Five iconic SUVs are disappearing from America’s roads before 2027 arrives, and the shift is already shaking the industry. From the famously affordable Kia Soul to performance models from BMW and Mercedes, automakers are clearing gasoline SUVs to make room for electric replacements. These vehicles shaped how millions of Americans traveled, worked, and lived.
Their exit marks a turning point in the nation’s automotive identity. The story behind these discontinuities reveals what is happening next. Let’s look into this deeper.
What’s Really Happening To SUVs
SUV sales reached 41 million units globally in 2024 and are projected to increase to 53 million by 2030. This makes the discontinuities surprising at first glance, especially for models that sold reliably for years across broad demographics.
Automakers are accelerating electric conversions as regulations tighten. Older gasoline platforms must be cleared to retool factories for large-scale EV production. A closer look at where companies are investing reveals the next shift.
How Regional Rules Shape Survival
Six states now enforce more demanding emission standards than the federal government: California, New York, Vermont, Massachusetts, Oregon, and Washington. Together, they represent 77 million people and reshape what vehicle manufacturers can legally sell.
A model that works in Texas may be banned in New York. Automakers respond by canceling entire national gasoline lines. These regional rules determine which SUVs survive and which ones are discontinued next.
Why Icons Still Disappeared
The Kia Soul once dominated affordable SUV sales with 1.5 million U.S. units over 16 years. Yet sales fell 66 percent from 2016 to 2024 as younger buyers migrated to larger crossovers and older fans aged out.
The trend repeated across segments. Even beloved models fell to demographic and regulatory pressure. This decline sets the stage for the following five vehicles to drop.
Why EV Momentum Still Slows
EV adoption is slowing despite government efforts to promote it. BloombergNEF cut its 2030 EV forecast by 14 million units. EVs are now expected to account for 27 percent of sales, down from 48 percent.
Yet automakers continue deleting gasoline SUVs. They are betting future policy swings will tighten again. That gamble explains why aging SUV lines disappear despite uncertain demand.
Here are the 5 SUVs that are being discontinued this coming year, 2026:
#1 Kia Soul
America’s cheapest SUV ends after the 2025 model year. With 1.5 million lifetime sales and yearly peaks over 154000 units, it defined Kia’s accessible identity. Its $21,935 starting price made it a staple for working-class drivers.
Kia replaces it with the more expensive K4 sedan, starting at $23,185. This change signals a tightening market for budget shoppers.
#2 Ford Escape And Lincoln Corsair
Built in Louisville, the Ford Escape started at $ 31,010, and the Lincoln Corsair at $ 41,230. Both end as Ford converts the plant into a central EV facility. Only the Escape faced regional emission bans, yet the Corsair also dies.
Ford expects inventory into 2026. Once it falls, shoppers lose two long-standing choices instantly.
#3 BMW X4
The BMW X4 sold at a 1:7 ratio against the BMW X3. Luxury buyers simply preferred practicality. Even the X4 M Competition, at $ 91,500 and 503 horsepower, could not reverse the trend.
Performance never saved the model. The market favored boxes over curves. That truth guides several upcoming cancellations.
#4 Cadillac XT6
Cadillac ends XT6 production on November 7 2025 in Tennessee. Q1 2025 sales hit 4778 units, placing it 11th out of 14 in its class. GM even moved the end date forward by 20 days to accelerate the transition.
The electric Cadillac Vistiq replaces it immediately. This decision previews GM’s aggressive shift to electric vehicles.
#5 Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe
The GLE Coupe costs around $ 80,000 and reaches above $ 133,150 for AMG versions. The AMG 63 S variant produced 603 horsepower and accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds, thanks to a 4.0-liter V8 engine with hybrid assistance.
Despite its power, buyers rejected the coupe SUV idea. Mercedes is removing the entire format next.
SUV Coupes Are Finished
BMW dropped the X4. Mercedes dropped the GLC and GLE Coupes. Porsche has no incoming entries. The segment never made sense to most buyers who valued cargo space, comfort, or pure performance.
