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Which SUVs Are Being Discontinued in 2027?

The SUV boom shows no sign of slowing down. What was once a niche body style has become the dominant force in the European new-car market, reshaping manufacturers’ product strategies and pushing traditional vehicle segments further into the background.

But even in the world’s most popular automotive segment, success is never guaranteed.

Several familiar SUVs are approaching the end of their road, with some models scheduled to disappear from production as early as the end of 2026, while others are expected to remain in showrooms only until 2027. Falling sales, increasingly demanding safety regulations, electrification strategies and changing consumer preferences are all playing a role.

The SUV market may be booming, but there is simply not enough room for every model.

SUVs now dominate the European car market

The numbers tell the story better than almost anything else.

SUVs accounted for roughly 40 percent of new-car sales in Europe in 2020. Today, their share has climbed to around 60 percent, making the SUV by far the most important vehicle category for many manufacturers.

The trend covers virtually every segment, from small urban crossovers and compact family SUVs to large luxury models and electric SUVs.

With almost every major manufacturer now offering multiple SUVs, competition has become extremely intense. A model can have a respected name, a long history and a loyal customer base, yet still be eliminated if sales volumes no longer justify keeping it in production.

That is exactly what is happening to several recognizable SUVs.

Land Rover Discovery Sport: a victim of falling sales and tougher regulations

One of the names expected to disappear is the Land Rover Discovery Sport.

The Discovery Sport has occupied an important position in the Land Rover lineup for years. Positioned as a more accessible alternative to the brand’s larger and more expensive SUVs, it was designed to attract buyers who wanted the Land Rover image without stepping into the highest price brackets.

However, the model is now facing two major problems: declining demand and increasingly strict European regulations.

The European Union’s GSR2 safety regulations have introduced significantly tougher requirements for new vehicles. Meeting those requirements can be particularly challenging for older vehicle architectures, and updating an existing model to comply with every new regulation can become difficult to justify financially.

For the Discovery Sport, the result appears to be the end of the road.

The decision is also part of a broader transformation at Jaguar Land Rover, which is repositioning Jaguar, Range Rover, Defender and Discovery more distinctly as individual brands.

The Discovery Sport’s departure therefore represents more than the end of a single model. It is another sign that JLR is simplifying and reshaping its product strategy for a rapidly changing automotive market.

Ford Kuga: a successful SUV that still couldn’t escape the axe

The Ford Kuga is another established SUV approaching the end of its current production run.

After three generations, the Kuga is expected to cease production at the end of 2026. That decision will have a direct impact on Ford’s Almussafes factory in Spain, where the Kuga has been produced.

On paper, the Kuga might seem like an unlikely candidate for cancellation.

The compact SUV has been one of Ford’s most successful models in Europe and has enjoyed particularly strong demand for its plug-in hybrid versions. In fact, the Kuga has repeatedly ranked among Europe’s best-selling plug-in hybrid models.

Within Ford’s European lineup, only the Puma has sold more units in recent years.

Yet the automotive industry is not driven by sales figures alone. Production costs, factory capacity, electrification plans and future product strategies can be just as important.

There may, however, be life after the Kuga.

Reports suggest that Ford could eventually revive the Kuga name on a new electrified SUV based on technology from Geely, potentially using the Starray EM-i platform. If that happens, the Kuga could return in a very different form, reflecting the growing cooperation and technological links between global automakers.

For now, however, the current Kuga’s story appears to be coming to an end.

Volkswagen Tiguan and the uncertain future of the ID.5

Volkswagen is also reconsidering its SUV strategy as it accelerates its transition toward electric vehicles.

The future of the next-generation Tiguan has reportedly been the subject of debate, with two potential directions under consideration.

One possibility is to retain the Tiguan name and introduce an updated model. Another, increasingly likely, option would be to align the vehicle more closely with Volkswagen’s electric naming strategy.

That could result in the model becoming the Volkswagen ID. Tiguan from 2027.

