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23 creative car commercials for Super Bowl XLVII (videos)

Once again, car companies showed some creative talent for their Super Bowl commercials. Here are the best from Audi, VW, Hyundai, Kia, Fiat, Subaru, and Toyota.

Wayne Cunningham
Wayne Cunningham reviews cars and writes about automotive technology for CNET's Roadshow. Prior to the automotive beat, he covered spyware, Web building technologies, and computer hardware. He began covering technology and the Web in 1994 as an editor of The Net magazine.
Antuan Goodwin Reviews Editor / Cars
Antuan Goodwin gained his automotive knowledge the old fashioned way, by turning wrenches in a driveway and picking up speeding tickets. From drivetrain tech and electrification to car audio installs and cabin tech, if it's on wheels, Antuan is knowledgeable.
Expertise Reviewing cars and car technology since 2008 focusing on electrification, driver assistance and infotainment Credentials
  • North American Car, Truck and SUV of the Year (NACTOY) Awards Juror
Wayne Cunningham
Antuan Goodwin
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1 of 23 Volkswagen

VW -- 'Sunny Side'

Volkswagen gives a general shout out to Web celebs while Jimmy Cliff sings in this commercial reminiscent of the classic "I'd like to buy the world a Coke" commercial. It looks like an attempt to go viral, and does not bother to show any actual cars.
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2 of 23 Volkswagen

VW -- 'Get Happy'

Volkswagen's commercial for its new Beetle uses the always-popular-among-frat-boys device of a white guy talking with a Jamaican accent, which seems like a riff on Jimmy Cliff in the Sunny Side commercial.
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3 of 23 Volkswagen

VW -- 'Bad Dog, Good Volkswagen'

Volkswagen's Jetta commercial demonstrates how easy it is to lock the car's doors while holding a handsome bulldog, but leaves us wondering why the dog needs to go to the vet.
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4 of 23 Hyundai

Hyundai -- 'Stuck'

Hyundai's ad for the Sonata is simple, to the point, and mildy humorous in its justification for the extra power provided by the turbocharged trim level.
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5 of 23 Hyundai

Hyundai -- 'Excited'

However, the automaker's frenetic and slightly annoying second ad promoting the high-powered Genesis 5.0 R-Spec seems to miss the mark.
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6 of 23 Hyundai

Hyundai -- 'Don't Tell'

Shifting gears to promote the new Hyundai Santa Fe, Hyundai sells us on the idea that parents can be cool in a charming ad called "Don't Tell."

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7 of 23 Hyundai

Hyundai - -'Team'

When a young boy loses his football to a bully, he and his mom's Hyundai Santa Fe round up a crew to get it back. "Team" is one of the best and funniest ads in this bunch.

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8 of 23 Kia

Kia -- 'Space Babies'

A flustered father attempts to explain where babies come from in this odd ad for Kia's UVO voice-command system.

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9 of 23 Wayne Cunningham/CNET

Kia -- 'Hotbots'

Kia's Forte commercial departs significantly from its "Space Babies" ad, but each reflects the expected demographic for the car in question. For the Forte, Kia has Alyssa Campanella appearing as a replicant, apparently a combat model.

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10 of 23 Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz -- 'Kate Upton washes the CLA'

We're not sure of what to make of this ad for the new Mercedes-Benz CLA. On the one hand: it's a bit tacky. On the other hand: Kate Upton.

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11 of 23 Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz -- 'Soul'

Mercedes-Benz's next ad is a massive improvement. In this over-the-top commercial, a young man debates signing over his soul for the new CLA and the unbelievable lifestyle that comes with it.

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12 of 23 Toyota

Toyota -- 'I Wish'

Over the background music of Skee-Lo, a purple-clad genie grants wishes as she walks down the street, eventually getting into a Rav4 with the Easter Bunny. This short sets up the next one in the series.
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13 of 23 Toyota

Toyota -- 'Wish Granted'

Again our purple-clad genie shows up, granting a Rav4-owning family's wishes. Well, all except for dear old Dad.
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14 of 23 Audi

Audi -- 'Prom'

In one of Audi's "Bravery" series of ads, boy drives Audi to prom alone, boy steals girl, boy gets punched in the face, boy and girl drive away.
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15 of 23 Fiat

Fiat -- 'Sisters'

Fiat exploits the discomfort of a family when confronted with the Italian in-laws, in this clever commercial for the 500L.
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16 of 23 Fiat

Fiat -- 'Date'

Another 500L commercial, this one shows some beautiful, apparently Italian, country roads, and manages a comic twist ending. The 1950s style gives it appropriate flair.
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17 of 23 Fiat

Fiat -- 'Wedding'

Using the same 1950s style as the previous, this one demonstrates the roomy nature of the 500L by having two bridesmaids dress in the backseat.
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18 of 23 Fiat

Fiat -- 'Topless'

This commercial, featuring a bikini-stealing scorpion, plays off the theme set by last year's Fiat Super Bowl commercial, in which the Abarth was equated to a sexy Italian woman.
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19 of 23 Fiat

Fiat -- 500e

The finale in Fiat's amusing series of commercials shows the 500e electric vehicle, a surprising car for the company to be touting during the Super Bowl, in a performance test gone awry.
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20 of 23 Subaru

Subaru -- 'Tailgate'

Subaru has released a series of teasers leading up to its Super Bowl ad campaign. The ads will revolve around a Subaru dealership that sells cars to dogs.

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21 of 23 Subaru

Subaru -- 'Let's Talk Financing'

Is Subaru calling its drivers dogs? Is it bragging about brand loyalty? Is talk about financing going to get anyone excited about buying a Forester?

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22 of 23 Subaru

Subaru -- 'On the Lot'

Dogs aren't your thing? Apparently, Subaru also sells to cats. This ad campaign makes no sense to me. How does the cat reach the pedals?!?

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23 of 23 Subaru

Subaru -- 'Lint Roller'

Subaru's teasers use a sort of mockumentary style that is supposed to be humorous, but is ultimately rather tedious and boring. Hopefully, the full ads will be more interesting on Sunday.

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