Try our newest merchandise
In the event you’ve ever gone automobile buying not too long ago and thought, “Hey, no matter occurred to that completely good mannequin everybody used to like?” — congratulations, you’re not going loopy. You’re simply witnessing the automotive business’s most insidious trick: the quiet disappearance. No send-offs, no adverts… simply gone — generally earlier than their time. Within the ever-twisting, profit-hungry, and more and more insane world of automotive technique (which is, apparently, simply countless EVs and SUVs), even essentially the most beloved, best-selling automobiles aren’t secure from the company chopping block.
On this exposé, we pull again the curtain on 9 automakers who’ve discreetly, virtually cowardly, ended their top-selling or most beloved fashions, usually with out a lot fanfare and generally even regardless of surprisingly robust gross sales. Put together to be confused, irritated, and possibly even really feel somewhat personally betrayed. As a result of, let’s be sincere, we’ve all had a dependable previous good friend vanish from our lives, however when it’s a automobile, it simply feels totally different.
“The place’d They Go, Anyway?”
To compile this assortment of dearly departed, we painstakingly tracked manufacturing schedules, cross-referenced automaker bulletins (those they quietly slipped out on a Friday afternoon), and scoured dealership stock throughout the final three mannequin years.
Our focus was razor-sharp as we honed in solely on automobiles that had been best-sellers for his or her section or model, not some area of interest, low-volume eccentricity or a limited-edition flop. These had been the automobiles we by no means thought would go away us. But, they’ve, and no automobile has taken their place. As a substitute, carmakers are centered on their homogeneous EVs that may’t be informed aside until you memorize bumper shapes.
Ford: Saying Goodbye to the Edge
Ford’s determination to discontinue the Edge crossover after the 2024 mannequin yr feels much less like a strategic enterprise transfer and extra like somebody deleting your favourite, completely serviceable playlist whilst you’re nonetheless listening to it to switch it with EDM. The Edge was a mid-size SUV that, for practically twenty years, struck a candy stability between sensible measurement, snug efficiency, and an inexpensive value level.
Since its debut in 2006, Ford bought over 2 million models within the U.S. alone, making it a respectable pillar in suburban driveways throughout America. It persistently moved over 100,000 models yearly for many of its run, even promoting over 85,000 models in 2023. So why cancel it?
Ford is revamping its Oakville, Ontario manufacturing facility, the place the Edge is constructed, to provide future EVs together with the following era Ford Explorer EV and Lincoln Aviator EV. The corporate appears absolutely dedicated to pushing the Mustang Mach-E and a wave of different electrical fashions as your subsequent selection, whether or not you requested for it or not. What’s particularly ironic is that the Edge was nonetheless promoting properly. It’s not like consumers immediately misplaced curiosity.
Some analysts speculate it was all the time a clumsy center little one, caught between the compact Escape and the bigger Explorer, resulting in an identification disaster Ford merely didn’t have the emotional bandwidth to handle. So, you’re not imagining it; your wise, dependable SUV simply received unceremoniously ghosted.
Toyota: Farewell Avalon, Whats up Blandscape
Do not forget that time your boring neighbor you persistently waved to each morning immediately packed up and moved away in the midst of night time and not using a phrase? Yeah, that’s the way it felt when Toyota axed the Avalon. The complete-size sedan, lengthy beloved for its supremely comfortable experience, cavernous inside, and Lexus-lite really feel, quietly drove off into retirement after the 2022 mannequin yr.
Regardless of having a surprisingly loyal fanbase (lots of whom swore by its longevity and luxury) and first rate gross sales (it nonetheless moved over 20,000 models in its ultimate full yr), it merely didn’t match into Toyota’s aggressive, SUV-first technique anymore. With sedans more and more being edged out by SUVs and crossovers in North America, Toyota determined to funnel these few remaining full-size sedan consumers towards the peculiar Toyota Crown.
The brand new Crown is a hybrid sedan that’s form of a automobile, form of a crossover, and undoubtedly not the Avalon. The corporate justified the choice with the standard PR mumbo-jumbo about “evolving market preferences” and “realigning manufacturing,” which, translated from corporate-speak, actually simply means “SUVs earn more money, and we are able to’t be bothered with a section we don’t dominate.” I assume it’s simply extra SUVs for us then, yipee…
Chevrolet: The Malibu’s Fading Sundown
The Chevrolet Malibu has been on the chopping block for years, weathering extra rumors of its demise than a cleaning soap opera villain. For a nameplate that after dominated the midsize sedan section with surprising swagger, its quiet retirement, whereas not fully surprising, nonetheless comes as a little bit of a shock. Sure, gross sales have declined from their peak, however the Malibu nonetheless moved over 130,000 models in 2023, a quantity that in some other period can be thought of extremely respectable for a single mannequin line.
