by Peter Ciani
| Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Widebody |
It’s that time of the year when we bid farewell to the forlorn lot of car models that are riding off into the sunset.
Typically, most articles about ‘Discontinued Cars for (insert model year)’ consist of cars that were already as stale as the lingering Christmas leftovers in your refrigerator. You know the cars I’m talking about, the ones that make you say, “Oh, I didn’t even know they still made that.”
For example, last year’s list of discontinued cars included the Buick Encore, Nissan Kicks, Chevy Spark, and Ford Ecosport – not terrible cars in general, but no one is crying over their discontinuation either.
Things are a bit different this time around the sun. While the list compiled here certainly has its ho-hum entrants, 2024 will be a bit of a gut punch for car enthusiasts overall. Especially if you love performance sedans.
So, let’s start readers off gently with the seemingly ho-hum vehicles, then ease into the cars which deserve a more fond goodbye.
1) Ford Transit Connect
A handy little van, that was too ‘little’ for the U.S.A.
| Passenger Wagon XLT in Silver with Ford Accessories | Cargo Van XLT LWB in Silver w/ available equipment |
It’s probably not entirely accurate to refer to the Transit Connect as ho-hum. After all, it’s great for what it is – a small, efficient van that is offered in both commercial and passenger variants (for the time being).
The Transit Connect originally made its debut in Europe in 2002 and in the U.S.A. in 2010, riding on the same platform as the compact Ford Focus. Following its arrival, the Transit Connect helped kick off an influx of compact commercial vans, including the RAM Promaster City, Chevrolet City Express, and Nissan NV200, all of which have come and gone in this market.
With the surge in home delivery over the last few years, one might assume that sales of small ‘last-mile’ delivery vehicles would be booming. However, in the land of the F-150, that doesn’t seem to be the case.
2) Kia Rio
One of the last true entry-level bargains; a ho-hum with high hopes.
| 2023 Rio 5-Door | 2023 Rio Sedan |
The Kia Rio subcompact is, or rather was, one of the most affordable cars that you could buy – second only to the Mitsubishi Mirage (also known as the “Mitsubishi Wow-They-Still-Sell-That?”).
As of now, you can still order the Rio in sedan and 5-door hatchback body styles, starting at $16,720 for the sedan.
The Rio doesn’t devour Mustangs in the quarter-mile, boast wall-to-wall leather, or set track records at ‘The Ring’; nor does it aspire to. Instead, the Rio is a genuine value, especially considering the current trend of new car prices inching towards $50,000 on average.
On the base LX trim, you’ll enjoy an 8-inch touchscreen featuring wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Step up to the S trim with the optional Tech package, and you’ll find a host of features that are unexpected in the subcompact market, including Forward Collision Avoidance Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, Driver Attention Warning, and LED headlights – all for just over $20,000.
With a 41 mpg highway rating and Kia’s impressive 10-year powertrain warranty, the Rio offers substantial value. It’s a pity that more car shoppers haven’t recognized its merits, but owners do as indicated on Edmund’s where the Rio has a 4.6 out of 5 by actual owners.
If you’re looking for a reliable, inexpensive daily commuter with decent safety features, you’d better head on over to the Kia page before the order books close for good.
3) Mazda CX-9
A great 3-row SUV, making way for an even greater replacement.
| 2019 Mazda CX-9 Carbon Edition |
Many cars on this list are going away without a replacement simply because of a general lack of interest. This isn’t the case here. The Mazda CX-9 is a great-handling 3-row SUV that offers a fair amount of value for the money. Like the CX-3 which gave way to the CX-30, the CX-9 is leaving to make room for the all-new, 3-row CX-90 SUV.
The new CX-90 is an SUV for people who like to drive. That’s one of the things it has in common with the outgoing CX-9. The CX-90 rides on a new rear-wheel-biased platform for increased performance on the road and features a standard 3.3-liter turbocharged inline 6-cylinder engine paired with a mild hybrid system. If you’d like to start transitioning away from gasoline, Mazda also offers a plug-in hybrid version of the CX-90 that can cover up to 26 miles on a full charge.
| 2024 Mazda CX-90 | 2024 CX-90 Inline-6 Badge |
The CX-90 offers additional benefits over the outgoing CX-9, including more standard features and increased space in the third row and rear cargo area.
