In the automotive industry, some vehicle nameplates never fail to sell. The Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Ford F-150, and Chevy Silverado are just a few examples of nameplates that are so popular that they have transcended the automotive industry and made their way into pop culture. You don’t need to be an automotive enthusiast to know what an F-150 looks like or what brand makes a Corolla. These vehicles are so successful that nearly everyone in the world knows about these vehicles, and they continue to post high car sales figures.

However, not every vehicle nameplate is so lucky. Here are 12 cars with terrible sales numbers due to dropped nameplates.

1. Acura ILX

Don’t remember the Acura ILX? Don’t worry, hardly anyone does. This Acura was based on the Honda Civic. Strangely enough, it was pretty affordable, starting at $28,395 MSRP in 2022, according to Car and Driver. Sadly, this Civic-based affordable Acura hardly sold at all, only selling 6,296 units in 2022, according to GoodCarBadCar. The ILX was discontinued and replaced with the Acura Integra, which seems like a no-brainer for a Civic-based Acura.

2. Acura NSX

The Acura NSX was a summit vehicle for the Acura and Honda brands. At its peak in 1991, the NSX sold 1,940 units and instantly became a mainstay due to its inclusion in popular racing video games of the 1990s, like Gran Turismo. Sadly, as the NSX grew older, its popularity waned. A new generation of NSX was produced in 2016, and it simply wasn’t the same as its predecessor. The old NSX was a hyper-limited sports car; the new one was an even more limited supercar. Only 15 units were sold in 2022.

3. Buick Encore

The Buick Encore was discontinued without much fanfare for the 2023 model year. To make things even more confusing, the Buick Encore GX, which is a different vehicle, is still being produced and even had a radical new redesign for the summer of 2023. The regular Buick Encore, the small crossover that Buick wants you to forget about, only sold 5,064 units in its final year.

4. Ford Transit Connect

If you thought the Buick Encore and Encore GX were confusing, Ford also had the same issue with the Transit and the Transit Connect. The Ford Transit is a full-size van, and the Transit Connect is a car-based van. The Transit Connect only sold 9,842 units in its final year of 2023 so far.

5. Honda Insight

The first generation Honda Insight was one of the world’s most efficient vehicles, with a combined mpg rating of 53 miles per gallon. With Insight becoming the nameplate for Honda’s hybrid vehicles, there was no reason to keep the name around once the focus shifted to the Honda Civic Hybrid. Only 7,628 units were sold in 2022.

6. Hyundai Accent

The Accent was an excellent vehicle for Hyundai. Sadly, the market is shifting away from traditional cars and more into a crossover SUV-based market. In 2022, the Hyundai Accent sold 17,823 units, and much less so far in 2023.

7. Hyundai Veloster

From 2011 to 2022, the Hyundai Veloster was Hyundai’s entry-level performance vehicle. Despite its strange name, it performed pretty well. Sadly, the Hyundai Veloster only sold 1,920 units in 2022. 

8. Infiniti Q60

Infiniti is not the most successful luxury brand on the market right now, and the Q60 was one of the worst performers in the lineup. As the market shifted away from traditional coupes and sedans, the Q60 failed to sell and only racked up around 1,846 unit sales in 2022.

9. Kia Stinger

The Kia Stinger was a great vehicle, but its popularity has run its course. The future of sports vehicles for Kia is found with their Kia EV6 and other electric cars. For 2022, Kia sold around 7,809 units, and dealerships are currently selling the rest of their inventory.

10. Mazda CX-9

The Mazda CX-9 has been replaced by the Mazda CX-90, a more refined version of the CX-9 on a new platform. The CX-90 is a three-row SUV with a brand-new chassis setup and an array of new engine options, taking over where the CX-9 left off. While the CX-9 is being discontinued, it is still mildly popular, with 17,419 units sold so far this year, with more available while inventory lasts.

11. Mazda MX-30

The Mazda MX-30 was a disaster, and that is putting it lightly. Many people have never even heard of the MX-30 for one big reason: range anxiety. The Mazda MX-30 had a price tag similar to other EVs of its size, but the MX-30 only had a range of around 100 miles. Used EVs half a decade old had more range at half the price. Only 66 examples have been sold so far in 2023, with 2024 marking the end of this EV’s short lifespan.

12. Toyota Avalon

The Avalon has been an incredible vehicle for Toyota, bridging the gap between Toyota and Lexus. For decades, the Avalon gave drivers a Lexus amount of luxury with a Toyota price tag. However, with the Toyota Crown being released, Toyota’s luxury gap vehicle is no longer the aging Avalon sedan. Only 43 units were sold in 2023, mainly consisting of dealers selling off old inventory.