Which Vehicles Could Get the Axe in 2023?
Market trends and consumer needs are always changing. Same thing for technology. Automakers have to adjust and revise their product lineups each and every year in order to stay competitive. Sometimes, that means eliminating a few unsuccessful models.
The Kia Stinger and Nissan Maxima are just a couple of names that will meet their demise in 2023. Let’s look into the crystal ball for some more examples.
Chevrolet Malibu and Camaro
Midsize sedans are a dying breed and the next one to go could be the Malibu, which is entering its 8th year with no major changes. Various sources claim that production will end in 2024, but GM might expedite things. Ditto for the Camaro, which has fallen way behind the Ford Mustang and Dodge Challenger in terms of North American sales. An electric replacement is the topic of many rumours.
Chrysler Grand Caravan
No longer a cheap Dodge minivan, the Grand Caravan fails to impress as a Chrysler product. In the U.S., where it is sold as the Voyager, this model is actually exclusive to fleet customers. Chrysler may decide to use a similar strategy in Canada—or get rid of it altogether. More details are expected to come this summer.
Fiat 500X
Just 52 units of the small Italian crossover were sold in Canada last year. All signs point to the 2023 model being the last as Fiat will bring back the 500 city car in 2024. The latter will feature an electric powertrain exclusively, but will it prove more popular than the 500X? We’ll see.
Ford Edge and Lincoln Nautilus
While Ford’s Oakville plant in Ontario will survive through re-tooling to build five EV models starting in 2025, that won’t be the case of the two vehicles currently on the assembly line there. Both the Ford Edge and Lincoln Nautilus will be eliminated in 2023 according to multiple reports. No direct successors are planned, but the brands are expected to introduce new electric crossovers in the near future.
Infiniti Q50
The Q60 coupe is already dead, and since Nissan no longer seems to be interested in sedans, don’t be surprised if the Infiniti Q50 also gets the axe. The current generation of this compact luxury car has been on the market for a decade. Alas, the future EV that Infiniti has been teasing us with in the past few years has yet to show up.
Kia Forte5 and Rio
While the Forte sedan is built in Mexico, the Forte5 hatchback comes from South Korea and is not even sold in the U.S. How long will it continue to be imported to Canada? Maybe not for long. The smaller Rio is also in danger (just like the Mitsubishi Mirage and Nissan Versa it competes with). Kia already has the Soul and could do the same thing that parent company Hyundai did a couple of years ago, replacing the Accent with the Venue.
Mazda CX-5
It’s hard to believe that Mazda would kill its best-selling product in Canada, but the brand is trying to move upmarket with the new CX-50, and the CX-5 could disappear in the process. Remember, the CX-3 was dropped in a similar fashion, making room for the more stylish CX-30. Will buyers be ready to follow Mazda?
Mitsubishi RVR and Nissan Qashqai
In Europe, Mitsubishi’s smallest crossover is now a rebadged version of the Renault Captur. We’ll have to wait for an announcement by Mitsubishi Canada to see what the future holds for our RVR. Some sources say it will simply be axed in a year or two, and the Eclipse Cross will become the brand’s new entry-level crossover. Meanwhile, Nissan has decided to kill the Rogue Sport in the U.S., but a Canadian spokesperson has confirmed that the Qashqai will return for the 2023 model year. Maybe the last one, too.
Ram 1500 Classic
Initially, the Ram 1500 Classic was supposed to serve as a transition to the next-generation Ram 1500 introduced for 2019. Five years later, this cheaper, older model is still around, and it accounts for 40 percent of total Ram pickup sales. The end appears to be near, though, especially with a fully electric Ram 1500 Revolution coming next year.
