Every year the auto industry bids farewell to cars. Some years, it’s the unpopular trim levels of well-established cars and trucks. Some years, a substantial selection of easy-to-guess cars are discontinued. And there are surprises, buyers’ favorites who’ve had their time.
With many 2020 models now on the market, here’s a list (and synopsis of few departing vehicles) in alphabetical order of 2019 models being discontinued.
The list represents a spectrum of standard sedans to sports cars and SUVs to long-time family favorites.
And The Weekly Driver says farewell to our favorites with short commentaries. We’ve provided links to the vehicles we’ve reviewed.
Aston Martin Vanquish
How does any Aston Martin leave us? It’s arguably the most beautiful car on the road. But Aston Martin is no different than any manufacturer. It’s business. A model doesn’t sell, it’s replaced. But and Aston Martin? It’s a James Bond car and we’re sentimental. Say it ain’t so.
BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo
BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo and Gran Coupe
Buick Cascada
Cadillac ATS
Cadillac XTS
Chevrolet Corvette (Front-Engine C7)
Few new vehicles have been discussed as much as the new mid-engine Corvette C8. It’s arrived, and guess what? The front-end Corvette has been dispatched. The Weekly Driver is a big fan of vintage ‘Vette, but not so much the newbies. But the mid-engine C8? It’s a badass.
Chevrolet Volt
It could have been an industry changer as a pioneering plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), but it never happened. Major props to the manufacturer for innovation. But the Chevy Bolt is a better vehicle. Let’s hope it catches on.
Ferrari 488
Ford Fiesta
Ford Taurus
Infiniti QX30
Jaguar F-type Manual
Lincoln MKC
Nissan 370Z Roadster
The icon is gone – again. Everyone seemingly has a VW bug story. Friends inherited their parents’ bugs. A 1962 bug was the first car I owned. It cost $500. The little German machine is as good as it gets for a simple, enduring, beautifully ugly little car. And maybe it will come back again.
Article Last Updated: October 3, 2019.
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A sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004.
In addition to founding this site in 2004, James writes a Sunday automotive column for The San Jose Mercury and East Bay Times in Walnut Creek, Calif., and monthly auto review and wellness columns for Gulfshore Business, a magazine in Southwest Florida.
An author and contributor to many newspapers, magazines and online publications, co-hosted The Weekly Driver Podcast from 2017 to 2024.