If you’re lamenting the departure of the CX-9, take heart. There’s a spiritual successor that’s certainly worth a look.
| Rich Taber from RPM News Weekly and Paul Zangari from Drive Through Radio speak with Mazda North American Launch Strategy Manager, Wyatt Jones about the New Mazda CX-90 |
4) FIAT 500X
A cute, adventurous, mostly ignored compact SUV.
| 2022 Fiat 500X Yacht Club Capri special edition |
You’d expect a small, cute SUV to sell well in a world that is obsessed with small, cute SUVs. Sadly that’s not true for the Fiat 500X as GoodCarBadCar reported a mere 421 were sold in the U.S. from January to October 2023. It’s no wonder that the 500X is on its way out.
The quiet, somewhat sad end of the Fiat 500X leaves the brand with zero models until the arrival of the all-new, all-electric Fiat 500e in early 2024 – assuming that car makes it to market with no delays. This underscores the puzzling handling of the Fiat brand since its reintroduction to North America by FCA in 2012.
Fiat’s return to the U.S. began on a positive note. The brand’s reintroduction was spearheaded by the retro-inspired 500, 500 Abarth, and 500C convertible. This effort also involved the establishment of modern standalone dealer showrooms, commonly referred to as studios.
However, the initial success quickly soured as Fiat dealers realized that profits from a single subcompact weren’t enough, prompting demands for more products. Following the 500’s debut, Fiat introduced the very European yet forgettable 500L, the ‘lifestyle’ focused 500X, and the cool but undermarketed Fiat 124 Spider; a genuinely underrated weekend cruiser with a true ‘European roadster’ look and feel.
| 2018 Fiat 124 Spider |
In 2019, as Fiat continued to struggle, the powers-that-be decided to wipe the board clean and gradually discontinue most of the Fiat lineup, starting with the core brand-icon Fiat 500 and eventually the 500L and 124 Spider.
While it’s understandable that parent company FCA might phase out slow sellers like the 124 Spider, the automaker’s choice to drop the 500 and retain only the 500X, while simultaneously introducing a new and vastly improved version of the 500 for Europe only, is a somewhat curious decision. But, then again FCA was never good at the way it handled small cars. The introduction and failure of the Dodge Dart and Chrysler 200 are recent examples of that. Both had enormous potential, but FCA cut and ran after only a few model years.
As for those shiny new standalone Fiat dealerships, they are long gone. Currently, if you want to buy a Fiat 500X, you have to visit a Chrysler / Jeep / Dodge / RAM dealership, where you’ll no doubt be sidetracked into a cheaper, more powerful Jeep Compass.
Now, in 2024, history is repeating itself as the sole product that Fiat dealers have to offer once again will be the 500 – specifically, the all-electric 500e. There won’t be a gas version this time.
It would have been nice to see a redesigned 500X with more power or even a hybrid version as they sell overseas. Would that sell at a Jeep dealership? Probably not. Jeep dealers have no shortage of adventure vehicles to sell.
The new Fiat 500e is a bit more grown-up than the prior generation, my only hope is that Stellantis (the current parent company) does a better job of letting people know about it, instead of letting it die on the vine as a compliance car.
| 2024 FIAT 500e RED |
5) Jeep Renegade
Bye bye baby (Wrangler).
| The Jeep Renegade at Camp Jeep, New York International Auto Show |
You can’t discuss the Fiat 500X without acknowledging its soon-to-be-departed platform-mate, the Jeep Renegade. While the Renegade’s compact SUV counterpart, the Jeep Compass, soldiers on in the Jeep lineup, the Renegade is set to ride off into the sunset without a direct replacement.
It’s a shame, really. I quite enjoyed the Renegade and think it was a fun entry point into the Jeep brand. The Renegade had surprising capability for a compact SUV with baby Wrangler looks. Still, other than some slightly revised styling, Jeep never put much into it over the years, which may have contributed to its slow sales decline since the beginning of 2021.
Jeep offered the Renegade Trailhawk, but they also should have created a sporty, SRT-inspired Renegade Trackhawk with more turbo power, a lowered suspension, and a specially tuned all-wheel-drive system. It could have been a cool-looking hot hatch, earning both Jeep and the Renegade some attention.
