalon is a gorgeous option that’s been around for decades, but the good news is that its position in the lineup is being filled with the new Toyota Crown. As a replacement, I’m not as big a fan of the Crown as I am of the Avalon, but we’ll see what happens in the future since every manufacturer is shifting toward an all-electric lineup.
Volkswagen
Rounding things out, Volkswagen is also saying goodbye to one of its sedans, as the Passat will not be joining us next year. While the Passat was regularly outsold by other models like the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord, it was still nice to have more options and competition. I’ll miss the Passat (just not enough to buy one), and with the rumored impending demise of the Arteon, the only VW sedan option may soon be the Jetta. Hopefully, VW will decide to bring its all-electric ID.Aero to market as a successor.