Chevy’s drawback? It’s going all-in on EVs and crossovers now. The Fairfax Meeting plant in Kansas Metropolis, Kansas, which has been the Malibu’s dwelling for many years, is being transformed to crank out electrical fashions just like the Chevy Bolt EV and Bolt EUV, and finally, new Ultium-based EVs. A story as miserable as time.
There’s simply no room for a humble, gas-powered, four-door sedan anymore in GM’s electrical future. The Malibu’s exit is emblematic of Detroit’s ongoing identification disaster: it desires desperately to be Tesla however nonetheless produces automobiles that really feel like your barely uncle’s Impala. RIP to a automobile that after promised easy reliability and, in opposition to all odds, cool identify recognition.
Chrysler: 300 Causes to Miss It, None Left to Purchase It
The Chrysler 300 is gone after a gloriously lengthy, run that stretched from 2005 to late 2023. Its disappearance marks not simply the top of a mannequin, however a lack of Detroit’s final true full-size, rear-wheel-drive sedan that wasn’t sporting a Dodge badge.
First launched in 2005, the 300, with its unapologetically daring, Bentley-esque styling, out there HEMI V8 energy (together with the bonkers 300C with the 6.4L 485 hp HEMI for its farewell), and a way of old-school American luxurious, felt extra like a rolling cigar lounge for the mob than a standard automobile. It was huge, it was brash, and it was trendy in a sea of shrinking, nameless sedans.
Regardless of its age (the platform dated again to a DaimlerChrysler collaboration with Mercedes-Benz, utilizing W210 E-Class parts), the 300 nonetheless had loyal consumers, particularly those that appreciated its refined muscle automobile DNA and rear-drive dynamics with out going full Charger. With Stellantis (Chrysler’s mother or father firm) shifting focus virtually solely to EVs and SUVs, the 300 was not noted of future plans. Manufacturing formally led to December 2023, with a limited-edition 300C mannequin that felt extra like a courtesy bow than a real celebration.
Its departure isthe finish of an period when sedans might nonetheless flex with a V8. And now? Chrysler, as soon as a beacon of American automotive design, has zero automobiles left in its lineup. Only a fading brand and a reminiscence of when it as soon as constructed a few of the coolest cruisers on the street.
Honda: It No Longer Match In
Jeez, solely midway via and I’m already getting bummed out. Nicely, right here goes one other automobile bowing right down to the SUV. The Honda Match was, for years, the automotive equal of a Swiss Military knife. Small on the surface, improbably roomy on the within due to its ingenious “Magic Seat” folding system, and surprisingly enjoyable to drive for a compact, it made sense in ways in which few automobiles do anymore. However Honda, ever the pragmatist, ended U.S. gross sales of the Slot in 2020, opting as an alternative to push consumers towards the extra worthwhile HR-V crossover.
Why? As a result of People, bless their consumerist hearts, apparently love their “utility” (even when they by no means use it) and “experience top” (even when it simply means extra physique roll). By no means thoughts that the Match was economical (simply reaching 33+ MPG mixed), relentlessly dependable, and truly form of charming in its cheeky practicality; it merely didn’t match into the SUV-obsessed panorama Honda noticed dominating the market.
Globally, the Match (or Jazz, because it’s recognized in different markets) remains to be alive and properly, persevering with its intelligent existence, simply not within the land of Costco parking heaps and unnecessarily massive pickup vans. A quiet, virtually shameful, exit for a automobile that was quietly sensible. A nostalgic loss for followers of sensible, well-loved automobiles.
We’re struggling over right here!
Subaru: Legacy No Extra as Subaru Quietly Ends an Period
Subaru formally ended U.S. manufacturing of the Legacy sedan after the 2024 mannequin yr, and with it, a chapter in sensible, all-wheel-drive sedans quietly closed. For many years, the Legacy was the unsung hero in snowy states, the wise shoe of the Subaru lineup. It was a dependable, no-nonsense automobile that delivered unparalleled security and confidence in adversarial circumstances with out the majority or perceived inefficiency of an SUV.
It wasn’t flashy, it wasn’t fashionable, but it surely labored, yr after yr, via brutal winters, countless commutes, and household street journeys. Its final downfall? The overwhelming recognition and juicy revenue margins of its crossover siblings, the Outback and Forester, which have ballooned into gross sales juggernauts.
In right this moment’s market, sedans merely don’t promote in quantity until they give the impression of being or act like SUVs. Subaru, as soon as a unusual model recognized for zigging when others zagged (all-wheel-drive on every little thing, boxer engines, wagons for days), has now largely joined the trend-chasing crowd. The Legacy’s exit could not have made headlines, however for loyalists, notably those that keep in mind its rally heritage, it looks like Subaru misplaced somewhat little bit of its rugged, sedan-loving soul.
