A leader among European manufacturers and beyond, the Volkswagen brand has built a reputation based on continued performance and reliability. After some tough quarters following the COVID-19 outbreak, the German auto manufacturer is back to putting up some impressive sales numbers in U.S. markets.

However, three of its models aren’t seeming to fair too well with American consumers. Here’s a look at the three least popular Volkswagen models so far in 2023. 

Volkswagen Arteon sales are not doing well in 2023 

It seems that the Volkswagen model that is struggling the most in 2023 to make sales is the Volkswagen Arteon, a midsize sedan model. Data collected by GoodCarBadCar shows that the year-to-date units sold of the Arteon are shockingly low, with just 1,157 units sold to U.S. consumers during the first two quarters of 2023. 

As a four-door sedan, American consumers just can’t seem to find an appeal with the Arteon. Instead, it looks like consumers are either going with a smaller, faster, and flashier coupe if they want a car, or they simply opt for a subcompact SUV in order to get a little more cargo and passenger space than what a four-door sedan can provide. 

According to Edmunds, the Volkswagen Arteon is officially dead, with the German manufacturer confirming that 2024 will be the last model year for the Arteon. For any Areton lovers still left standing, the 2024 model is still available in three various trim levels, including SE R-Line, SEL R-Line, and the SEL Premium R-Line. Volkswagen starts the Arteon around $43,010.

Volkswagen Golf sales have hit a slump in 2023 

Another Volkswagen model that has put up shockingly low sales numbers in the US market is the Volkswagen Golf, a four-door compact hatchback.

The data from GoodCarBadCar indicates that just 4,376 units of the Golf make up the 2023 year-to-date sales for the Volkswagen model. Of those 4,376 units, 2,887 were sold during Q2 2023, which shows Golf sales are down year-over-year as Volkswagen was able to sell 3,069 Golf units during Q2 2022. 

Like the Arteon, it seems that American consumers just aren’t into the four-door sedan or hatchback options. Instead, the majority of consumers want a flashy two-door for fun or a spacious SUV for practicality. The 2023 Golf is available in four various trim levels, including S, 40th Anniversary Edition, SE, and Autobahn. Volkswagen starts the baseline Golf trim at an MSRP of $30,530. 

A look at sales numbers for the Volkswagen Atlas Sport 

Another Volkswagen model that seems to be struggling in the sales department among US consumers is the Volkswagen Atlas Sport. Data from GoodCarBadCar highlights that a total of 15,205 units make up the year-to-date sales of the Atlas Sport, with 8,274 of those sales coming in Q2 2023.

While these numbers are low overall, the good news is that sales are slightly up when comparing Q2 2023 to Q2 2022, as only 8,083 units of the Atlas Sport were sold during Q2 2022. 

While the Atlas Sport is an SUV, it’s on the smaller side, which is never seen as a good thing by the majority of the US consumer base. In fact, when American consumers are looking to sit behind the wheel of an SUV, they’re often looking for the most passenger and cargo space possible.

The Atlas Sport isn’t cheap either, with Volkswagen starting the baseline trim at $36,715. Its steep price combined with its smaller size helped to make other SUVs in the Volkswagen lineup, like the Taos, Tiguan, and Atlas, more appealing to the majority of consumers in US markets.