Fortunately, the soon-to-be-released Jeep Recon EV will pick up the mantle as the boxy, Wrangler-inspired SUV of the brand, especially given that the Recon will have removable doors.
| The all-new, all-electric Jeep Recon: 100% Jeep; 100% zero emission |
Car & Driver guesstimates that the midsize all-electric Recon will start at around $60,000. Unfortunately, that’s a far cry from the entry-level price of the Renegade.
6) Jeep Cherokee
Future unknown.
| 2022 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk |
The Renegade isn’t the only Jeep retiring this year; the mid-size Jeep Cherokee also won’t be carrying on to 2024. However, that might not mean the end of the Cherokee, as its future is a bit unclear.
One of the factories that built the Cherokee has been the center of a year-long fight between Stellantis (Jeep’s parent company) and the United Auto Workers (UAW). This dispute began back in 2022 when Jeep idled the Belvidere, Illinois plant ‘indefinitely.’
According to Reuters, after the plant closure was announced, Tim Ferguson, shop chairman for UAW union Local 1268, claimed in an interview that the company was planning to move Cherokee production to Toluca, Mexico. Jeep spokeswoman Jodi Tinson simply stated, “We are not commenting on the future of the Cherokee.”
It sounds like both sides know that a replacement Cherokee is on its way, and a report by AutoForecast adds fuel to that fire, suggesting that a new Cherokee will, in fact, be produced in Mexico alongside the Recon EV and the upcoming Grand Wagoneer S EV.
If a new Cherokee is in the cards, I speculate that we won’t see it until at least 2026 or 2027, especially if it goes all-electric. Logically, Jeep will likely prioritize its larger and more profitable mid and full-size EVs first.
7) Nissan Maxima
A good looking mid-size sedan lost in a world of SUV dominance.
| 2023 Nissan Maxima |
The Maxima has been around since the 1980s, while the current generation model has been on the market since 2016. Although it’s not the most sporty sedan on the market, its styling – both inside and out – still maintains a fresh appeal. Moreover, it doesn’t fall short in terms of comfort, reliability, and tech-savvy features.
The Maxima is also one of the last sedans being sold with a simple V6 / front-wheel-drive powertrain, so if you like simplicity and don’t care for a turbo 4-cylinder, hybrid, or all-wheel drive, you might want to hit up the Nissan order page before they are gone.
8) Kia Stinger
At this point, the list begins to ‘sting’ a bit… (see what I did there?)
| Kia Stinger |
It’s sad, but the second Kia on our list is the Kia Stinger.
The Stinger has always been a conundrum – a car that emerged seemingly out of left field. How could the same company that produced the Soul and the aforementioned Rio also create such a thing – a rear-wheel-drive sports sedan (liftback) with stunning looks, luxurious accommodations, and the potential for up to 368 horsepower from a twin-turbo V6!?
Right from its launch, the Stinger’s design was an award winner, having earned the 2018 ‘iF Product Design Award’, the Red Dot 2018 ‘Best of the Best Car Design,’ and MotorWeek’s 2018 ‘Driver’s Choice’ Award.
Car reviewers have loved the Stinger. In their first review of the Stinger GT in 2018, MotorTrend wrote, “Kia unleashes a premium sports sedan worthy of challenging the world’s best“; Car & Driver called it “A quick, refined, elegant, and stylish grand tourer that cruises effortlessly at high speeds while offering tons of space for both people and cargo”; and the enthusiast-focused podcast Everyday Driver recommends the Stinger to listeners on almost every show.
There are a lot of people with families who don’t want to be stuck driving an SUV or a boring commuter. For them, the Stinger checks a lot of boxes.
After all the praise that the Stinger has received from both the automotive media and owners, one might expect it to be a sales leader, right? Well, not so fast. Sales of the Stinger peaked in its second model year at 16,806 units. In subsequent years, the Stinger has seen a decline, selling about 12,000 to 13,000 units annually, and dropping to under 6,000 units for 2023. This makes the Stinger the automotive poster child for “If you build it…they may not come.”
There are two silver linings in the demise of the Stinger:
1) If you hurry, you can still order a GT2 Tribute Special Edition
2) The Stinger platform lives on in the wonderful Genesis G70.
