7 Great Cars That No One Really Bought
Some cars that automakers produce hit the mark, and others go down in automotive history as sales flops. It’s a shame, considering the countless dollars, engineering hours, and design elements that go into building these cars. Here are seven cars that had great designs but ended up discontinued due to poor sales.
1. Lexus LF-A
The Lexus LF-A was a beautiful exotic car that was only produced from 2010 to 2012. That’s unfortunate, considering it had all of the performance chops any well-heeled enthusiast could ask for. Under the hood was a rear-mounted, 4.8-liter V10 that made 553 hp, 354 lb-ft of torque, and could rev up to 9,000 rpm.
With that kind of power, the LF-A could get up to 60 mph from a stop in just 3.5 seconds. The main issue was that it cost $350,000, which was well above most pay grades. Eventually, its lack of sales led to it being discontinued.
2. Ford Flex
The Ford Flex was a boxy SUV that offered buyers a sleek alternative to a minivan. Depending on how the Flex was configured, it offered three rows of seating, plenty of luxurious amenities, and there was even a small cooler in the second row. Despite its inherent cool factor, the Flex was advertised as well as it deserved, which led to declining sales and its eventual demise.
3. Mazda5
We have a lot of love for Mazda’s mini minivan, otherwise known as the Mazda5. This little people hauler was in production from 2006 to 2015, which was a good run. But unfortunately, it was always overshadowed by larger counterparts like the Honda Odyssey and Dodge Grand Caravan. The Mazda5 may be gone, but there are plenty of good examples for sale in the used market, making it a viable option for newly-formed families.
4. Dodge Viper
The Dodge Viper was quite the road-scorching sports car during its nearly 30-year production run. Of course, having over 600 hp pumping to the rear wheels from an 8.4-liter V10 would make this supercar a lot to handle. But unfortunately, it was a little too much for most enthusiasts. According to Brake for it, “Sales slowly sagged… the last year the viper was available to consumers, [Dodge] sold just five units.”
5. Chevrolet SS
The Chevy SS was in production in the U.S. from 2013 to 2017 and was better known as the Holden Commodore overseas. Unfortunately, although it was a large sedan with plenty of room and power – it even received good reviews from critics – the SS never picked up in popularity.
6. Volkswagen CC
The Volkswagen CC was the sleeker version of the Passat. It had a sleeker look and came with various engines and features, giving it a luxurious and sporty feel. The CC definitely provided an engaging drive, and it was a unique part of the German automaker’s lineup, but its popularity fizzled out over time.
7. Nissan Juke
The Nissan Juke was quite the automotive oddity when it debuted in 2010 but picked up a quick sales pace in 2011, with over 40,000 units finding new homes. It even found a niche market for buyers that were into weird-looking cars during its six-year run. However, sales of the Juke dwindled, and it was eventually discontinued.
Seven great cars that were discontinued due to poor sales
Although these seven cars saw some success during their production runs, they were ultimately cut off due to poor sales. The good news is that used car buyers can experience the excellent design and engineering that went into them by finding them in the used market.
