The auto industry is constantly changing and as such, automakers consistently introduce new models while doing away with older nameplates with every passing model year. One of the recent trends has been a move away from small cars and sedans toward bigger, taller, more practical SUVs, with a number of automakers announcing the discontinuation of small, medium and large sedans that had just a few years ago made up the bread-and-butter of their respective lineups. They aren’t all sedans, though, and below we’ll look at many of the cars being discontinued for the coming 2020 model year. As dealers will likely want to clear these lame-duck models from their lots to make room for fresh new products, expect to be able to get a great deal on any of the vehicles on this list.
Audi A3 Cabriolet
The A3 Cabriolet was introduced here in the U.S. back in 2015 as a 2-door, drop-top version of the A3 sedan. Unfortunately, though, the convertible market is shrinking and Audi has found that buyers tend to flock to the more expensive A5 Cabriolet over the smaller A3. With a new A3 on the way soon, the current A3 Cabriolet will go away – at least here in the U.S. — after the 2019 model year.
Audi TT
Built on the same platform as the A3 and the Volkswagen VWAGY, -0.85% Golf range, the original Audi TT introduced a revolutionary design when it first went on sale back in 1999. 20 years later though, its appeal is waning, and Audi has opted to discontinue the TT ahead of the 2020 model year. Given its funky, spherical design, though, we think it would make a great electric vehicle, and wouldn’t be surprised to see a battery-powered revival of the TT down the road. Meanwhile though, there are new TTs still listed for sale on Autotrader.
BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo
Based on the outgoing “F30”-generation 3 Series, the funky hatchback 3 Series Gran Turismo carried on for one year after the all-new generation 3 Series sedan was introduced. Alas, the writing was on the wall for the 3 Series GT, and it goes away after 2019.
BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo
The new BMW 8 Series effectively replaced the 6 Series in BMW’s lineup, and thus the 6 Series has played a bit of an odd role in recent years. A successor to the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo was offered under the 6 Series nameplate over the past few years, but like the 3 Series Gran Turismo, goes away for 2020.
BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe
While the BMW 6 Series Coupe and Convertible were discontinued last year, the 6 Series Gran Coupe carried on for another model year. With the unveiling of the 4-door 8 Series Gran Coupe though, its time has come, and the 2019 model year will be the 6 Series Gran Coupe’s last.
Buick Cascada
Buick The convertible Cascada never had much success in the U.S. A rebadged Opel, the Cascada was overpriced and impractical and thus failed to attract many buyers, especially given that it was often sold on the same lot as the more exciting Chevrolet Camaro. Accordingly, the Cascada will be laid to rest after 2019. As it was never very popular, there aren’t as many new Cascadas still out there as there are other vehicles on this list. Right now on Autotrader, they are still listed for sale.
Buick LaCrosse
GM GM, -0.20% has announced the discontinuation of its line of large, front-wheel-drive sedans, which means the end for the semi-luxurious LaCrosse. A comfortable, spacious sedan, the current-generation LaCrosse just went on sale for the 2017 model year, and was available with all-wheel drive and a potent V6 engine. Alas, the LaCrosse falls victim to the rise in popularity of SUVs, and 2019 will be its last model year.
Cadillac XTS
Like the LaCrosse, the Cadillac XTS is another one of GM’s large FWD sedans that is going away after 2019. A little more polished and a little more luxurious than the LaCrosse, the XTS offered comfort and style, although it had been made virtually obsolete in the Cadillac lineup in recent years by the new CT6 and redesigned CTS. While it’s going away soon, the XTS isn’t quite dead yet, and there are still many listed for sale on Autotrader.
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Chevrolet Impala
The most economical of GM’s triumvirate of midsize sedans is being discontinued in 2019, the Chevrolet Impala offers comfort and serenity just like the LaCrosse and the XTS, but at a lower price and with fewer luxurious features. Don’t worry though if you’re hoping to get behind the wheel of a brand-new Impala in the coming year, as there are currently tons of new examples still listed for sale on Autotrader.
Chevrolet Cruze
While it offers an attractive design, good technology and a fuel-efficient powertrain, the Cruze is another sedan that has fallen victim to the SUV onslaught, and production is set to end after the 2019 model year There are still loads of new Cruzes listed for sale on Autotrader, many of which are the practical hatchback body style, and a few of which come with the diesel engine.
Chevrolet Volt
The original Chevrolet Volt came out back in 2011 and paired a small electric powertrain with a range-extending gas engine. Sales of the original were strong enough to justify the introduction of a second-gen Volt that came out for 2016, but as GM is turning its focus to fully-electric vehicles heading into the future, there’s no longer a place for the Volt in Chevrolet’s lineup going forward, and the 2019 model year will be the Volt’s last. Fear not if you’re looking to still get your hands on one of these plug-in hybrids, as there are close to 700 new Volts still listed for sale on Autotrader. Looking for a fully-electric GM product? Check out the Bolt.
