The car world is transitioning to electric propulsion. On the plus side, that means a smorgasbord of fun electric vehicles are coming soon. But it also means that automakers are looking to cut costs. And some of our favorite low-volume sellers — especially those of the sporty variety — must depart the lineup to make way.
Here are 14 cars that we will miss after they shuffle off this mortal coil in the 2024 calendar year.
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Audi TT
audi
Why it's being discontinued: The TT was an icon on the design front when it launched in the late 1990s with its swoopy, Bauhaus-inspired looks. But Audi is pivoting toward EVs, and TT sales — numbering in the hundreds per year by the end of its run — weren't enough to justify its continuation.
Audi R8
Will Sabel Courtney
Why it's being discontinued: We love the V10 Audi R8. But it has grown dated; the current generation entered production in 2015. And its sales won't justify a combustion reboot. Audi should cook up a successor halo car sometime in the intermediate future, but we suspect it will be all-electric.
Why it's being discontinued: The Bolt and Bolt EUV finally found their sales groove as an affordable EV. But nonetheless, Chevy opted to discontinue the models. Great deal for buyers and profitable enterprise for the company are two different considerations for GM. And the brand needed the plant space for the Silverado EV. (Don't worry, though — Chevy says a second-gen Bolt is in the works.)
Why it's being discontinued: The Chrysler 300 was popular when it launched as sort of a Bentley on a budget; Snoop Dogg teamed up with Lee Iacocca to sell them. But the market has pivoted hard away from sedans. Last year, the 300 sold at about 1/10 the rate it did at its peak. And besides, Chrysler is reinventing itself as an electric brand.
Dodge Charger
FCA US LLC
Why it's being discontinued: Sales remain strong for America's (and particularly Metro Detroit's) favorite four-door muscle sedan. But Dodge is ditching the Hemi V8s for fuel economy and transitioning to "eMuscle." The next Charger will be an electric version. Its possible we could see a Charger vehicle of some sort with an inline-six cylinder engine (dubbed "Hurricane") as well.
Dodge Challenger
Stellantis
Why it's being discontinued: The two-door Challenger is departing for the same emissions-related reason as the four-door Charger. The electric Charger may serve as the functional replacement for both cars. It's possible the Challenger nameplate could be revived at a future date.
Ford Edge
Ford
Why it's being discontinued: The Edge is one of the least edgy SUVs on the market, but it had found a loyal, Consumer Reports-reading fan base. The issue is that Ford needs to build its forthcoming EVs somewhere. And the brand is trimming back on its non-enthusiast combustion offerings to make room.
Kia Stinger
Kia
Why it's being discontinued: The Stinger — one could argue — set the table for Kia's metamorphosis as a brand. It was a rough-and-ready Porsche Panamera on a budget, and very nearly won the North American Car of the Year award when it launched in 2018. But unlike with the Telluride, sales success didn't follow the plaudits. And you could argue Kia already has a compelling electric replacement with the EV6.
Jeep Cherokee
FCA US LLC
Why it's being discontinued: Cherokee is one of the most storied — and controversial — nameplates in the Jeep lineage. But the new model bears little resemblance to the vaunted XJ in form or function. It's expensive — now starting at nearly $40,000 (about the same price as the base Grand Cherokee). It also faces a ton of excellent competition from other manufacturers.
Jeep Renegade
Jeep
Why It's Being Discontinued: The Italian-built Renegade is Jeep's entry-level vehicle, with a starting price of $29,445 (yes, that's what an entry-level Jeep now costs). According to Automotive News, Jeep is reinvesting its resources to growing segments. The Renegade had dipped in sales each year since its initial launch and fallen below 30,000 in 2022.
Why it's being discontinued: The Mazda CX-9 was one of our favorite SUVs. It was a cut above its three-row midsize competitors for interior style and driving dynamics. But Mazda has a clear winner in the new CX-90 — even if we weren't huge fans of the new PHEV engine. And that means the CX-9 is no longer needed.
Mazda MX-30
Will Sabel Courtney
Why it's being discontinued: We liked aspects of the Mazda MX-30, such as the creative use of sustainable materials on the interior. And it handled fairly well. But 100 miles of range, 143 horsepower and a cabin so tiny it could not accommodate a second door made it a tough sell (only in California).
MERCEDES-BENZ AG - GLOBAL COMMUNICATIONS MERCEDES-BENZ CARS & VANS
Why it's being discontinued: Mercedes is trimming down the complexity in its combustion car lineup ahead of its 2030 transition to an EV manufacturer. The CLS — basically a sleeker-looking four-door coupé version of the E-Class sedan — was one of the easy low-selling targets.
Nissan Maxima
Nissan
Why it's being discontinued: The Maxima has been around since the early 1980s. But non-luxury full-size sedans are America's fastest-shrinking segment — basically now down to the Maxima and the Toyota Crown. Nissan sold more than 20 times as many midsize Altimas in 2022. It's possible Nissan could revive the Maxima nameplate for its upcoming electric sedan.
