Every year, there are new cars rolling off the production line. What happens to the old models? Well, some are recycled, while others are left in circulation.
Cars, like any other machinery in the 21st century, are always evolving. The average life span of a car today is five years. This is because of the constant evolution of technology and market demands.
For car manufacturers that cannot afford to build new cars every year, they have found a way around this. Car manufacturers devised a way to fit hardware with upgradeable software to their cars, allowing the cars to keep up with their competition.
However, those who cannot do this, have no alternatives but to render their cars obsolete. Obsolete cars are either crushed and recycled or used for parts. Nonetheless, you can still find some of these old cars in circulation.
10 Chevrolet Express/GMC Savana (1995)
The 1995 Chevrolet Express or, as it sold in other parts of the world, the GMC Savana, is one of the oldest cars that you still buy new today. Clearly, this isn't one of Chevy's worst models.
This van went into production in 1995 to replace the Chevrolet and GMC G-Series, marking the van’s 25th anniversary. In 2003, the van was given a facelift, thus giving it a modern look while still maintaining its old school workhorse powertrain. Chevrolet has announced that the Chevrolet Express will be making a comeback in 2021. The 2021 model will be sharing the Silverado 2500 HD’s engine, which is a 6.6-liter V8.
9 Nissan Frontier (2004)
Nissan, like other Japanese car companies, is known for building affordable cars that last a lifetime. The Nissan Frontier first debuted in 1985. In 2004, the current-generation Frontier was unveiled.
Ten years later, Nissan unveiled an upgraded version of the current generation Frontier. However, they did not take back all the older models. As a result, the older models remain in circulation to date. Unlike other vehicles on this list, the Nissan Frontier is a vehicle that needs constant updates to remain relevant.
8 Toyota Land Cruiser (2007)
The Toyota Land Cruiser is one of the best and affordable high-end luxurious off-roading SUVs on the market today. The Land Cruiser went into production in 2007 after five long years of research and development.
With off-road capabilities and comfort comes the extra cost of fuel. This 5.6-liter V8 beast is no stranger to uneconomical consumption. This is one of the many cars whose builders have fitted in hardware with upgradeable software.
7 Toyota Tundra (2007)
Toyota is perhaps the most popular Japanese car manufacturer in the world. Toyota's cars are built to be affordable, adaptable, reliable, and versatile.
The 2007 Toyota Tundra stays true to this mantra. The Toyota Tundra is a 4X4 full-size pickup truck that was built to go up against some of the best in the industry. The Ford F-150 is the Tundra’s main competition. Recently, Toyota upgraded the Tundra making it adaptable to any terrain. This boosted its reliability and durability. The Toyota Tundra is one of the best work trucks on the market today.
6 Toyota Sequoia (2007)
Japanese SUVs are quickly dominating the SUV market. The Toyota Sequoia debuted in 2007 and is currently in its second generation. Over the thirteen years, it has been in production, it has lived in the shadow of the Land Cruiser V8.
The Toyota Sequoia was built to be an affordable alternative for anyone in the market for a 4X4 full-size SUV. Toyota has made an effort to fit the Sequoia with technology to keep up with other vehicles in its category. This SUV features third-row seating and is powered by a 5.7-liter V8 engine that is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. This engine pushes 381 horsepower to either the rear-wheel or four-wheel-drive drivetrain.
5 Nissan GT-R (2007)
The Nissan GT-R, also known as “Godzilla”, is one of the most impressive high-performance sports coupes on the market. The GT-R debuted in 2007, and 13 years down, this car is proving to be a formidable opponent to most sports cars.
The Nissan GT-R is powered by a 3.8-liter V6 turbo engine that is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. This engine pushes 565 horsepower at 6,800 rpm to the car's all-wheel-drive system. The Nissan GT-R has a top speed of 195 mph and accelerates from 0-60 mph in 2.9 seconds, almost the same time as the Bugatti Veyron.
4 Dodge Grand Caravan (2007)
The Dodge Grand Caravan is one of the many cars that have been slotted to be discontinued in 2021. This, however, doesn’t mean you can’t get your hands on a brand new Dodge Grand Caravan.
The Dodge Grand Caravan was unveiled in 1987, and over the thirty-three year it has been in circulation, this minivan has been the go-to vehicle for families all over America. With the minivans becoming extinct, anyone who is in search of one may as well settle for the Dodge Grand Caravan. This minivan is powered by a 3.6-liter engine that is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission.
3 Dodge Challenger (2008)
When it comes to American muscle cars, it is not hard to determine where people stand. Every muscle car has its own almost cult-like following.
Dodge, like most of the old school muscle manufacturers, has remained true to the big, loud engine and rugged look muscle cars are known for, making it one of the truest and most original American muscle cars on the market. The Challenger is powered by a 6.2-liter Demon Hemi OHV supercharged V8 engine that is paired with a six-speed manual transmission.
2 Nissan 370Z (2009)
While the Nissan GT-R is just coming of age, the Nissan 370Z is trying to play catch up. The Nissan 370Z is a two-door, two-seater Japanese sports coupe that first debuted in 2006 in Los Angeles.
This iconic Japanese ride has outlived three generations of Corvettes and two generations of the MX-5. The Nissan 370Z is powered by a 3.7-liter V6 engine that is paired with either a six-speed automatic transmission or a seven-speed manual transmission. This engine pushes 332 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque to the car’s rear-wheel-drive drivetrain.
1 Dodge Journey (2009)
The Dodge Journey has also made the list of cars being discontinued in 2021. The Dodge Journey was introduced to the world 32 years ago (1988).
This vehicle was one of the first few SUVs that gave perspective to modern SUVs in the late 1990s but failed to keep up with the rising competition. The Dodge Journey is powered by a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. This engine pushed 173 horsepower and 166 lb-ft of torque.