The potential change illustrates just how quickly Volkswagen’s model naming strategy is evolving. The company is attempting to balance familiar names that carry decades of brand recognition with the new ID. identity associated with its electric vehicles.

At the same time, another Volkswagen SUV appears to have a less certain future.

Volkswagen ID.5 could disappear in 2027

The Volkswagen ID.5 was designed to combine the practicality of an SUV with the sleeker profile of a coupe-style crossover.

It was an important part of Volkswagen’s strategy to expand its electric SUV family, but sales have not reached the levels the company originally hoped for.

Even though the ID.5 has experienced sales growth during the last two years, its overall numbers have remained insufficient to secure a long-term future.

Current expectations point toward production ending around the middle of 2027.

That would leave Volkswagen with one fewer electric SUV in a segment that has become increasingly crowded. Ironically, the same market trend that created the opportunity for the ID.5 is also making it harder for models like it to survive.

Tesla Model X: the electric SUV pioneer nearing the end

Perhaps the most recognizable name on this list is the Tesla Model X.

When Tesla introduced the Model X, it was unlike almost anything else on the market. Its large electric SUV body, impressive performance and distinctive falcon-wing doors helped establish it as one of the company’s technological showcases.

But the Model X never achieved the commercial success of the Model S or, particularly, the Model Y.

The Model Y became one of the most important electric vehicles in the world, while the Model X remained an expensive, relatively niche product.

Its unconventional doors were one of its biggest talking points, but they also contributed to production complexity and early delivery delays. Over time, Tesla made several updates to the Model X, but never gave it the kind of comprehensive redesign that many other manufacturers would have used to extend a vehicle’s life.

That appears to have finally caught up with the Model X.

Tesla has confirmed the end of production, bringing the story of one of the most distinctive electric SUVs to a close.

Why are popular SUVs disappearing?

The cancellation of these SUVs may appear surprising given the continuing growth of the segment, but there is a straightforward explanation.

Manufacturers are no longer competing simply on the number of SUVs they can offer. They are trying to determine which SUVs are profitable, future-proof and compatible with increasingly strict regulations.

Several factors are accelerating the process:

  • Tougher European safety regulations
  • Rapid electrification of vehicle lineups
  • Increasing development and production costs
  • Stronger competition within the SUV segment
  • Changing consumer preferences
  • Pressure to reduce the number of overlapping models
  • The need to use factories and platforms more efficiently

A manufacturer can therefore decide to eliminate an SUV even when the vehicle remains popular.

The key question is no longer simply, “Does it sell?”

It is, “Does it sell enough to justify its place in the future lineup?”

The SUV boom will not save every SUV

The disappearance of the Discovery Sport, Kuga, ID.5 and Model X demonstrates an important reality of today’s automotive industry.

SUVs are more popular than ever, but that popularity has created an extremely competitive environment. Manufacturers are filling their lineups with crossovers and SUVs, and consumers have more choices than ever before.

As a result, weaker-performing models are increasingly vulnerable.

The next few years could bring even more cancellations as automakers reorganize their lineups around electric platforms, stricter regulations and fewer but more strategically important models.

Some familiar names will undoubtedly return in new forms. Others will disappear permanently.

For drivers, that means the SUV market of 2027 could look surprisingly different from the one we know today.

The SUV may have won the battle for consumer popularity—but that does not mean every SUV will survive the industry’s next transformation.

News

This 1998 VW Passat TDI Nearly Drove 1,500 Miles on a Single Tank

A German hypermiler set out to prove that the old Volkswagen Passat 1.9 TDI still has a few lessons to teach modern Europe.

In today’s Europe, diesel engines have become automotive outcasts. Once celebrated for their ability to cover enormous distances on a sip of fuel, they’re now largely viewed as relics from a bygone era. Electrification dominates headlines, regulators have moved on, and diesel’s reputation never fully recovered from the scandals and emissions debates of the past decade.

Yet every now and then, an old oil-burner reminds us why it became so popular in the first place.

