Some people will be glad to see the end of 2019. But while you’re celebrating the start of another year, these cars will no longer be on sale in 2020. It’s time to say goodbye, folks.
Alfa Romeo 4C
‘Alfa Romeo axes 4C sports car to focus on SUVs’. As Autocar headlines go, this one is all too familiar, but no less depressing. We know it’s not perfect, but the world seemed like a better place while the 4C was in it. But once existing supplies have gone, that’s it for the Alfa sports car. Arrivederci, little Italian.
Jaguar XJ
Production of the current Jaguar XJ luxury saloon has come to an end, with the company preparing to launch the next-generation XJ in 2020. The all-electric XJ will be the first car to roll out of Jaguar’s Castle Bromwich plant in Birmingham. It’s part of a commitment to offer electrified options for all new models from 2020.
Volkswagen Golf GTI
Our very own Tim Pitt is in Portugal to drive the new Mk8 Volkswagen Golf, but it will be a while until he gets his hands on the all-new Golf GTI. As for the Mk7 version, the regular GTI went first, leaving the Performance and TCR models as the flag bearers for the badge. The new GTI has a lot to live up to.
Suzuki Celerio
This might be stretching the definition of ‘great’, but we were sad to see the Suzuki Celerio go. Not only did it give Dacia a run for its money at the budget end of the market, it was also surprisingly well-equipped. Limited-run hypercars have their place, but affordable city cars are relevant to far more people.
Mercedes-Benz SLC
The Mercedes-Benz SLC said farewell at this year’s Geneva Motor Show courtesy of a Final Edition model. It brought to an end 23 years of SLK and SLC production, during which time some 710,000 cars were built. A successor isn’t planned, because SUV…
Mitsubishi Shogun
The Mitsubishi Shogun was removed from sale in August after a 37-year sales run. Since its launch in 1982, a total of 114,164 have been sold in the UK, with a 2019 SWB Barbarian the last Shogun to be registered on these shores. The future of the Mitsubishi Shogun is unclear.
Ford Edge
Although the Ford Edge remains on sale in parts of Europe, the SUV was pulled from sale in the UK in the summer. Just 1,700 were sold over here in 2018, compared to 4,100 in the previous year. Few will miss it, although there are high hopes that the new Puma compact SUV will prove more successful.
Vauxhall Adam
Remember the Vauxhall Adam? The little city car was axed along with the budget-led Viva as part of a range revamp. The company plans to launch an electrified variant of every model by 2024, kicking off with the new Corsa in 2020. We’ve driven it and can report that the new Corsa is very, very good.
BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe
If you’re mourning the loss of the 6 Series Gran Coupe, fear not, because BMW has a pair of ready-made replacements. For a smaller (and less elegant) take on the same formula, the 2 Series Gran Coupe weighs in with prices starting from £25,815. Alternatively, the 8 Series Gran Coupe costs a little over £69,000.
Suzuki Baleno
If you don’t remember the Vauxhall Adam, you almost certainly won’t have heard of the Suzuki Baleno. The slow-selling hatchback was axed alongside the Celerio, and few will mourn its passing. In fairness, it was a likeable car that was surprisingly good to drive.
Kia Optima
The Kia Optima has gone, the Optima Sportswagon is on the way out, and the Stinger range will be streamlined to leave only the flagship GTS on sale. Although a new Optima will arrive in 2020, it almost certainly won’t be sold in the UK.
Ford Fiesta – some versions
The Fiesta hasn’t been pulled from sale, but Ford has taken a scalpel to the model range. The Style and Zetec trim levels have gone, replaced by a feature-packed Fiesta Trend. The three-door Fiesta Trend costs £16,000 and comes with 16-inch alloys, a heated windscreen and air conditioning.
Citroen C4 Spacetourer
Citroen axed the C4 Spacetourer MPV in in May, although you can still buy the larger seven-seat Grand C4 Spacetourer. Sales of the five-seat MPV were in decline, especially following the launch of the C5 Aircross.
Renault Twingo
British city car buyers have never really fallen for the Renault Twingo, presumably because they’re still sulking having been denied access to the brilliant first-generation model. The axing of the third-generation Twingo generated few headlines, but you can still buy the rear-engined city car in parts of Europe.
Fiat 124 Spider
It’s a similar story with the Fiat and Abarth 124 Spider, which are no longer on sale in the UK, but available in some European markets. The UK market simply wasn’t profitable enough for Fiat, so the Mazda MX-5’s cousins are gone but not forgotten. The Abarth was a terrific alternative to the MX-5.
Volvo V40
Once Volvo had finished updating its entire product range, the V40 was beginning to look like a square peg in a round hole. That’s no longer the case, with the premium hatchback pulled from sale earlier this year.
Vauxhall Insignia Country Tourer
Vauxhall has updated the Insignia for 2020, but the Sports Tourer and Country Tourer won’t be making a reappearance. The estate was a victim of Vauxhall’s streamlining strategy – and the fact that most buyers seem to prefer SUVs.
Seat Mii – petrol versions
If you’re after a Seat Mii with a petrol engine, you’re out of luck. But fear not, because the Mii is now available as an all-electric car. The well-equipped EV can deliver up to 162 miles of range, which should be adequate for most city dwellers. Petrol versions of the Seat Mii are still available in parts of Europe.
Volkswagen Up – some models
Volkswagen has streamlined the Up model range to include four trim levels and one engine. Choose from Take Up, Move Up, High Up and Up Beats, all of which are powered by a 1.0-litre petrol engine developing 60hp. You can also order an electric e-Up, while supplies of the Up GTI should continue shortly.
Alfa Romeo Mito
Production of the Alfa Romeo Mito ceased in 2018, but it remained on sale long into 2019. Amazingly, the little Alfa enjoyed a production run spanning a decade, although sales had fallen to a trickle by the time it was put out of its misery.
Toyota Auris
When it replaced the Corolla in 2006, Toyota hoped the Auris name would elevate the family hatchback to a higher plane. The fact that the Auris has been replaced by the Corolla would suggest that it wasn’t wholly successful.
Ford Ka+
The Ford Ka+ isn’t long for this world. Officially, the city car is still on sale, but shipments ended in September, so once existing stocks are gone, the Ka+ is dead. Which means it should be possible to bag a great deal.
Volkswagen Beetle
Volkswagen officially ended production of the Beetle – again – in July. In a sign of the times, the Beetle made way for a small, sub-Tiguan SUV to be built at the Volkswagen de Mexico plant.
Volkswagen e-Golf
Killing a successful electric car when we’re being encouraged to ditch petrol and diesel might seem like madness, but there are two good reasons why Volkswagen is ending production of the e-Golf. Firstly, there’s a new Mk8 on the way. Secondly, Volkwagen doesn’t want an electric Golf to steal sales from the new ID.3 all-electric car.