9) Chrysler 300
The ‘baby Bentley’ sees the end of a long road.
| The 6.4L HEMI-powered 2023 Chrysler 300C pays tribute to the Chrysler 300 legacy. First introduced in 1955 and reborn in 2005, the Chrysler 300 has represented iconic American luxury and performance for nearly 70 years. |
In automotive terms, the Chrysler 300 is ancient. With only one major refresh in 2011, the 300 has continued to serve as the luxury flagship sedan of the Chrysler brand for almost two decades – what’s left of the Chrysler brand, anyway.
The 300 has endured for 18 years on the market without a major redesign. To put it in perspective, the 300 has been around so long that it once shared a showroom with the Chrysler Crossfire and PT Cruiser and has not only outlived the company that created it (DaimlerChrysler), but also the three companies that followed (Chrysler LLC, Chrysler Group LLC, and Fiat Chrysler).”
Dubbed the ‘baby Bentley’, the 300 was a big hit in 2005, not just with businessmen and old folks, but with the rap community as well. Snoop Dogg loved the 300 and personally asked then-Chrysler CEO Dieter Zetsche to send him one, according to Detroit News. The 300 made its way into several music videos at the time, likely because it does look a bit like a poor man’s Bentley.
Now, as old as the 300 may be, it might not be so obvious to the average Joe.
Not only does the 300 still look great, especially with the darkened trim of the 300 S, but the ride is comfortable. Both the V6 and the HEMI V8 offer plenty of muscle to propel the full-size sedan. Even Consumer Reports still has positive things to say about it, stating: “The 300’s stately ride, responsive handling, and quiet cabin make it feel like a bargain luxury car.”
Inside, the 300 is spacious and maintains a modern look, while featuring a control layout similar to other Fiat Chrysler vehicles of the time. Overall, it’s uncluttered and super easy to operate. The Uconnect system is as good as ever, proving that not every vehicle needs a giant pillar-to-pillar screen.
Of course, time marches on, and the 300 has been on a steep sales decline since 2019. No surprise.
The departure of the 300 leaves the Pacifica as the sole offering in the Chrysler line-up. We’re not sure what is replacing the 300. For a while it seemed like the Chrysler Airflow EV was to take over in 2025, but recent reports indicate that won’t necessarily be the case with a Chrysler rep telling InsideEVs, “The Chrysler Airflow Concept has always been identified as just that – a concept.”
Leaving a single, aging product in the line-up while waiting for an all-new EV, with no definitive release date seems to be a common occurrence at Stellantis these days.
Chrysler did give the 300 a fitting goodbye, bringing back the 6.2 HEMI V8 for a limited production 300C. But don’t bother trying to order one, all 2000 sold out in less than a day.
| The last Chrysler 300, a Velvet Red 300C, rolled off the Brampton Ontario production line 12/8/2023. |
10) Dodge Charger
Ah, here we go. Truly the end of an era.
| 2022 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye The most powerful and fastest mass-produced sedan in the world with 797-horsepower, shown here in Sinamon Stick |
The brotherhood of muscle just got laid off, along with the rest of the workers on the Charger and Challenger production lines as they await the next generation of Dodge performance.
Similar to the Chrysler 300, the 2006 Charger was brought back to life on the new Chrysler LX platform. When it first debuted, Mopar fans were a bit disappointed with the fact that it had four doors, myself included. However, the Charger soon proved it was worthy of the name, showing consistent improvements over the years in performance, technology, and comfort.
The Charger looked pretty cool right out of the gate, with its long hood, low roofline, and short rear deck. The styling was sharpened a bit in 2011, and a new C-shaped indent on the side added some dimension to the body, while at the same time hinting back to the muscle cars of old.
In 2015, Dodge significantly modernized the look of the Charger. The separate grille and headlights were gone, replaced by a new grille and headlights that seamlessly came together to form one continuous opening across the front. This not only gave the Charger a more sinister look but also forged a more distinct connection to its 1960s namesake.
| 2022 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye Integrated fender flares add 3.5 inches of width to make room for the wide 20-inch by 11-inch wheels. |
The arrival of the wide-body brought it all together, making the Charger one of the toughest-looking cars on the road. There was no mistaking it for any other boring sedan.
