Some cars, like the Toyota Camry and Honda CR-V, sell well. It seems like you see them everywhere. Occasionally, on dealer lots you’ll see a leftover model from the previous year waiting to be sold, but it’s likely to be snatched up quickly. The vehicles on this list are the opposite.
Most of these models are the equivalent of the leftovers you forgot about in the back of the fridge for months after Thanksgiving. The majority of them aren’t even made anymore. A few are handmade specialty models, and for that, their lack of sales can be forgiven.
One thing you will notice; super luxury models aren’t on the list. Ferraris, Lamborghinis, and Rolls-Royces, among others, get a pass because of their scarcity.
Smart ForTwo (605 sold)
Photo courtesy of Smart
If you visit the Smart website, the first thing you’ll see is a message saying, “smart cars are no longer sold in the US.” Sure, “no longer,” but they were sold up until September when the arm of Mercedes-Benz finally pulled out of the U.S. market.
Kia K900 (390 sold)
Photo courtesy of Kia Motors
Kia not only still makes the K900, it’s just been through a generational redesign. The model gets high marks from reviewers but it’s never really caught on here in the U.S. It is more popular in Kia’s native Korea.
Ford C-Max (213 sold)
Photo courtesy of Ford Motor Company
Ford sold 213 new C-Maxes in 2019, through the third quarter. The hybrid and plug-in hybrid model was in production through the 2019 model year so it’s understandable that there’s a few still left on lots.
Alfa Romeo 4C (144 sold)
Photo courtesy of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V.
The Alfa Romeo 4C coupe is one of the few models on this list still in production. Though Alfa doesn’t produce or sell many of the cars, they’re considered one of the more fun vehicles you can get behind the wheel of. That assessment doesn’t take into account their aging infotainment system, shoddy interior, and harsh ride.
Volkswagen CC (58 sold)
Photo courtesy of Volkswagen AG
The Volkswagen CC ceased production in 2017. The so-called “comfort coupe”, which is actually a sedan, never really gained momentum with U.S. customers, something its replacement, the Arteon, is also experiencing.
Chrysler 200 (48 sold)
Photo courtesy of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V.
The Chrysler 200 fell out of favor at FCA right around the same time as the Dodge Dart. Despite this, 48 people still bought the model in 2019.
Jeep Patriot (27 sold)
Photo courtesy of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V.
In the words of Led Zeppelin, “I just can’t quit you baby.” Despite the new Jeep Compass and upgraded Jeep Renegade being suitable alternatives to the Patriot, 27 buyers still purchased the Patriot in 2019. That’s down from the 621 FCA sold last year.
Dodge Dart (15 sold)
Photo courtesy of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V.
In September 2016, production of the Dodge Dart ended. And yet, despite no new ones being made in three years, 15 new Darts were sold to customers. In 2014, Fiat Chrysler’s then-CEO Sergio Marchionne said that Dart customers who wanted a hatchback could be served by the Jeep Renegade or the Fiat 500X, two models that remain on U.S. lots today.
Nissan Juke (11 sold)
Photo courtesy of Nissan North America
There are Juke enthusiasts spread throughout the U.S. who actively take to Twitter to lament that the latest Juke generation has yet to make its way to the U.S. They may be the ones who bought the 11 new Jukes sold in the U.S. this year. In 2018, Nissan sold 713 of the SUVs to U.S. buyers.
Toyota Venza (9 sold)
Photo courtesy of Toyota
Toyota sold just as many Venzas in 2019 as they did in 2018 – 9. The five-door crossover’s last model year in the U.S. was 2015. That means that customers who bought a new Venza this year actually bought one that’s four years old, and didn’t really change from 2012 to 2015. What’s the phrase about a sucker being born every minute?
Mercedes-Benz B-Class (8 sold)
Photo courtesy of Mercedes-Benz
Head to the Mercedes-Benz website and you won’t even find the B-Class listed for sale. The second generation, which was produced from 2011-2018, was sold in the U.S., though it wouldn’t be considered a popular model by any stretch of the imagination. In 2018, the luxury automaker sold 135 of the models in the U.S.
Infiniti QX70 (6 sold)
Infiniti sold 954 QX70s in 2018 but just six were sold in 2019. The model was discontinued in 2017. Infinit’s QX50 has picked up much of the slack from the hole the QX70 left and the model’s body style will see a bit of a resurgence when the QX55 debuts later in 2020.
Chrysler Town & Country (5 sold)
Photo courtesy of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V.
Chrysler sold five new Town & Country minivans in 2019 despite not having manufactured the model since 2016. That’s actually one less than was sold in 2018. It really makes you wonder how many of the minivans they’ll sell in 2020.
Honda CR-Z (2 sold)
Photo courtesy of American Honda Motor Co., Inc
Honda only sold two new CR-Zs in 2019, down from the 28 they sold in 2018. The hybrid coupe was last made in 2016. It was discontinued to make room for Honda Accord Hybrid and Clarity production.
Dodge Avenger (1 sold)
Photo courtesy of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V.
One lucky (?) buyer took home a brand spankin’ new Dodge Avenger in 2019. The front-wheel drive sedan hasn’t been in production since 2014.
