With the 2022 model year production ending and the 2023 models coming into the picture, it’s time for another round of RIP lists — models that won’t be returning for the 2023 model year. Surprise, surprise, it’s another list of packed full of sedans and enthusiast models, but there are also some unexpected entries on this year’s list. Let’s dive right in.
The end of the road
Acura ILX
Acura’s entry-level nameplate is toast, but the formula will live on in its replacement, the resurrected Integra. Acura’s smallest sedan never really caught on with enthusiasts, so we’re not too surprised to see it put out to pasture. Whether the Integra has the nostalgia juice to right the ship remains to be seen.
Acura NSX
This one hurts more than the ILX. Like the new Integra, the NSX represented a revival of a retired nameplate when it was revived in 2016. The new car ditched its old mid-engine, RWD model in favor of a hybrid system and driving with it all-wheel drive, but as a halo model, its sales never set the world on fire. It’s still an impressive alternative to the C8 Chevrolet Corvette, and the development of its hybrid technology will continue to pay dividends in Acura’s flagship offerings.
Chevrolet Malibu
Yes, Malibu still exists. Although GM announced years ago that it was getting rid of the small car and sedan segments in favor of profit-friendly CUVs, SUVs and trucks, the Malibu is still being built and sold today, but not for much longer. If that’s a surprise to you, this next one will be a big one.
Chevrolet Spark
Chevy’s subcompact was among those slated to end GM’s mass carnage of small cars, but like the Malibu, it still had its role in GM’s broader lineup. In this case, we’re guessing it existed to allow GM and its dealers to advertise one many cheap new car. Not longer.
Ford EcoSport
Like the Chevy Spark, the EcoSport’s best attribute so far has been its price. This crossover-hatch was already old and outdated when it was first imported here in 2018; in 2022, it’s a crate on wheels with Bluetooth connectivity. No one will miss it (see hate mail).
Hyundai Veloster N
Hyundai’s hot hatchback is far and away the best performance offering, especially if you need something practical. The more expensive Volkswagen GTI is, of course, more comfortable and refined, but its cabin (Volkswagen’s long-standing advantage over other sports compacts) suffered a massive downgrade after the latest redesign. RIP Veloster. At least we have the Elantra N.
Infiniti Q60
Remember the Q60? Infiniti’s luxury coupe shares its underpinnings with the Q50 sedan and the Nissan 370Z, the latter of which was just replaced by a heavily revised sports coupe. Infiniti’s two-door and four-door offerings have been in limbo for several years; The Q60’s throttle will likely go unnoticed by most car buyers.
Mercedes-Benz A-Class
The departure of the A-Class also won’t make much noise, especially since the CLA-Class (based on the same architecture) isn’t going anywhere. The crossover-y GLA will now be the brand’s cheapest offering.
Nissan Maxima
The 4DSC (“Four-Door Sports Car”) has taken its last lap … around the neighborhood, anyway. The era of the internal combustion Maxima is over. Given the nameplate’s long history, we expect it to turn into something electrified. Maybe it’s time for 4D-EV-SC?
Toyota Avalon
We’ve reached the end of the road for Toyota’s Camry-based large sedan. We expect its role to be filled by variants of the new Toyota Crown, which will arrive here first as a crossover-style liftoff that packs an electrified engine.
Volkswagen cars
VW entered 2022 with three sedan models and will exit with just two. The long-running Passat will take a bow and leave the spotlight to the more expensive (and interesting) Arteon, while the Jetta will continue as a budget offering for those who want a larger compact or smaller sedan .
Cutting block
Chrysler 300
The 300 looks to be dead as early as 2023, and unlike its Dodge siblings (see below), this will likely be the end of the line. Chrysler’s Airflow Concept should give you a good idea of exactly how the company plans to evolve its passenger car lineup.
Dodge Challenger/Charger
Dodge has made it clear that the days of its current LX-platform coupe and sedan are numbered (presumably no later than “2023”), but by all accounts, they’ll be replaced by a new platform . While both have sold well, the popularity of the coupe and sedan has declined, and it’s unclear whether the Charger and Challenger will return side-by-side, or consolidate into a single model. Plus, Stellantis is famous for extending the life of “dead” models, so take this with a grain of salt until all is said and done.
Ford Transit Connect
Like the Mercedes-Benz Metris, the Transit Connect is getting the axe. Sources suggest this will happen sometime in 2023, so if you’re looking to expand or refresh your small delivery fleet, you might want to move now before your options start to dry up.
Hyundai Sonata
This redesigned midsizer will be the last to wear the nameplate, but exactly when it will leave remains to be seen. We expect it to be gone by the middle of the decade.
Let’s go K5
The K5 is the Sonata’s platform partner and is likely to be discontinued at the same time.
Kia Stinger
Rumors of Stinger’s death have swirled over the past year. It’s expected to be discontinued at the end of this model’s life cycle, but exactly when that will be remains a bit of a mystery. Recent rumors suggest it will leave sometime in 2023 or 2024.
Maserati Ghibli
Rumors have been swirling about Ghibli’s fate for a long time. Earlier in 2022, we heard that we won’t see another model year. Now, it looks like 2024 will be the final model year for Maserati’s mid-priced experiment.
Mercedes-Benz gauges
Small vans are in trouble, it seems. Like the Ford Transit Connect, the Metris is marketed towards smaller outfits and urban delivery services that place a premium on space efficiency rather than outright capability. This location has not expanded to the United States as the producers originally hoped.
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