Key Takeaways
- SUVs are much more popular than coupes and sedans due to their utility and space.
- American consumers are abandoning vehicles that use premium gasoline or have poor fuel economy.
- Leading auto manufacturers all have plans to produce plug-in electric vehicles in the near future.
Some vehicles are thrilling to drive but aren’t as practical for families or people looking to save money at the pump. The American auto market is shifting, and car companies are abandoning vehicles that don’t fit in with their plans to dominate the electric vehicle market. This guide reviews some popular cars that won’t be making a return in 2023 or 2024.
Automotive Trends Behind Discontinued Cars
The United States government is putting a lot of pressure on automakers to make more fuel-efficient vehicles. Consumers who are concerned about rising gas prices are opting to buy hybrids and gas-powered cars with more efficient engines. Despite these trends, most people still favor SUVs and family cars over coupes and sedans.
Automakers are eliminating a lot of sedans because they’re no longer as popular as crossovers and SUVs. The SUVs that are being discontinued all have large, gas-guzzling engines that can’t compete with their more efficient rivals.
ShutterstockPopular Vehicles Discontinued in 2022
Many people are sad to see some of these vehicles go, but they’re being replaced with more powerful electric vehicles and hybrids. Some of the vehicles on this list already have replacements in the works, while others are only eliminating specific trim levels from their lineup. While it’s not unheard of for auto manufacturers to revive discontinued nameplates, this year is the time to purchase one of these models if you don’t want to miss out.
ShutterstockAcura ILX
The 2022 Acura ILX is being replaced by the Integra in 2023. Acura is hoping the nostalgia surrounding the Integra namesake might revive interest in small, luxury sedans. The 2022 ILX starts at just $27,300 and is a great choice for anyone looking for an entry-level luxury car.
It boasts above-average fuel economy, with up to 34 mpg on the highway and a responsive 201-horsepower engine. The ILX has a cozy and stylish interior that’s great for the people in the front, but it’s a little cramped in the rear. Trims featuring the 8-inch infotainment system come with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It also boasts excellent safety and crash ratings, making it an affordable (small) family car.
Source: AcuraDodge Charger
The 2022 Dodge Charger is an icon. It’s a muscular sports car that can be equipped with a 6.2-liter HEMI, which puts out 797 horsepower. It starts at $32,645, but you need to pay for all that extra power. While the Charger is touted as the fastest mass-produced sedan on earth, that’s also why it’s being discontinued.
Unfortunately, V8 engines aren’t popular any longer. Dodge wants to focus on electric vehicles moving forward. The Charger platform isn’t capable of holding a powerful electric motor alternative, so it’s getting the boot.
Source: DodgeDodge Challenger
The 2022 Dodge Challenger is both innovative and record-setting. It’s the first muscle coupe ever offered with all-wheel drive, and the available engine options include a robust 6.2-liter HEMI with 807 horsepower. While American consumers are still impressed, they’re not biting due to high gas prices and increasing interest in clean energy.
Dodge made the decision to discontinue the Challenger so it can invest in developing the next generation of electric muscle cars in its place. If you still want a Challenger, now is the best time to get one before they’re gone.
Source: DodgeAcura NSX
Acura resurrected the NSX in 2016, and while it turned heads, most consumers are focused on economy, rather than performance. The 2022 Acura NSX has four drive modes that change how it handles and accelerates. You can switch from a quieter and gentler driving experience to a supercharged, responsive gas pedal at will.
Acura only produced 350 of the NSX S-Type models each year and has decided it’s time to move on. It will use some of the technology that helped it develop the car to improve its other hybrid models in the future.
Source: AcuraChevrolet Camaro
While the 2022 Chevrolet Camaro isn’t quite the last model Chevrolet plans to release, we won’t see it again after 2023. It will be the official end to a rivalry with the Ford Mustang that has lasted since the late 1960s. With a base price of $25,000 and plenty of ways to customize with numerous engine and trim choices, it’s been an affordable, sleek and powerful coupe.
Chevrolet has chosen, like other automakers, to focus more on its electric vehicle production, eliminating the Camaro because of its low fuel economy. Consumers are also continuing to drift away from cars and toward SUVs, so the Camaro’s days are numbered.
18CHCA35026_CDN_V1.tifSubaru WRX STI
The 2022 Subaru WRX isn’t the last WRX you’ll see, but the STI trim is going away, beginning in 2023. The WRX is sleek, muscular and sporty. It offers excellent handling in all weather conditions, on the road and off-road, due to its standard symmetrical all-wheel drive and track-tuned suspension. It comes at a base price of $42,395.
If you miss out on this year’s STI, the GT trim will be replacing it from now on with a similar base MSRP.
Source: SubaruKia Stinger
The 2022 Kia Stinger offers a standard 2.5-liter 300-horsepower engine, a 10-inch touchscreen and several limited-edition trims. It’s sleek, stylish and incredibly responsive on the open road. The problem is that nobody ever took the Kia Stinger seriously because Kia isn’t known for producing muscle cars.
The Stinger also has a base price of $36,590, but the price tag is justified when you consider the array of driver-assistive technologies and advanced safety features, cozy interior and turbocharged engine. Unfortunately, we won’t be seeing the Stinger make a return after 2023.
Source: KiaJeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk
The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk is built on the same powerful engine that powers the Dodge Charger and Challenger. Although it’s one of the best vehicles for off-roading and offers plenty of room for a family with a cozy and spacious interior, it’s a gas guzzler.
While you can still buy the Jeep Grand Cherokee in 2023 for a base MSRP of $38,720, the Trailhawk trim will no longer be available as Jeep tries to put a greater focus on producing more economical engines.
Source: JeepAudi R8
The Audi R8 is beloved by speed junkies and first arrived on the scene over 20 years ago with a V10 engine. While its impressive 562-horsepower engine and ability to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in under 4 seconds are still attractive, it doesn’t boast great fuel mileage. The 2022 Audi R8 starts at $158,600 and requires premium gasoline, which makes its cost of ownership much higher than most people can stomach.
The R8 will be back for 2023, but after that, it’s not returning for the foreseeable future.
Source: AudiLamborghini Aventador
There wasn’t even supposed to be a 2022 Lamborghini Aventador, but thanks to an accident in the Atlantic Ocean in early 2022, Lamborghini resumed production to fill outstanding orders. Lamborghini hasn’t provided a name for the model that will replace the Aventador, but what we do know is that the new V12 engine will be a plug-in hybrid.
Sports car fanatics are also pleased to know that the new engine will boast more power than the Aventador’s current 780 horsepower. It will also come with a brand-new all-wheel drive auto train.
Source: Lamborghini
