Memorializing the Discontinued Vehicles That Didn’t Make It to 2026

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Every year the automotive industry sees some change, with new releases, the discontinuation of old, non-popular vehicles, and the rollout of new, more advanced technologies. Towards the end of 2025, the tax credits and incentives for EV purchases faded away. That, along with lackluster sales saw many automakers moving away from electric-only models to traditional fuel and hybrid options. But there were also just a lot of vehicles that reached end-of-life, effectively phased out for newer, better offerings, or other, non-descript reasons.

To sort of remember those vehicles, some of which probably deserved to live on, this list will cover some of the top models that have been discontinued. You may even find yourself surprised to learn about some of these changes. Without further ado, let’s talk it out.

Acura TLX

The 2025 model year of the Acura TLX, the brand’s luxury sedan offering, was its last. Now mostly focused on SUVs, Acura’s sedans will long be a thing of the past. It seems to align with consumer preferences, however, as most people are going for bigger, family-friendly vehicles or those with a bit more kick.

BMW 8 Series

Sporting a legacy BMW style and design, the 8 Series coupe and Gran Coupe models will be no more going forward. For those nostalgic for the old-school BMW flair, or even the boosted power of the V8 M8 Competition, these are sad days.

Cadillac XT4 and XT6

Yes, Cadillac is discontinuing not one but two SUVs, the mid-size XT4 and the larger XT6. The XT5 and the Escalade still exist and the company’s battery-powered EVs will fill the gap between those. Most unfortunate is the XT6’s three-row offering going away as those seem to be fairly popular with U.S. families.

Chevy Malibu

With the end of the Malibu comes the end of Chevrolet’s sedans in the United States. It’s a practical, fuel-efficient ride that was a great alternative to even subcompact SUVs, but apparently, it didn’t have the staying power.

Jeep Wagoneer

While Jeep phasing out the Wagoneer name could be a tear-jerker, it’s not simply because the larger, more aptly-named Grand Wagoneer exists, and will still exist. All future models, 2026 years and on will carry the “Grand” name forward. Long live the king.

Kia Soul

Kia currently offers three subcompact SUVs, the Niro, the Seltos and the Soul, but that’s changing for 2026 and beyond. The Soul is no more likely due to decreased consumer demand. At least Kia fans have other options for the time being.

Nissan Versa

No, it’s not a sports car. No, it doesn’t have a particularly unique design. But the Nissan Versa is and was a solid budget-friendly option for those looking for a fuel-efficient modern ride. It did a lot of things right and that’s why we’re sad to see it go.

Porsche 718

Even trusty Porsche is discontinuing vehicles for 2025 and this one’s a real doozy. The popular 718 is going bye bye to make way for an electric version, albeit that will be coming in a few years. As of now, the only sports car from the company is the Porsche 911. The way things are going we may see that fall by the wayside, too.

Subaru Legacy

You might have noticed a big shift over the past few years and Subaru’s discontinuation of the Legacy is a perfect example. Nearly every automaker is moving away from sedans entirely and focusing on SUVs. There are so many SUVs on the market, it’s pretty crazy. But if they’re right that’s because of a waning interest in the vehicle type from consumers. As it is, the Legacy 2025 models will be the last.

Volkswagen ID.Buzz

Exuding all the charm of the old VW vans, the Buzz is technically only taking a hiatus for a year, it won’t be released here in the U.S. for 2026, but it’s still possible it won’t make a return despite promises from the CEO not to cancel it entirely. We’ll have to wait and see. Volkswagen is purportedly focusing on the 2027 model and upgrades during the break.

Bow Your Head for the Honorable Mentions

Some of the other vehicles discontinued include:

• Dodge Hornet
• Audi Q8 e-tron
• BMW X4
• Genesis G80 Electrified
• Infiniti QX50 and QX55
• Karma Revero
• Kia Telluride
• Lexus RC
• Nissan Ariya
• Nissan Altima
• Nissan GT-R
• Nissan Kicks Play
• Polestar 2
• Toyota bZ4X
• Volvo S60 and S90

See a car on the list that you’re going to miss. We sure see a bunch, though many of these changes do make sense with the market as it is.

If you own one of the discontinued vehicles, or any that have been discontinued in the past, regular maintenance and upkeep is going to be more important than ever for preserving the iconic model(s). Be sure to take it in for professional service as needed or, when handling the repairs yourself, you have all the tools to get the job done correctly. A costly mistake could result in the vehicle dying for good and that’s going to hurt.

If you haven’t already, look into the Innova OBD2 car scanners to help with diagnostics and repairs or at least to help catch some of the electrical and mechanical problems that might be happening under the hood.

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