Some vehicle nameplates are destined to live forever, and others meet the reaper soon after their debut. The automotive industry can be fickle, and few nameplates stand the test of time. These four vehicle nameplates from Hyundai, Mazda, Honda, and Toyota are headed to the junkyard in 2022.
The death of the Hyundai Veloster
Car sales have skyrocketed…for just about every other vehicle except the Hyundai Veloster. It isn’t that the Veloster is the worst compact car. It just can’t keep up with rivals. In fact, the Veloster gets outshined by most of the vehicles in Hyundai’s lineup. While sales for some of its vehicles have reached new highs recently, interest in the Veloster remained low.
The three-door hatchback isn’t exciting, and despite being incredibly affordable, no one seems to want a Veloster in 2021. As a result, Hyundai will no longer include the Veloster in its 2022 lineup. The more powerful Veloster N, however, will remain on the market for the time being.
The Maza CX-3’s interior belongs in the junkyard
The Mazda CX-3 was released in 2016. In just five short years, the Mazda CX-3 sparked an interest that quickly fizzled out. It did well as a subcompact crossover for a few years, but 2021 was the nail in the coffin.
The Mazda CX-3 makes 148 horsepower. The newest CX-3 looks good, has great handling, and its engine provides enough zip to keep consumers entertained. The main reason consumers don’t enjoy the CX-3 is because it isn’t very comfortable. Comfort is a huge factor in creating great compacts SUVs, and the competition is stiff. The CX-3 doesn’t meet today’s standard of luxury for compact crossovers and just didn’t provide enough value for its price.
The Honda Clarity EV can barely make it to the junkyard
The Honda Clarity was Honda’s first foray into alternative energy sources. In 2017 Honda created a fully electric Clarity after the hydrogen fuel-cell, and plug-in hybrid versions showed they could retain some consumer interest. The Honda Clarity EV was the beginning of the end for the nameplate. Sadly, the death of the Clarity EV means Honda has no fully electric vehicles in its lineup.
The Honda Clarity EV sold under 1,700 units last year. Poor handling and acceleration led to its downfall. Its low 89-mile battery range didn’t help either. The Clarity EV doesn’t drive like a Honda sedan. Frankly, it doesn’t even function well as a modern EV either because of its sub-par range. The Clarity EV got the boot in 2020, and no version of the Clarity will even be available for lease by 2022. Hopefully, this is the last Honda EV that is destined for the junkyard.
The Toyota Land Cruiser won’t be cruisin’ in the U.S.
Toyota Land Cruisers last incredibly long. The question is, is this off-road SUV a vehicle you want to own long-term? The Land Cruiser debuted in the late ’50s and was a best-selling model by the ’60s. The Toyota Land Cruiser has remained a great off-road SUV for over half a decade. It just doesn’t fit in with modern times.
The Toyota Land Cruiser is notorious for having bad mileage, which is the opposite of what Toyota has been striving for in recent years. Land Cruisers have had a great run and were able to conquer all sorts of terrain. According to Car and Driver, the Land Cruiser will no longer be available in the U.S., but a new 300-series generation will be available internationally.
The qualities of great vehicles evolve over time. New generations of consumers have different needs. The most automakers can do is try to keep their lineups relevant as technology develops.
RELATED: The 2021 Mazda CX-3 Is a Great SUV That People Hate
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