12 vehicles that are likely to be discontinued soon
Every year, automakers unveil and discontinue dozens of vehicles. The overall picture shouldn't overwhelm you: cars make way for SUVs, hybrid and electric cars multiply, and the high development costs of a new generation send aging models into retirement.
We've already told you which vehicles will be gone by 2024, and which won't be coming back in future editions of The Car Guide. Now let's take a look at those on the brink of extinction, and likely to leave us in a year or two...
Acura devoted considerable resources to providing the TLX with a dedicated and exclusive platform. However, the expense didn't pay off, and the TLX's moribund sales, despite its pleasant ride and below-average ownership costs, don't make it a priority for Acura. Will the future RDX use the same chassis?
For 2026, the 8 Series loses its high-performance M8 variants and the simplification of its range points to its imminent departure. This grand tourer could be reborn with an electric motor. Forget the V8 petrol engine, however, which BMW is keen to move away from. The brand doesn't intend to renew the X4 and XM either.
Cadillac CT4 and CT5
Cadillac was bold enough to launch the CT4 and CT5 in 2020, at a time when sedans were dropping like flies. Unfairly neglected, the latter received a refresh in 2025, but not the former. It's a sign that the end is near. Let's hope that their soul will be transposed into an eventual electrified car.
Although Chevrolet has not yet confirmed this, all indications are that the gasoline-powered Blazer will not be cohabiting with the Blazer EV for much longer. Both are assembled at the Ramos Arizpe plant in Mexico, which will eventually cease production of gasoline-powered SUVs. The Cadillac XT5 (built in Tennessee) is also likely to be discontinued after 2026.
Initially, Honda Canada planned to import only 546 examples of the Civic Type R over three model years (2023, 2024 and 2025) in order to preserve its exclusivity. Three years later, we don't know if the company has changed its mind. We do know, however, that enthusiasts can fall back on the Acura Integra Type S...
Last week, Lexus unveiled the IS 500 Ultimate Edition, with its sensational 5-liter V8 engine. In its press release, the brand claims to have created it as a “tribute to the history and heritage” of this sedan. Could this be a polite way of announcing its demise, like the RC coupe? Let's hope Lexus reincarnates it, in one form or another.
Mercedes-Benz EQE and EQS
With their generic design, random reliability and staggering depreciation, the EQE and EQS series will survive for a single generation and, with a few tweaks, become a thing of the past. Mercedes-Benz will follow BMW's lead by electrifying well-known and popular vehicles such as the E-Class and GLE.
True to form since 2011, the RVR is one of the oldest vehicles on the market. Mitsubishi promises to launch a new or refreshed model every year between 2026 and 2030, but will it keep the RVR and Eclipse Cross? After all, the two sub-compact SUVs cannibalize each other by evolving in the same category...
Nissan Altima and Versa
Last summer, internal Nissan sources told Automotive News that the Altima and Versa were not part of the company's long-term plans. This news confirms the erosion of sedans, especially those sold at affordable prices. Indeed, the Versa is the latest gasoline-powered sub-compact and the least expensive new car.
Manufactured in China, the Polestar 2 is not exempt from customs tariffs on electrified vehicles. However, the manufacturer imported enough units of the 2 before the surtax was introduced, and will be able to meet demand until the end of the year. What's next? Will Polestar move production of a car at the end of its career, throw in the towel or manage to get a reprieve from the Canadian government? There are still a lot of questions, but you can be sure that there are some good deals to be had in the meantime...
Since the arrival of the Grand Highlander in 2024, sales of the Toyota Highlander have plummeted. Less spacious and practical than its sibling and competitors, it is also showing signs of age. This raises the question of how long Toyota will continue to offer two three-row mid-size SUVs. The future of the Highlander may lie in batteries and charging cables...
In Canada, Volvo has just sold the last of its S60 and S90 gasoline-powered sedans. For 2026, their wagon versions will remain, and we don't give them much of a chance. Indeed, the brand has unveiled the electric ES90, which won't be coming to our shores. The presentation of an EV90 wagon would be logical, but hopes of seeing it on our roads are, well, hopes...