Nissan: The Maxima’s Closing Lap
Bear in mind the Nissan Maxima? It was once Nissan’s flagship sedan, proudly (and maybe audaciously) marketed because the “4-Door Sports activities Automotive” (or “4DSC”). It featured sharp, usually aggressive, design, a robust V6 engine (like the three.5-liter VQ35DE), and simply the correct quantity of perspective to make it stand out from the Camry-Accord crowd. However after the 2023 mannequin yr, Nissan quietly put it to mattress, citing quickly declining gross sales and a shifting model technique centered on (you guessed it) SUVs and electrification. You too, Nissan? Who are you able to even belief anymore?
To be honest, the Maxima hadn’t acquired a full redesign in an eternity (the eighth era launched in 2015), and it form of felt like Nissan itself forgot it existed, leaving it to languish in showrooms. Nonetheless, it held onto a loyal fanbase who appreciated its extra dynamic driving expertise and provided extra aptitude than the common appliance-like sedan.
Now, Nissan desires you to concentrate on the electrical Ariya and the extra mainstream Altima as its major automobile choices. In the meantime, the Maxima fades away just like the reminiscence of a highschool crush you thought you’d marry — nonetheless fondly remembered, however undoubtedly not coming again. And no, don’t add the Maxima on Fb.
Mazda: Mazda6’s Silent Exit
Mazda axed the Mazda6 sedan after 2021 within the U.S. market, and arguably, barely anybody seen. Which, for automobile individuals, is downright tragic, as a result of it was one of many few midsize sedans with real soul. It boasted actually glorious steering really feel, good-looking “Kodo” design language that aged gracefully, and a cabin that felt approach classier and extra premium than its price ticket prompt. Mazda even provided it with a potent 2.5-liter turbocharged engine making 250 horsepower, a rarity in its section.
So why ax it? As a result of, because the mantra goes, sedans simply don’t transfer the needle anymore, not within the numbers crossovers do. Mazda desires you to take a look at their glorious CX-50 and CX-5 SUVs now, which, admittedly, are superb. However nonetheless. The Mazda6 had driving dynamics, a tactile really feel, and a stage of engagement that made you fully neglect you had been shopping for one thing sensible — issues that soccer mothers and street journey dads simply don’t appear to care about as of late. Its departure is much less about efficiency inadequacy and extra about revenue margins, and everyone knows which issue wins in that chilly, brutal battle. It was a sufferer of market developments, not its personal high quality.
Volkswagen: No Extra Passat, Simply Electrical Guarantees
The VW Passat was as soon as the darling of the “wise European sedan” crowd — spacious, environment friendly, and by no means too flashy. Ugh, simply listening to the phrase “sedan,” you recognize meaning an unavoidable demise sentence within the Land of the EV and the Residence of the SUV. The Passat was the automobile for individuals who didn’t need to shout, however nonetheless appreciated strong German engineering (or not less than, German-designed engineering, because it was in-built Chattanooga, Tennessee for the U.S. market).
However after the 2022 mannequin yr, it’s gone from the U.S. lineup, a sufferer of VW’s aggressive push into electrification. Volkswagen determined it desperately wanted that Chattanooga plant to focus solely on its new ID. electrical lineup, just like the ID.4 SUV and the upcoming ID.7 sedan.
Let’s not sugarcoat it: the U.S.-spec Passat had been phoning it in recently. It hadn’t acquired a serious redesign since 2011, and it grew to become more and more bland, providing no actual thrills, simply “enough” transportation. Nevertheless it nonetheless bought in respectable numbers (over 24,000 models in 2021) and was a quiet favourite for these actively avoiding the SUV pattern. Volkswagen is hoping you’ll bounce ship to the ID.7, but it surely stays to be seen if the identical individuals who purchased Passats are prepared for EVs, or in the event that they’ll simply grumble, shake their heads, and reluctantly purchase a Camry as an alternative.
A Future That Sacrifices The Previous
By now, you’ve seemingly given in to the SUV hype, just like the final survivor in a zombie film who decides to simply get bitten and be part of the contaminated. Generally it’s simply simpler than clinging to your fading recollections of mountain joyrides and becoming right into a compact spot.
As these once-beloved fashions vanish from supplier heaps, it’s clear that automakers are chasing a brand new dream: electrical ambitions, crossover domination, and tech-first driving experiences. In that dash to the long run, they could be forsaking the purchasers who constructed their manufacturers within the first place. The oldsters who favored having buttons they may press with out taking their eyes off the street. Those who nonetheless mourn the Avalon as a result of it did its job too properly to be fashionable. Or who can’t fairly abdomen the thought of a silent electrical Charger as a result of half the purpose of a muscle automobile was that wonderful, window-rattling roar.
So sure, the business is altering. However possibly die-hard automobile nerds have a degree. Perhaps the long run doesn’t have to come back on the expense of every little thing that made automobiles nice within the first place. As a result of whereas it’s straightforward to get enthusiastic about what’s subsequent, there’s so much to be stated for what labored. And if these 9 automakers forgot that, properly, somebody needed to say it.
