Every year, automakers send another batch of vehicles off into the abyss. This year is no different. In total, more than a dozen models from the major manufacturers will join the growing list of discontinued cars.
From the once-cheapest new car on the market to a pair of 30-year-old sedans with a number of compact SUVs in between, here are some of the notable discontinued cars of 2023.
Buick Encore
With a turbocharged engine, upscale look and affordable price tag, the Buick Encore was a surprising success when it debuted a decade ago. But years of declining sales, including a nearly 50% drop in 2022, have led to its demise.
In a way, it’s surprising the subcompact SUV survived as long as it did. Buick unveiled the slightly larger Encore GX in 2020. It only made sense to trim its lineup of two similarly sized crossovers. The Encore GX will now serve as Buick’s entry-level vehicle.
Chevrolet Spark
Bargain hunters will grieve the demise of the Spark. The hatchback’s sub-$15,000 starting price (the last of its kind) made it the cheapest new car available in the United States until now. But alas, people simply aren’t buying small cars anymore, opting instead for small SUVs more and more. “Customers seeking comfort, function, and style at an approachable price still have strong options within Chevrolet’s family of compact SUVs,” a Chevy spokesperson said when the news dropped.
The Spark’s 10-year run officially came to an end in August. Chevrolet said that there are no plans to introduce a replacement model.
Ford EcoSport
Ford’s cheapest and smallest SUV is no more. It was a short run for the subcompact crossover, which debuted in 2017. Sales of the EcoSport, however, have been declining since 2019.
The EcoSport never truly caught on with the American public (it will still be sold in Europe). The tiny SUV had plenty of faults: woeful engine output, poor fuel efficiency and crowded interiors, to name a few. All this made its relatively high price tag unjustifiable to many consumers, who likely veered toward one of the many competitive models available on the market.
Honda Insight
The Honda Insight checked off many of the boxes the typical driver looks for in a new car: affordable, reliable, fuel efficient. That made it one of the top-selling compact hybrid vehicles in the country, with 70,000 units sold since its 2018 arrival. But ultimately, the sedan bared too many resemblances to the Honda Civic to warrant its existence.
The Insight’s departure makes way for the arrival of the Civic Hybrid, as Honda continues to hybridize its core models, including the CR-V and Accord.
Hyundai Accent
Hyundai is getting rid of a few models, including the gas-powered Ioniq and Veloster N. It’s the Accent’s demise, however, that is noteworthy due to the car’s price tag. Like the Chevrolet Spark, the subcompact sedan was one of the cheapest cars on the market. And like the Spark, the Accent is going by the wayside to make room for bigger vehicles. Hyundai stated that the sedan was, “discontinued due to an expanded SUV lineup.” The Venue, a subcompact SUV, is now the automaker’s cheapest vehicle.
Toyota Avalon
The Avalon has been in Toyota’s portfolio for nearly 30 years, but became vulnerable to the chopping blocks following several down years in sales.
The sedan also faced in-house competition. The Avalon has always been a slightly larger option than the popular Toyota Camry. But the latter’s next generation model is set to be bigger in size itself, thus making the Avalon expendable. It is being replaced by the all-new, hybrid-only Toyota Crown.
Volkswagen Passat
The curtain falls on the Passat for good in 2023. The Volkswagen model was, for all intents and purposes, discontinued last year. As a swan song, the German automaker offered the Passat as a limited-edition model that included subtle nods to Chattanooga, Tennessee, where it has been manufactured for the last decade. That limited run has now come to a close.
The Passat’s departure, which comes more than 30 years after its debut, leaves Volkswagen with only two sedans in its lineup: the Jetta and Arteon.
Other notable discontinued cars of 2023: Acura ILX, Ford GT, Infiniti Q60, Lexus RX L, Mercedes-Benz A-Class, Nissan Rogue Sport.
If you’re in the market for a new car, make sure to check out our car reviews and learn how AAA can help finance your purchase.
Do you own one of these discontinued cars? Are you sad to see it go? Let us know in the comments below!
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My Ford Fusion is the best and most reliable car I’ve ever owned (and I’ve had many.) Not to mention pretty nice looking for a mid-sized sedan. Don’t want 2 SUVs in the family. I’m very disappointed.
I love my Yaris (2013). Sad to see it go. Extremely good mileage, good quality car, cheap fixing (but hardly any).
Glad to see the Honda Fit go! I had owned three other Honda models (one Civic and two CRV’s) prior to purchasing a Fit. Worst car I ever owned. It had absolutely no power behind it and accelerated very slowly. And winter driving was an absolute nightmare. My Fit could not even make it up a slight icy incline. This was the worst vehicle Honda produced and performed so poorly it turned me off Hondas for good. I now drive a Mazda SUV and I love it!
I loved my Sonic until the heating system fell apart. Coolant leak, blown water tank, dash vent control snapped so no defrost or floor setting.
Yes, I will so miss the Ford Fusion! I have had a 2010, 2013, 2016, and now I own a 2019 Ford Fusion. My first 3 Fusions were leased, and I bought the 2019 because the lease price deals were not good at all because they were not going to make no more Fusions. I also had three Ford Explorers that I leased so it was a total of nine years. I got tired of an SUV and now I love sedans!
We see these models, now how do we find out more about about them??
Oh my goodness! At the beginning of reading this article, I thought to myself, thank goodness the Honda Fit won’t be on this last because it’s such a wonderful car for many many reasons. You can imagine my shock and surprise to see the Honda Fit listed as one of the cars that will be discontinued! I am still in shock!! I still have a few more years left on my 2019 Honda Fit but what will I do after that?? Lots to ponder.
