Rust in peace
These vehicles won’t be joining the lineup for the ’23 model year
It happens every year. Come Halloween, vehicles that were once hailed as the best and newest make their way into the annals of history, where they are either fondly remembered or scorned.
And so, it’s time to mourn the vehicles whose time has come and gone, and that are about to enter the automotive afterlife for the 2023 model year.
Most of them are cars, as America fortifies its position as a nation of truck drivers. But were they a trick or a treat?
Acura ILX: Never like the Acura Integra that it replaced, the ILX always seemed like a pretender to the throne. A half-hearted effort on Acura’s part dating to 2013, the Acura Integra thankfully takes its slot for 2023.
Acura NSX: The second-generation NSX proved that hybrids didn’t have to be boring. Yet as the world’s exotic carmakers are planning to release hybrids, Acura is killing theirs despite the contemporary demeanor.
Buick Encore: Seemingly, there will be no encore for the Encore, a diminutive subcompact SUV that once accounted for half of Buick’s U.S. sales. Now it’s outsold nearly 3-to-1 by the larger, cheaper Encore GX.
Chevrolet Spark: Diminutive in both size and price, this was the cheapest car in America. No, it wasn’t speedy or sizable, but it was thrifty. A decent small car in a nation in love with large ones.
Chevrolet Trax: Tall and narrow, a new Chevrolet Trax is reportedly arriving for 2024. So maybe it’s not dying so much as taking a very long nap.
Ford GT: This $500,000 Ford was an homage to its Le Mans-winning race cars of the 1960s. But as Ford shifts to an electrified lineup, an electric GT could always be a possibility. A gas-powered one? Evidently not.
Honda Insight: With the launch of a new Civic Hybrid, the need for a separate but same-size hybrid seems as if it came from the Department of Redundancy Department. But its visual eloquence will be missed.
Hyundai Accent: Still popular, this handsome little sedan is being replaced by the Venue SUV as Hyundai’s cheapest model, although the Venue starts more than $2,300 higher.
Hyundai Ioniq: These Hyundai hybrids are being shown the door, as Hyundai offers a number of hybrids across its lineup. But its name is being repurposed for an all-electric sub-brand, starting with the Ioniq 5.
Hyundai Veloster: With more versatile vehicles like the Elantra N and Kona N introduced into the Hyundai lineup, this unique model has seen its popularity plummet in the past two years. Arrivederci.
Infiniti Q60: The Q60 coupe receives the coup de grace this year as Infiniti continues to suffer from a lack of a clear identity. This is the most fun of all its vehicles to drive, so its loss doesn’t help Infiniti’s image.
Jeep Grand Cherokee WK:
The old version of the Grand Cherokee stuck around as a lower cost alternative to its newer sibling. But the new one is so good, who wants the old one?
Lamborghini Aventador:
Still sexy despite its age, this is the last year for this 12-cylinder supercar, which will replaced by an electrified model within a couple years. While it will be good, it won’t be the same.
Mercedes-Benz A-Class: This was Mercedes-Benz’s least-expensive model in 2022, starting at less than $34,000. That honor now falls to the GLA crossover, at less than $37,000.
Nissan Rogue Sport: Filling the spot between the Rogue and the Kicks, the Rogue Sport appears absent from Nissan’s 2023 lineup. The question is, will anyone miss it?
Ram ProMaster City: This one always looked kind of odd for a Ram, and that’s because it’s really Fiat Doblo cargo van. Yet its sales seemed solid, so its demise may mean something better is about to arrive.
Toyota Avalon: The car that wears the name of the island where King Arthur’s body was taken upon his death is now joining the legendary king in eternity.
Volkswagen Passat: This American-built Passat bore little resemblance to its European counterpart, with little character or superb handling. Unsullied and faultlessly ordinary, it never captured the imagination.