Get Ready To Say Goodbye To These Cars

The automotive world is preparing to say goodbye to a handful of familiar models that have either lost their shine or no longer align with their makers' future plans. Whether due to slow sales, strategic realignment, or changing market dynamics, these cars are quietly making their way out of Indian showrooms, signalling a clear shift in how companies approach their line-ups.

Jeep Pulls the Plug on Ambition

Jeep’s choice to shelve the next-generation Compass and Meridian for India is a calculated move, even if it raises eyebrows. While the current versions will continue with minor updates, the real story is what’s not happening.

Plans to develop successors based on Stellantis’s costly STLA-M platform have been scrapped. With development costs estimated at over ₹3,000 crore and tepid sales offering little encouragement, the financial risk simply wasn’t worth it.

Adding to the woes, the Compass had already lost its petrol variants, leaving it as a diesel-only offering — not ideal in a market where fuel preferences are shifting. Jeep's retreat isn’t just about this one model. It’s a broader recognition that competing in India’s mid-size SUV space requires deeper localisation and sharper pricing than it was willing to commit to at this point.

Nissan’s Overpriced Experiment Falls Flat

When Nissan announced the return of the X-Trail, there was a flicker of excitement. But hopes were quickly dashed when the SUV arrived with a steep ₹49.92 lakh price tag, offered as a completely built unit with limited local relevance. Just 150 units were earmarked for sale, and even those struggled to move.

Lacking the specifications and features offered in global markets, the X-Trail failed to convince buyers that it was worth the premium. Unsold units are now showing up on pre-owned car platforms at prices nearly ₹20 lakh lower than the launch price, making it one of the most abrupt value drops for a mainstream vehicle in recent times. With Nissan's focus shifting back to core global operations, a second attempt looks unlikely.

MG ZS EV Makes Way for a More Capable Successor

Not every exit is a failure. In the case of the MG ZS EV, its phase-out is a natural evolution. MG is preparing to launch the all-new S5 EV which is a more advanced model built on a modular, scalable platform that also underpins the MG4 hatchback.

The upcoming S5 is expected to bring a sharper design, better interior packaging, and possibly a larger battery, indicating a strong intent to remain competitive in the electric SUV space. For MG, this isn’t an exit, it’s a step forward.

Marazzo’s Quiet Exit and Mahindra’s SUV-Only Vision

The Mahindra Marazzo is bowing out after a low-key presence in the market since its 2018 debut. On paper, it ticked many boxes; a comfortable three-row MPV, Pininfarina-influenced styling, and the rare combination of a ladder-frame chassis with front-wheel drive. Yet the Marazzo never quite managed to find its footing in a segment dominated by the Maruti Ertiga and Toyota Innova.

But it wasn’t just about competition. The bigger factor was internal: Mahindra’s deliberate and public shift toward becoming an SUV-only brand. In this new vision, the Marazzo didn’t fit. As a result, it was left behind, receiving minimal updates, no BS6 Phase 2 upgrade, and little marketing push. Rather than investing further into a segment it no longer wanted to compete in, Mahindra let the Marazzo fade out quietly. There are no replacement plans, and with that, Mahindra has effectively exited the MPV space altogether.

Why This Matters: Fewer Models, Stronger Portfolios

The winding down of these five models is part of a larger shift within the car industry. Manufacturers are getting more selective. With rising input costs and changing buyer expectations, companies can no longer afford to spread themselves thin. They’re choosing to focus on models that offer clear market fit, profitability, and long-term brand value.

For car buyers, this trend means a slightly narrower pool of options, but with the potential for better-built, better-equipped cars that truly cater to local preferences. The days of throwing every global model into the Indian mix are coming to an end.

This new era of automotive rationalisation might not grab headlines like flashy launches do, but it’s just as important. Because behind every model that exits, there’s a deeper story about how the industry is learning, adapting, and trying to get things right.