Those that engineered the performance evolution of the Charger should be commended. Again, we are talking about a platform that is nearly 20 years old and derived from an even older Mercedes-Benz parts bin. You’d never know it. Even when pushed on the track, the Charger doesn’t disappoint and certainly doesn’t feel its age.
Of course, you can’t mention engineering without mentioning the HEMI V8. The modern 5.7-liter HEMI made its debut in 2002 appearing first in the Dodge RAM trucks.
The 5.7 HEMI was soon followed by the 6.4 HEMI and 6.1 SRT HEMI and eventually the legendary 6.2 Hellcat. Dodge being Dodge, they couldn’t stop at Hellcat, introducing the 6.2 Demon in the Challenger bumping HEMI performance to 840 horsepower.
| The Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye is powered by a supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI® high-output V-8 with 797 hp and 707 lb.-ft. of torque, mated to a TorqueFlite 8HP90 8-speed automatic transmission. |
Can you imagine going back to the late 1990s and telling a Chrysler engineer that their new HEMI would eventually evolve to put out over 800 horsepower, reliably? They would have laughed you out of the design studio. On top of that, a 797-horsepower version would be available in a family sedan that can comfortably be used for picking up the kids at school, where every classmate’s head turns, and every Prius-driving parent gives you dirty looks, all while you’re listening to satellite radio and enjoying the ice-cold air conditioning. I know, I’ve done it.
Speaking of the HEMI, you may remember that iconic “That Thang Gotta Hemi?” commercial from 2004, which helped to put the new HEMI on the map.
Like the Chrysler 300, the interior of the Charger defies its age. Not only is it spacious, but the Charger also boasts some of the best seats in the business, especially the ones found in the SRT models.
Fortunately, we’ve already seen a glimpse of the Charger’s future with the reveal of the Dodge Charger Daytona EV coupe. The Daytona prototype is indeed stunning with a design that borrows a lot from the iconic 1968 model, while also showing some styling hints of the outgoing car.
| The Dodge Charger Daytona Concept revealed at the 2023 New York International Auto Show. |
The electric Charger concept is as much of a juxtaposition as the Dodge brand itself. Going electric (EV) is the right way to go, but for many enthusists, Dodge was the last holdout from the perceived impending all-electric doom.
After all, Dodge is THE muscle car brand. They’ve built themselves up as the brotherhood of muscle. Their TV commercials to this day feature tire-shredding SRTs, and they continue to sponsor MotorTrend’s Roadkill Nights at the Woodward Dream Cruise. Even the full-size Durango looks like a muscle car, especially in SRT form.
So, Dodge now has to convince their core audience that, yeah, the HEMI was awesome, but EV is so much better for performance. In many ways, electric propulsion is superior; just ask anyone who owns a Performance Tesla model or take a spin in the Genesis GV60.
As great as EVs are, and they are great, there is something missing without the rumble of an engine and the smell of the exhaust. EV fans on social media lose their heads when you say something like that, but for us old-school car people, that’s just the way it is… some things will never change (♫ ♫). And it doesn’t matter what engine noise we’re talking about – from a screaming Mazda Rotary to a Toyota 2JZ, Chevy 327, or a Cummins turbo diesel. It’s true for all automotive enthusiasts, we like the sound.
Dodge is trying to counter this with electronically generated sound, aka the Fratzogic Chambered Exhaust, and it sounds sort of cool. It resembles how you’d want a futuristic electric car to sound in a sci-fi movie. I’ve seen a few people comment on it as a ‘stupid sound from a speaker,’ which it isn’t; it’s a bit more complicated than that. I’ve also read comments from Tesla die-hards on Twitter who are borderline angry about an electric car that makes noise.
At least Dodge gave the Charger a nice send-off with a year of special ‘Last Call’ Editions. Sadly, the last Charger – a Destroyer Grey wide-body Scat Pack – has reportedly left the production line a few weeks ago. So, if you’re not ready to embrace an all-electric future, don’t wait too long to get yourself into a Dodge dealership.
