In a year filled with disrupted supply chains leading to empty car dealer lots and a lingering pandemic, even worthy vehicles get replaced by newer models or simply dismissed altogether. Yes, cars get cancelled every year. And it happens to the best of them. One trend is evident when reviewing this list: passenger cars are on the chopping block in far greater numbers than SUVs or trucks. Cars that were once the cornerstone of the marketplace, or some of the early attempts at electrified cars, are selling in much smaller numbers now.
Alphabetically, here are 10 new vehicles that won’t be around for the 2022 model year.
BMW i3
As BMW rolls out a new generation of electric vehicles, like the BMW i4 Gran Coupé and iX SUV, the production of the German automaker’s sub-compact, 2+2 all-electric i3 hatchback ended this summer. First on-sale in Canada for the 2014 model year, the i3 (and its i8 plug-in electric hybrid supercar sibling) ushered bold styling and innovative technology, like the extensive use of carbon fibre in their bodies. But its minimal 203-kilometre driving range meant that i3 drivers mostly stayed in a radius that was close to home. Because of this, only 111* i3s were sold in Canada from the beginning of 2021 until the end of this September. That number represents a 17.8% Year-over-Year (YoY) decline.
Ford EcoSport
As the market for small SUVs continues to grow, 2021 will be the last model year for Ford's EcoSport 5-passenger sub-compact SUV. With sales down 36.6% this year, only 2,372 copies were sold for the first 9 months of 2021—a fraction of the 23,761 examples sold of the segment's sales champ—the Hyundai Kona—during the same period. The little EcoSport is a convenient choice for city dwellers. With a small footprint, the EcoSport is straightforward to maneuvre in dense urban areas. The EcoSport’s discontinuation will leave the new Ford Maverick small pickup truck as the least expensive new model in Ford Canada's lineup.
Honda Clarity
Arriving for the 2016 model year, the Honda Clarity plug-in electric vehicle (PHEV) was a significant step for Honda into the EV market. Despite a 5-passenger cabin that felt like a luxurious Honda Accord, and a respectable 77 kilometres of electric-only driving range, slow sales (only 203 examples sold so far this year, down 66.3% YoY) mean 2021 will be the last year for the sleek-looking Clarity. We’re expecting Honda’s forthcoming range of electric vehicles (EVs) will offer a more dynamic design and zestier performance.
Hyundai Ioniq Electric
Hyundai will stop selling the all-electric version of its Ioniq compact hatchback for the 2022 model year. However, gas-electric hybrid and PHEV versions of the Ioniq will carry on. The Ioniq EV has never made up a significant portion of Hyundai’s sales (Hyundai Canada doesn’t report Hybrid versus PHEV versus Electric Ioniq sales). However, the South Korean automaker has several longer-range EVs currently in its lineup, like the Kona Electric, or set to arrive in dealerships soon, like the forthcoming Ioniq 5, which kicks off a new lineup of Ioniq EVs.
Mazda CX-3
Since its arrival for the 2016 model year, the tiny Mazda CX-3 has been a smart and fun-to-drive little SUV. However, based on the long-gone Mazda2 sub-compact hatchback platform, the CX-3 is just really, really small. And for those that need to bring along passengers and all their gear, Mazda offers the slightly larger CX-30 with its Mazda3 compact-based platform and more power. As such, 2021 will be the last year for the CX-3. Sales so far this year are up 7.5%, but that’s still only half the sales volume of the CX-30—4,755 copies versus 9,956—respectively.
Mazda Mazda6
The 1st-generation Mazda6 mid-size sedan hit our shores in 2003. In terms of driving pleasure, the 6 was one of the most rewarding family sedans to pilot. In 2014, the Mazda received a stunning redesign with a sleek skin on the outside and plenty of room on the inside. But today’s consumer preference for SUVs and trucks has taken a chunk out of sedan sales across all brands. So far this year, only 1,302 copies of the Mazda6 have been sold. That’s a YoY increase of 57.1%, but still well below the segment-leading Toyota Camry, which sold 9,713 copies during the same period.
Rolls-Royce Wraith Coupe/Dawn Convertible
As a super-luxury brand valued for its exclusivity, the success of any modern Rolls-Royce is not dependent on how many are sold. Quite the opposite. As such, only 135 Rolls-Royce vehicles were sold in Canada for the first 9 months this year, a 12.5% YoY increase, with the vast majority of those units being the Cullinan SUV. So don’t blame the lack of sales for Rolls Royce cancelling both its Wraith Coupe and its open-top version, the Dawn Convertible. For now, Rolls-Royce says neither the Wraith nor the Dawn will have replacements in North America.
Volkswagen Golf
Despite being one of Canada's most popular new passenger cars, Volkswagen Canada is dropping the regular Golf compact hatchback for 2022. Through the end of September, 7,904 copies (including the GTI/Golf R trims) were sold, down 26.9% YoY. In theory, the new-for-2022 VW Taos sub-compact SUV takes the place of the regular Golf. The good news from VW for driving enthusiasts is the spunky Golf GTI and the higher-performance Golf R will remain in the lineup and continue to thrill.
Volvo V60
If you think small hatchbacks are a tough sell these days, try peddling station wagons. Even Volvo, a brand synonymous with the body style, is cutting both its compact V60 and mid-size V90 wagons for 2022. Despite V60 sales up 22.3% this year, only 604 samples were sold. Specifically, for 2022, Volvo will continue with the quicker V60 Recharge T8 Polestar PHEV trim. So there’s at least one muscle-wagon in Volvo’s line. The automaker is also keeping the dirt-friendly V60 Cross Country.
Volvo V90
Like its V60 wagon sibling, Volvo is letting the special-order-only V90 wagon go. But the Swedish automaker is keeping the lifted, off-road-capable Cross Country version. Station wagon fans will sadly mourn the loss of the V90. Playing the role of the anti-SUV, the V90 was a proper station wagon with loads of practicality as well as a gorgeous interior, a unique vehicle in a sea of jacked-up faux-SUV/wagons (like the V90 Cross Country) and SUVs (like the XC90).
*Vehicle sales based on manufacturer-supplied information between January 1 and September 30, 2021.
