While much has changed in the auto market over the last 25 years, certain trucks, cars, and supercars from the aughts could make a popular comeback today.
Looking back at discontinued cars from the 2000s, the many changes and consistencies over the past 25 years are striking. Back then, all-electric cars were few and far between. Looking at you, Ford Ranger EV. But, the landscape for massive gas-guzzling land yachts in the aughts contained such bloated barges as the Hummer H2. Today, Hummer is back with an EV that might be heavy enough to collapse country road bridges, and its parent company continues to sell gas-powered brutes that barely move the needle on fuel consumption versus the H2.
Another common thread is the number of automakers that were too far out in front of the herd with memorable models like the Subaru Baja and Pontiac Aztek lampooned for weirdness, but ready to dominate the aspirational adventure lifestyle so craved by 2025 consumers. Back in the day, you would have been ridiculed to suggest Ford Motor Company would stop making cars, but here we are. There were a whole lot of discontinued cars from the 2000s that, for a variety of reasons, would be popular in the present day. These 13 are the models we think have the best chance at success.Dodge Dakota
In the 2000s, you could buy a Dodge Ram 1500. Today, you can buy a Ram 1500 as Stellantis has seen fit to split Dodge into a purveyor of cars and crossovers, while Ram does trucks. Marketing nonsense aside, the smallest truck you’ll find at Ram is the 1500. Meanwhile, the midsize segment is bursting with competition from the Ford Ranger and Chevy Colorado to the Toyota Tacoma and Nissan Frontier. Why doesn’t Ram sell one? That’s a longer story, but the company used to offer the Dodge Dakota midsize pickup.
It was in production until 2011 and at the time, offered a choice of V6 or V8 power, up to 7,200 pounds of towing capacity, and an extended or crew cab body. Dakota crew cabs were within a few inches of the 2025 Chevy Colorado and that model can only tow 500 more pounds than the Dodge once did. We know that Dodge is planning to bring a midsize pickup back to the U.S. market, but details are scant. Based on how broad this segment has become, it’s easy to imagine Ram fans going into a frenzy over a new Dakota. So hey Ram, chop chop.Hummer H2
The Hummer H2 was evidently such a pig at the pumps that the U.S. EPA deigns it unworthy of listing on the FuelEconomy.gov site. Per J.D. Power, however, the H2’s fuel „efficiency“ is about 10 mpg city, 13 mpg highway, and 11 to 12 mpg combined. The H2 was produced until 2010. Jump ahead 15 years and GMC, current owner of the Hummer brand, sells its Yukon with a powertrain capable of 14 mpg, 18 mpg, and 16 mpg, respectively. To hit those numbers, you must choose the 6.2L V8, an engine also found in the H2.
Back then, it made 393 horsepower and 415 lb-ft of torque. Today, those figures come in at 420 and 460, respectively. The Yukon can tow 8,400 pounds versus the H2’s 8,200. Yes, the formerly discontinued Hummer brand is back from the dead, but its only option is a comically huge EV. Considering GMC basically sells an old H2 rebadged as a Yukon, why not go full circle and badge-engineer the 2025 Yukon into a 2025 Hummer H2? It would fill out the modern-day Hummer portfolio and offer additional chum for America’s endless feeding frenzy of huge SUVs.Subaru Baja
As evidence the quirky Subaru Baja would be popular today, I direct your attention to the Hyundai Santa Cruz. Like the Baja, the Santa Cruz tacks a roughly 4-foot pickup truck-style cargo bed onto the back of a unibody crossover platform. Both feature fully independent suspension, a choice of naturally aspirated or turbocharged four-cylinder engines, and just about 8.5 inches of ground clearance. The Outback-based Baja came standard with AWD and could tow 2,400 pounds. The Santa Cruz offers AWD and can tow more than the Subaru at 3,500 pounds, but we’re still talking about small watercraft and teardrop trailers here.
Considering the Santa Cruz is only 3 inches longer than the Baja, it would appear Hyundai benchmarked Subaru when creating its own light-duty pickup truck. The Subaru Baja was discontinued after a short run from 2003 to 2006, but it was arguably ahead of its time with cool features like the Switchback cabin-to-bed divider that could be opened for long cargo and the wide range of accessories aimed at outdoorsy clientele. Swap the 2025 Outback’s cargo hold for a pickup bed and the Baja would be back, primed for battle in the red-hot adventure-lifestyle segment.Nissan Xterra
Nissan is in need of a shot in the off-roading arm and we think the Xterra is one of the best ways to revive the brand. At present, Nissan’s ICE-powered SUV lineup consists of the cutesy Kicks, urban runabout Rogue, FWD Pathfinder, luxury-leaning Murano, and Armada land yacht. Toyota offers the 4Runner and Land Cruiser, Jeep has its old Wrangler warhorse, and Ford has the big and bad Bronco. Nissan has dabbled in its former off-road SUV glory with the Pro-4X Armada, but it’s unlikely to see more action than a dirty Whole Foods parking lot. However, the Frontier pickup is still on sale.
Which is why the Xterra would be an ideal discontinued car from the 2000s, ready to strut its off-road stuff today. Take the Frontier platform, drop on a closed-bed top hat, and Bob’s your uncle. The old Xterra was a serious off-roader.