I’ve had 2 Fits and absolutely love this car! Mileage, carrying capacity, and parking are exceptional advantages. Maybe it will be brought back.
We have 2 HondaFits. We really love this car.
I love my Ford Fiesta! It has served me well since I bought it brand new in 2015. I cannot imagine owning any other car but this brand. Please keep the Fiesta!
My second Honda Fit, a 2016, has over 100K miles. The last one, a 2008, went for 206K miles. Other than the normal expenses, brakes, oil changes, tune ups, tires, the only unexpected expense was a transmission sensor for $146. If 2020 is then end of the Fits I will have about 4 more years to decide on my next car, but I will miss the bullet proof reliability, and exceptional gas mileage, I have gotten from them.
I’m on my third Fit – just sold the first, an ’07, with 339K miles. My son has the second, a ’13, with about 180K miles. My 2018 is the baby with only 66K miles. Not sure what I’ll do when this one dies; I had planned on buying a fourth.
This is terrible. Sedans are much better than SUVs. Sedans are aerodynamic, better on fuel, easy to park and fun to drive. The auto industry is just shoving SUVs down the public’s throats.
Currently drive a Nissan Altima Coupe which was discontinued quite a few years ago. Was planning on purchasing a Honda Civic Coupe next year. Some of us don’t want nor need a large vehicle and are comfortable driving a two door car. What to do now?!?
The Toyota Corolla is a great car. So is the Camry, although larger.
I also have an Altima coupe and love driving it, thought my next car would be a Civic coupe, I guess I’ll be keeping my Nissan. I never had a 4 door car in all my years of driving. Miss the coupes.
Even Outsold most of its competitors. Ford is a joke
Sorry to see the Lincoln Continental go … very classy car. … would love to own one.
Can’t believe Ford has abandoned sedan drivers, especially since the Fusion was so popular. Concern for the environment seems to have receded, at least in the choice of car.
Am disappointed with car manufacturers who are overlooking those of us who prefer the smooth and comfortable ride of a sedan.
I agree with you Claudia – I bought a Chevrolet sedan in 2016 and love it. I need plenty of leg room as I am a Tall girl (6’2″ tall). I cannot see myself sitting in a small car ever with my knees crunched up. I love this car and will continue driving it for some time.
I bought a 2016 Journey Crossroad for the wife and thoroughly enjoyed its interior and exterior styling. Given the volume these were selling at the time its surprising you gave it such a bad farewell within the recently departed group. In a growing family of two adults and four kids the Journey was well suited. The price point and available options including a nearly 300HP pentastar and six speed auto (your review stated 4 spd auto) this was a great vehicle. The Crossroad we purchased was equipped with sport suspension and 19” wheels. This thing handles!
Looking at the 2016 specs it was competetive to higher echelon cars like the Murano and outperformed the Four Runner.
Nooooo, not the Civic Coupe…. 🙁
I feel your pain Muriel ): I own a 2013 Civic SI manual Coupe and absolutely love it. What a bummer!
I had two Acuras ( Integra and then an RSX) both 2 door coupes with a stick shift,
then they discontinued those. Then I bought a 2012 Civic SI, again, a 2 door coupe with a stick. Now they’re going to stop them! Agh. I’m starting to get a complex. I love my Civic!
Sad to see some of the cars go. I have a Outback and like it. I would like my next vehicle to be a smallish pickup. Double cab, fuel efficient preferred electrical or hybrid. Also something affordable – not a Tesler.
My 2016 Honda Fit is reliable, adaptable and gets mileage of 40 mpg. Perhaps higher gas prices would encourage more of us to buy sensible cars instead of cars that are larger than most of us need.
I’ve been looking at a FIT for my next car. I’m sad to see it go!
I love my 2012 Fit and assumed I would eventually replace it with a new one. Guess I will have to hang onto it as long as possible.
Too bad that all those cars are being discontinued Not everyone. especially single people want an SUV or similar.
Ture! I am a singe person, I love my Ford Fusion, and I have less than zero interest in an S.U.V.!
Agreed! Same here!!
How about making all vehicles with quality seats that don’t break when you get rear ended and send you out the back seat window.. And high quality headlights and tail lights that you can see 500 feet down the road at 40 miles an hour.
The automobile manufacturers forgot about who they get their money from. They have concentrated on profitability and the stockholders rather than the customers who actually buy their products. If the general public were smart, they would keep their existing car and NOT buy the SUVs that they are jamming down our throats and start building small, medium and large sedans, and convertibles. They don’t redesign their cars often enough, and the buying public don’t like seeing the same thing every year. They keep telling us that we want these SUVs. Actually we want them to change the sedans every three or so years to keep them up to date rather than seeing a car built over and over and over til we get sick of it and avoid that brand. If we stopped buying their SUVs and let them rot on their lots, perhaps the Mary Baras of the industry will get a message and instead of being so profit greedy they will start to ask the people what they really want. I prefer a coupe, a large sedan that is comfortable to drive on long trips, with a decent six cylinder car that gets 20-25 mpg city and 27-30 mpg on the highway. Change the grille every year, change the tail lights every year or two. and improve the engines and structural stuff as needed. I grew up in the 50’s, 60,s and 70’s and remember the “new cars” coming out around September, and comparing them to last years models. Retooling costs money, and they could make minor changes that change the appearance with little difficulty and get the spark back into the industry…….if only they would stop counting the pennies and worrying about their own salaries and bonuses.