The automotive calendar is well over a month into 2022, and numerous automakers have already unveiled their 2022 model year vehicles, with some going ahead of the curve to roll out 2023 models. But with fresh models making their way to dealerships, there are some portfolio outgoings whose demise have been formally announced.
Automakers also have to cut off the overlooked, aging, and poor-selling models, even in these months of ultra-tight inventory, pent-up demand, and production slowdowns. As it stands, nearly 30 vehicles have been phased out or discontinued for 2022. And whereas we are sad to see some models put out to pasture, some are honestly good riddance. However, some discontinued models could yield attractive deals for bargain-hunters, so read on to find out the most notable departures.
10 Ford EcoSport
Ford has been on a hot streak lately with impressive offerings like the Maverick, Bronco, and Mach-E, so it comes as no surprise that the tiny EcoSport is getting the ax. We doubt whether anyone will miss the EcoSport, considering it's easily the least successful model in Ford's lineup.
The EcoSport has survived five model years, and its cramped cabin, cheap interior material, and shockingly lousy fuel economy have plagued the model throughout. With the arrival of the charming Bronco Sport, the EcoSport undoubtedly stood no chance beyond 2022.
9 Rolls-Royce Wraith
Roll-Royce caught most people off guard with the announcement to discontinue the luxurious two-door Wraith coupe in the U.S. this year. Rolls-Royce plans to focus on models running on the Architecture of Luxury platform, and the Wraith and its Dawn sibling were never designed to move over to the dedicated platform.
Besides the outdated BMW underpinnings, the Wraith also encountered several regulatory issues in its lifetime. For the rest of the world, Roll-Royce expects to continue production through 2023.
8 Hyundai Veloster
The Veloster was always an unusual hatchback that stood out for having one door on the driver's side and two passenger doors on the curbside. Nonetheless, its impressively sporty aesthetics helped define what a hot-hatch should look like, even if the driving experience failed to live up to the hype.
The Veloster N that arrived in 2019 remedied the Veloster's underwhelming performance, offering drivers the desirable opportunity for hooliganism with pleasant commuter capabilities. With the N Veloster competing favorably with the VW GTI and Civic Type R, not forgetting the invasion from crossovers, it makes sense for Hyundai to retire the Veloster.
7 Mazda 6
Mazda's midsize fortunes got revitalized after replacing the old and dull 626 with the Mazda 6 model in 2003. Considering the current generation was introduced in 2014, the Mazda 6's advancing age did not stand in the way of making it one of the most attractive midsize sedans on the market.
Unfortunately for Mazda, the midsize sedan market has been contracting over the last few years, and Mazda 6 sales have fallen by up to 50% since 2017. Rumors indicate that the Mazda 6 could return with an all-new rear-wheel-drive platform and a higher sticker price, but only time will tell.
6 Polestar 1
Although its departure evokes mixed emotions amongst gearheads, the writing was on the wall for the Polestar 1 flagship coupe. Polestar debuted the plug-in hybrid sports car in 2019, promising a limited run of 500 examples per year over three years.
The Polestar 1 was criticized for its irrational price tag and the finicky assembly process that involved a carbon-fiber body and steel chassis. But with Polestar's focus on an all-electric future and the arrival of the fully-electric Polestar 2, time is clearly up for the Polestar 1.
5 Volkswagen Golf
The Golf R and Golf GTI are arguably some of the most popular performance cars on the market, but the unveiling of the new-for-2022 models marked the end of the road for the Golf. Performance enthusiasts have kept the GTI and Golf R flames alive for a while, but it arrived at the expense of the small car in the lineup.
With sales slowing down to a crawl for the past half-decade, the Golf was down to one engine choice, one body style, and one basic trim. Although the Golf finally came to a sand trap after a nearly fifty-year run in the U.S., Volkswagen will continue to offer it in other markets.
4 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat
Admittedly, it wasn't awkward for Dodge to market a high-horsepower model such as the Durango SRT Hellcat as other brands scramble to tout impressive EV range numbers. Dodge made 2,000 of these bad boys, and they sold out almost immediately as people clamored for the limited-run SUV.
Despite its EPA-estimated 13 mpg drinking problem, the Dodge Durango was the most powerful SUV on the market in 2021, delivering a jaw-dropping 710hp. With the Durango SRT Hellcat permanently sidelined, the 475hp V8 Durango goes forth into 2022 as the most potent option in the three-row SUV segment.
3 Lotus Evora GT
For the 2021 model year, Lotus only offered the Evora GT in its lineup. The British automaker spiced up its beloved sports car for one last time in 2022 with new options, colors, and features, while retaining the 416hp Toyota-sourced mid-engine V6.
The Evora GT is well-liked for providing a fantastic analog driving experience and excellent mechanical feedback, but it's set to become old news in Lotus' all-electric future. In the meantime, Lotus has already laid the groundwork for the new Emira model, set to go on sale in March.
2 Ford F-150 Diesel
For freeway warriors, it's disappointing that Ford decided to kill the F-150 diesel option in favor of the hybrid powertrain. The F-150 diesel was more efficient on the highway, returning a better fuel economy of 27mpg compared to the hybrid's 24mpg.
On the bright side, the hybrid powerplant offers more horsepower to boot, an extra 130lb-ft of torque, and more nerve for towing. However, it's unlikely that axing the diesel engines will in any way keep the F-150 from topping the sales charts yet again this year.
1 Toyota Land Cruiser
Overlanders were certainly shocked with the news that the Toyota Land Cruiser is no more. Well, at least in the U.S. The Land Cruiser was the first Toyota offering to capture Americans' attention in the early '60s, meaning it's as old as dirt.
The Land Cruiser has grown bigger and plusher over the years, but it did well to retain its hardcore off-roading capabilities and ease in suburban living. As sad as it is to see Toyota bury this beast, it had become crazy-expensive and struggled to keep up with modern infotainment requirements and driver-assistance technologies. The good news is that it makes a comeback as the new Lexus LX 600.