Fiat 500
Fiat With the economic downturn and sky-high gas prices seen in the U.S. at the beginning of this decade, automakers scrambled to introduce small, efficient city cars. Fast forward a few years though, and a stronger economy means that the market for these microcars has all but dried up, and Fiat-Chrysler FCAU, -0.40% has announced that sales of the diminutive 500 will end in the U.S. after 2019, citing a lack of demand.
Ford Fiesta
While an all-new Fiesta was introduced last year, it won’t be sold in the U.S., leaving the nameplate to die here with the discontinuation of the current-gen Fiesta after 2019. Even though it’ll be going away soon, there are still loads of new Fiestas sitting on dealer lots.
Ford Taurus
Introduced way back in 2010, the current-generation Ford F, +0.34% Taurus soldiered on here in the U.S. for nearly a decade. But as all good things must come to an end, the full-size Taurus will end production after 2019. While news of the Taurus’ demise has been out for a while now, there are still over 600 new Taurus’ listed for sale on Autotrader, some with AWD, and some of which are even the high-performance SHO model.
Jaguar XJ
Long serving as Jaguar’s flagship model, the big XJ won’t live to see the 2020 model year. While no immediate successor has been formally announced, there are rumblings that Jaguar will introduce a new, electric-powered sedan in the next few years that will effectively take the XJ’s place in the lineup (and it might even bear the XJ name). If you’re interested in getting your hands on what will likely be the last of the big, gas-powered Jaguar sedans, there are plenty of brand-new XJs still listed for sale on Autotrader.
Nissan 370Z Roadster
Nissan The 370Z is ancient, having been introduced way back in 2008 as a 2009 model. Clearly on its last leg, Nissan NSANY, +0.90% has discontinued the 370Z Roadster for the 2020 model year, while the Coupe version will soldier on for at least another year. While it’s been known for a while now that the 370Z Roadster would be going away, there are still new examples listed for sale.
Nissan Titan Single Cab and XD Diesel
Nissan is in an odd place with the Titan, which is firmly entrenched as the fifth-place midsize pickup in terms of sales here in the U.S., behind Ford, GM, GM, -0.20% Ram and Toyota. TM, +0.47% As such, they’ve tried to mix things up from a product standpoint in recent years, introducing a Cummins diesel-powered Titan a few years back. The diesel never caught on, and it goes away for 2020, as does the Titan’s slow-selling single-cab body style.
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The entire Smart brand
Smart USA As Smart’s entire brand is built around tiny microcars, it’s been left pretty exposed with the plummeting popularity of small cars here in the States. Earlier this year, it was announced by parent-company Mercedes-Benz that the Smart brand would be exiting the U.S. market after 2019. This is probably for the better, as Smart’s only offering here for the 2019 model year was the electric-powered EQ fortwo.
Toyota Prius C
Toyota introduced the subcompact Prius C earlier this decade as part of the company’s attempt to create a Prius subbrand of uniquely-styled hybrid-powered vehicles. This plan seems to have been scuttled, and the Prius C has soldiered on well past its sell-by date, as its fuel economy and cabin tech is barely competitive by today’s standards. Not surprisingly, the 2019 model year will be the Prius C’s last.
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Volkswagen Beetle
The second-generation of VW’s VWAGY, -0.85% reincarnated Beetle wore a new muscular design and offered some fun turbocharged powertrains. With the rise in popularity of SUVs though, not to mention the fact that it was sold alongside the Golf, which was always a much better overall package, there really isn’t a place for the Beetle in VW’s lineup anymore. While we suspect it’ll reappear as an EV down the line, the Beetle as we know it goes away after 2019. If you’re hoping to pick up a new Beetle before these unique hatchbacks disappear from dealer lots, you’re in luck, as there are currently many new examples still listed for sale.
Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen and Alltrack
Out of all the cars being discontinued for 2020, this one hurts the most. As VW gets ready to launch an all-new Golf in Europe in the next few months, the company’s Golf-related offerings are being pared down in the U.S. for 2020. While the current-generation GTI will carry on, sales of the Golf Sportwagen, the Golf Alltrack and the Golf R will end after 2019. While an all-new Golf R should be introduced soon, things aren’t looking good for fans of the Sportwagen and the Alltrack, as VW will likely look to fill their spots with increased SUV sales here in the U.S. There are plenty of brand new Sportwagens and Alltracks still listed for sale though.
This story originally ran on Autotrader.com.
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