Blending sedan shapes and SUV stature pleased few. These discontinuities confirm that the design died faster than the trend appeared.
How Automakers Plan Replacements
Automakers are pushing buyers into electric successors. The Cadillac Vistiq takes the XT6’s place. BMW’s iX4 launches in 2026 with U.S. availability in 2027. Ford’s new electric midsize SUV arrives from Louisville soon after.
Kia Soul fans shift toward larger crossovers or Kia’s upcoming electrified Telluride. These changes foreshadow electric dominance.
What Inventory Really Means
Ford promises to maintain stock of the Escape and Corsair throughout 2026, but dealership supply declines each month. By mid-2026, used models will rise in value due to scarcity. Kia Soul fans will experience similar shortages.
A brief window remains for buyers attached to these exact vehicles. The shrinking availability hints at a final rush.
Following The Money
The Kia Soul, at its peak, generated approximately $ 3.4 billion annually. Even today’s $52,000 annual sales equal more than $ 1.1 billion. Cadillac’s XT6 generated between $ 950 million and $ 1.14 billion annually.
Erasing gasoline SUVs shifts tens of billions into electric programs. The financial stakes explain the urgency.
Factories Rebuilt From Scratch
Ford’s $5B conversion in Louisville illustrates the broader reinvention. Gasoline engines, transmissions, and exhaust suppliers face redundancy. Battery modules, motors, and power electronics now dominate the production process.
Workers must retrain. Plants must be rebuilt. These shutdowns represent structural changes across the continent. The scale reveals why automakers cut models quickly.
Who Loses The Most
Budget drivers lose the cheapest SUV in the country. Escape, and Corsair fans lose models without direct electric replacements. Luxury buyers who liked coupe shapes have no transitional option.
Workers in Kentucky and Tennessee also face disruption. Even with reassurances, major factory transitions always create uncertainty. The losses stack up unevenly.
Why The Timing Moved Faster
Regulations tighten through 2030 in California and the Northeast. Federal standards remain politically unsettled, yet automakers expect stricter rules ahead. The remaining profitable window for gasoline SUVs is closing.
Manufacturers end them now rather than fight tougher rules in 2028 or 2029. Cadillac’s accelerated XT6 exit shows the pace shifting quickly.
What Arrives Next
Electric SUVs with 300-mile ranges, 30-minute fast charging capabilities, and advanced driver assistance systems are expected to arrive between 2026 and 2028. BMW’s iX4, Ford’s new Louisville EV, and Mercedes’ electric models rebuild the segment.
Global SUV sales rise from 41 million to 53 million by 2030. The new dominance belongs entirely to EVs.
The Shopper’s Crossroads
Kia Soul fans lose affordability. BMW X4 loyalists wait for the iX4. Escape buyers watch inventory fade by mid-2026. Mercedes GLE Coupe drivers lose the shape entirely.
Some will transition to electric SUVs. Others will switch brands. A final wave of deals is expected in 2025 and 2026, before gasoline models are discontinued.
The Rest Of What’s Leaving
Several other models exist in 2026. Mercedes ends the GLC Coupe. The Kia Telluride skips 2026 and returns as a hybrid in 2027. BMW retires the 8 Series and Z4. Jeep retires Wagoneer branding. The Dodge Hornet pauses due to tariff issues.
These moves indicate that a comprehensive industry restructuring is underway.
Sources
Ford Authority – “2026 Ford Escape Won’t Be Sold In Six U.S. States” (June 22, 2025)
USA Today – “Ford to discontinue Escape and Lincoln Corsair; discounts likely through 2026” (August 27, 2025)
Edmunds – “The Kia Soul Is Dead” (October 2, 2025)
GM Authority – “Cadillac XT6 Discontinued” (April 7, 2025)
BMW Blog – “BMW X4 Discontinued in Germany; Production Ends” (October 3, 2025)
MarketsandMarkets – “SUV Market Growth Drivers & Opportunities” (November 28, 2025)