5 SUVs on the Chopping Block for 2026 in America

Five long-running SUVs are vanishing from the U.S. market by 2027, marking a quiet but significant shift in how Americans buy and use vehicles. The Kia Soul, Ford Escape, Lincoln Corsair, BMW X4, and Cadillac XT6 are all being phased out, replaced by electric models as automakers retool factories and respond to tightening emissions rules. These models once defined affordability, family utility, and luxury performance for millions. Their departure reflects a broader industry pivot, not just in powertrains, but in what kinds of vehicles manufacturers believe will survive the next decade.

What’s Really Happening To SUVs

Global SUV sales hit 41 million units in 2024 and are projected to grow to 53 million by 2030. Yet even as demand for SUVs rises, automakers are cutting gasoline-powered models. The reason lies in factory capacity and regulatory pressure. Older gasoline platforms are being retired to free up production lines for electric vehicles. This is not a retreat from SUVs, but a strategic shift: automakers are betting that future regulations and consumer preferences will favor electric SUVs, even if adoption has slowed in the short term.

How Regional Rules Shape Survival

Six states—California, New York, Vermont, Massachusetts, Oregon, and Washington—now enforce stricter emissions standards than the federal government. Together, they represent over 75 million people and effectively set the rules for what can be sold in large parts of the country. A model that complies in Texas may not be legal in New York, forcing automakers to cancel entire national gasoline lines rather than maintain separate versions. These regional rules are a major factor in which SUVs survive and which are discontinued.

Why Icons Still Disappeared

The Kia Soul sold about 1.5 million units in the U.S. over 16 years, becoming one of the most affordable SUVs on the market. Its starting price of $21,935 made it a staple for budget-conscious buyers. Yet sales dropped significantly between 2016 and 2024 as younger buyers moved to larger crossovers and older buyers aged out. The trend repeated across segments: even popular models fell to demographic shifts and regulatory pressure, setting the stage for the five SUVs now being discontinued.

Why EV Momentum Still Slows

Electric vehicle adoption has slowed despite government incentives. BloombergNEF recently cut its 2030 EV forecast by 14 million units, now expecting EVs to account for 27 percent of sales, down from earlier projections of 48 percent. Still, automakers continue to cancel gasoline SUVs. They are betting that policy will tighten again in the coming years, making it more expensive or impractical to keep older gasoline models in production. That gamble explains why aging SUV lines are disappearing even as EV demand remains uncertain.

The Five SUVs Being Discontinued

The Kia Soul ends after the 2025 model year, replaced by the more expensive K4 sedan. Ford is ending production of the Escape and Lincoln Corsair at its Louisville plant, which is being converted into a central EV facility. The BMW X4, a sporty coupe-style SUV, is being dropped because luxury buyers overwhelmingly prefer the more practical X3. Cadillac is ending XT6 production in late 2025, moving buyers to the electric Cadillac Vistiq.

How Automakers Plan Replacements

Automakers are steering buyers toward electric successors. The Cadillac Vistiq takes the place of the XT6. BMW’s iX4 is scheduled to launch in 2026, with U.S. availability in 2027. Ford’s new electric midsize SUV will come from the same Louisville plant that once built the Escape and Corsair. Kia Soul buyers are expected to move to larger crossovers or to Kia’s upcoming electrified Telluride. These changes signal that the next generation of SUVs will be dominated by electric models, with gasoline platforms gradually phased out.

What This Means for Buyers and Workers

Budget buyers lose one of the cheapest SUVs in the country with the Soul’s exit. Escape and Corsair buyers lose models that currently have no direct electric replacements. Luxury buyers who liked coupe-style SUVs have no clear transitional option. Workers in Kentucky and Tennessee also face disruption as factories are rebuilt for EV production. Ford’s $2 billion investment in Louisville illustrates the scale: gasoline engines, transmissions, and exhaust systems are being replaced by battery modules, motors, and power electronics. These shutdowns represent structural changes across the industry, not just isolated model changes.

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)