11) Dodge Challenger
A long run for the savior of the muscle car.
| The “Old School” 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Jailbreak models unlock color-combination ordering restrictions and add new factory-custom options to deliver enthusiasts the freedom to build their own “one-of-one” Dodge performance vehicle. |
Much of what has been said about the Charger can be applied to the Challenger, but the Challenger is a bit more special, partly because it was a coupe, but also because it was so unapologetically retro in its design. The Challenger was true to its heritage, while still improving on the original concept. Few retro-inspired cars can pull this off, with the Ford Bronco being the only recent example
Like the Charger, the Challenger was also available in a dizzying array of trims and special editions over the years with multiple powertrain options, from the efficient V6 to the powerful 6.2-liter HEMI Demon.
The Challenger also seats five and could be ordered with all-wheel-drive. Those are two things that Mustang, Camaro and most other sports coupes couldn’t offer.
Even though you could only get all-wheel drive with the V6, it didn’t matter much, as the Challenger proved to be an unexpected beast in the snow.
Of all the automotive media events I’ve attended over the years, to this day two events stand out as my favorites, and not surprisingly, both are Challenger-related. One was the launch of the Challenger SRT Demon, which I will talk about in a in a minute, and the other was the first drive of the then-all-new 2017 all-wheel-drive Challenger GT.
When I got the invitation, I figured that the launch of the Challenger GT would be a simple ride around town and a demo of the all-wheel drive on a snow-covered track, and it started that way. Our day began in Portland, Maine; we then piloted a Challenger GT through New Hampshire’s back highways to Club Motorsports in Tamworth, NH.
| AWD Challenger GT in the Snow |
Dodge had two tracks set up – one small area for a ride with an instructor as they went over the AWD system and how it worked, the other let automotive journalists loose by themselves. It was very Dodge, meaning no holds barred. Attendees were pushing the Challenger, and not only was it taking it in stride, but the all-wheel-drive system was handling the snow incredibly well.
Here are some highlights from a day with the Challenger GT at Club Motorsports:
RPM News was also invited to the launch of the Challenger SRT Demon at the 2017 New York Auto Show.
It was an unforgettable event that started with the Demon emerging from a cage and doing a launch inside an exhibition space in New York City, and closed with a speech by Vin Diesel.
| Dodge Demon Reveal 2017 New York International Auto Show |
Dodge also had a few vehicles from their past as well as cars from the Fast & Furious movie series on display. It was an event that only Dodge could have put on.
Check out our coverage of the Challenger SRT Demon reveal:
As of now, there is no word on whether or not there will be another coupe to carry on after the Challenger. Of course, there have always been rumors that a Barracuda revival may be in the works, and speculation suggests that both models will continue as BEVs.
After seeing the Charger Daytona EV concept, I’m confident that based on the shape and size of the rear quarter window, the next Charger will also be a 4-door. If that’s the case, I’m sure that it wouldn’t be hard for Dodge to adapt the platform to fit a coupe, like they did in 2006.
But that’s probably years away, as Dodge will likely spend 2024 hyping up the production Charger EV and then focusing on the next generation Durango, expected in 2025.
Honorable Mention: Chevrolet Camaro
Although production of the Camaro has ended, the model hasn’t officially made our discontinued list since it still will be available as a 2024 model.
| From top left: 2023 Camaro Coupe & Convertible; SS Collector’s Edition, 2024 ZL1 Garage 56 Edition; 2024 ZL1 Collector’s Edition; 2024 Camaro in Vivid Orange Metallic |
Road & Track reported that production stopped around December 15, 2023, while Motor 1 noted that the final Camaro was a ZL1 with a manual transmission – a fitting end for the pony car.
As for the future of the Camaro, Global Chevrolet Vice President Scott Bell has said, “While we are not announcing an immediate successor today, rest assured, this is not the end of Camaro’s story.”
I doubt that the next-generation Camaro will continue as a sleek, low-slung sports coupe. It will likely return as an electric SUV with Camaro-ish styling. We’ve seen this story before in the Ford Mustang Mach-e. As good as it is, the all-electric SUV version is not the same as the Mustang and never will be.
Speaking of an all-electric future, be sure and check out our list of new cars for 2024 to be published soon. Is this the year when we finally see the ‘big 3’ American automakers finally play catch up with Telsa?