That’s exactly what happened when a German hypermiler climbed behind the wheel of a 1998 Volkswagen Passat B5 equipped with the legendary 1.9-liter TDI engine and attempted something most modern cars—electric or otherwise—would struggle to match: driving nearly 2,400 kilometers on a single tank of fuel.

The mission was personal. A year earlier, he had managed 1,913 kilometers on one tank and narrowly missed his goal of reaching the 2,000-kilometer mark. Rather than settling for the achievement, he returned with a far more ambitious target. This time, the route stretched from Hildesheim in central Germany all the way to Juoksengi in northern Sweden, near the Arctic Circle—a journey measuring roughly 2,359 kilometers.

To make the impossible seem plausible, every detail mattered.

The Passat underwent a thorough efficiency-focused makeover. Roof racks disappeared. Unnecessary items were removed from the cabin. A fresh fuel filter was installed. LED lighting replaced conventional bulbs to reduce electrical load. Going a step further, the owner even removed the accessory drive belt, disabling both the air-conditioning compressor and power steering in the pursuit of every possible drop of fuel savings.

The modifications didn’t stop there. Low-viscosity 0W-30 oil reduced internal friction. Low rolling-resistance “eco” tires were fitted and pumped up to an eyebrow-raising 4.0 bar. Aerodynamic wheel covers were added, and fuel additives found their way into the tank.

Speaking of the tank, Volkswagen originally gave the Passat a 62-liter fuel capacity. Through careful filling techniques and a few hypermiling tricks, the driver reportedly managed to squeeze approximately 67 liters aboard before departure.

The driving strategy was equally meticulous. Cruising speeds hovered around 50 mph (80 km/h), and the route was carefully selected to maximize efficiency. Whenever conditions allowed, the Passat tucked in behind trucks at a safe distance to reduce aerodynamic drag. Progress was measured not in minutes saved, but in milliliters consumed.

The results bordered on the absurd.

After 345 kilometers, the fuel gauge had barely budged. At the 1,000-kilometer mark, the needle still sat above half a tank. At one point during the journey, the driver simply slept inside the Passat to minimize downtime and keep the challenge moving.

Kilometer after kilometer, the old TDI continued to defy expectations.

Eventually, the trip came to an end at 2,398 kilometers—just two agonizing kilometers short of the original 2,400-kilometer goal. Average fuel consumption remained below 3.0 liters per 100 kilometers throughout the run, a figure that would embarrass many modern hybrids.

While the achievement surpassed a well-known 2010 effort by British drivers who covered 2,463 kilometers in a newer Passat B6 between England and France, it still fell short of the remarkable 2,545-kilometer benchmark established by Croatian journalists in 2011 using a Passat B7 1.6 TDI.

Even so, context matters.

The Croatian and British attempts relied on considerably newer machinery. The German’s weapon of choice was a nearly three-decade-old family sedan powered by one of Volkswagen’s most revered diesel engines. In an era when manufacturers are investing billions to move beyond internal combustion altogether, a 28-year-old Passat quietly demonstrated why the 1.9 TDI remains legendary among diesel enthusiasts.

No, it won’t change the future of the automobile. But as long-distance feats go, it’s a reminder that before batteries, before plug-in hybrids, and before range anxiety became part of the automotive vocabulary, there was a different kind of engineering challenge: squeezing every last mile from a tank of fuel.

And few engines ever did it better than Volkswagen’s old 1.9 TDI.

Source: Offroadventure via YouTube

NEW CARS

The Volkswagen ID.3 Is Getting a Do-Over—and This Time VW Means It

Volkswagen is preparing to give the ID.3 something it’s arguably needed since day one: a proper rethink. The Golf-sized electric hatchback is due for a substantial refresh later this year, bringing with it a redesigned exterior, a reworked interior, and meaningful upgrades to tech and hardware. We first caught wind of the changes last year, but fresh late-stage spy photos now offer a clearer look at how serious VW is about fixing its early EV missteps.

