Why Was the Reiz Discontinued?
2 Answers
The reasons for the discontinuation of the Reiz are as follows: 1. Weak Market Sales: As a B-segment car, the Reiz stood out in its class with its rear-wheel drive + V6 configuration, which gave it a unique personality. Its sporty attributes and modification potential were highly praised by car enthusiasts. However, these very characteristics also somewhat limited its consumer base. 2. Strengths Turned Weaknesses: The front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout and the naturally aspirated V6 engine were once the Reiz's proudest advantages. But as emission regulations became increasingly stringent, large-displacement naturally aspirated engines began to fall out of favor, while small-displacement turbocharged engines became mainstream. The Reiz's V6 naturally aspirated engine started to show drawbacks such as high fuel consumption and insufficient power response. 3. Manufacturer's Strategic Abandonment: The Toyota Reiz actually shared the same platform as the Crown. This platform, whether in terms of stability, safety, technological configuration reserves, or compatibility with new parts standards, had become comprehensively outdated. The Reiz models currently on the market are from the 2013 lineup, with no updates over the years, which likely foreshadowed its eventual discontinuation.
The discontinuation of the Toyota Reiz has left quite a few of my car-modifying friends sighing with regret. This car used to be the poster child of affordable rear-wheel-drive sedans, but let's face it—it just wasn't selling well! Nowadays, young buyers either go for electric vehicles like Tesla or opt straight for SUVs, with practical models like the Highlander being far more popular. Plus, rear-wheel-drive cars inherently have higher manufacturing costs, and the Reiz's V6 engine guzzles significantly more fuel compared to today's 1.5T three-cylinder engines. Toyota knows what it's doing—freeing up production lines for TNGA-platform vehicles makes more economic sense. That said, used Reiz prices have actually surged lately, with drift enthusiasts still scrambling to buy them up.