When it lands, the updated ID.3 will be thrust back into the thick of the C-segment EV fight, squaring up against rivals like the Cupra Born, Skoda Elroq, Renault Megane E-Tech, Kia EV3, and the upcoming Hyundai Ioniq 3. Pricing hasn’t been confirmed, but expect it to hover around today’s entry point—roughly £30,860—keeping the ID.3 squarely in the mainstream electric conversation.

A Sharper Face for VW’s Electric Hatch

Volkswagen isn’t throwing away the ID.3’s basic proportions, but it is giving the car a much-needed facial adjustment. The most noticeable changes are concentrated at the front and rear, where revised lighting, reshaped bumpers, and new wheel designs aim to make the ID.3 look less like a design experiment and more like a proper Volkswagen.

The headlights now appear to sit lower and stretch visually toward the VW badge via a larger central graphic. There’s a strong chance this panel will be illuminated, and it may also conceal the brand’s latest matrix-beam LED tech. Below that, the front bumper gets more sculpting, larger outer vents to help airflow, and a small central opening—subtle on paper, but far more assertive than the barely perceptible 2024 update.

The goal is clear: pull the ID.3 back toward the brand’s new design language, previewed by the ID.2all concept. Expect cleaner lines, more confidence, and a more traditional two-box hatchback shape in place of the current car’s near-monovolume silhouette.

Inside, Buttons Are Back (Yes, Really)

If the exterior tweaks are evolutionary, the cabin changes promise to be closer to revolutionary—at least by VW standards. The ID.3’s minimalist, touch-heavy interior was widely criticized for sacrificing usability in the name of futurism, and Volkswagen seems ready to admit that experiment didn’t quite land.

The updated car will introduce a redesigned dashboard and interfaces, including the return of physical buttons, much like those previewed in the ID.2all. Expect higher-quality materials as well, with more texture and soft-touch surfaces intended to elevate the ID.3 beyond its current, slightly austere feel.

VW’s development boss Kai Grünitz has been blunt about the direction change:

“We will bring a re-skin for the ID.3, with a completely new design language going back to where we originally came from, and return to what Volkswagen is known for.”

Better Batteries, Better Value

The improvements don’t stop at the surface. Volkswagen is also targeting meaningful gains under the skin, particularly when it comes to battery performance and cost efficiency.

According to Grünitz, the company has made progress on battery costs, performance, and driver-assistance features—changes that should benefit both VW’s bottom line and the customer experience. In current form, the ID.3 is offered with battery packs ranging from 52 kWh to 79 kWh, the latter delivering a claimed 369 miles of range in GTX trim. Expect that figure to improve slightly as new battery tech filters in.

Crucially, the ID.3 will retain the core strengths of the MEB platform, including rear-wheel drive and a multi-link rear suspension. Front-drive layouts and simpler hardware will remain reserved for smaller, entry-level EVs.

GTI, GTX, and the Question of Electric Fun

One of the bigger unanswered questions surrounds performance variants. Volkswagen has softened its stance on what qualifies for a GTI badge in the electric era, suggesting it’s open to the idea—as long as the car feels right.

“Bringing performance to battery-electric vehicles is easy,” Grünitz said. “But creating fun-driving vehicles is much more difficult.”

That philosophy hints at more than just raw power figures. VW is reportedly exploring ideas such as simulated gear changes—similar to what Hyundai has done with the Ioniq 5 N—to inject character and driver engagement into future GTX and GTI models.

“We have a lot of ideas about what to do with this,” Grünitz added. “You will see this, both for GTI and GTX.”

The ID.3, Rewritten

Taken together, the changes suggest Volkswagen is treating the ID.3 refresh as more than a mid-cycle facelift. This is a course correction—one that acknowledges where the brand overreached and attempts to bring its electric hatchback back in line with the values that made cars like the Golf enduring benchmarks.

If VW delivers on its promises, the updated ID.3 could finally feel less like a concept car that escaped into production—and more like the electric Volkswagen it should have been from the start.

Source: AutoExpress