Memorable Car TV Ads from the 1990s to Today

Carmakers spend millions to stay on buyers' minds, and every so often a commercial becomes part of pop culture. Here are some of the most memorable car ads to air in the United States since the 1990s, chosen for their story, their music and the technology they showed off.

The 1990s

Lexus, "Ball Bearing Precision" (1992)

A ball bearing rolls smoothly along the tight gaps of an ES300, door seams included, to prove how precisely the car is built. Together with the line "The Relentless Pursuit of Perfection," it helped put Lexus on the map in the American luxury market.

Jeep, "Snow Covered" (1994)

Something hidden under deep snow plows across a mountain landscape that may be the Grand Tetons, stops at a stop sign and turns left. The closing line, "There's Only One Jeep...," says the rest about its off-road ability.

Nissan, "Toys" (1997)

A couple of years after Toy Story, toys come to life: a G.I. Joe-style figure jumps into a red Nissan 300ZX, races to a Barbie-style dream house and takes the doll for a drive, all to Van Halen's "You Really Got Me."

Volkswagen, "Milky Way" (1999)

A group of twenty-somethings rides under the moon in a VW Cabrio convertible on their way to a party. When they get there, they decide the drive is better than the party and keep going, to Nick Drake's "Pink Moon."

The 2000s

BMW, "The Hire" (2001)

The one entry that did not run on TV: a series of short, James Bond-style films shown online, with big-name actors and BMWs in thrilling chases. It pioneered the mix of entertainment and advertising.

Saturn, "Sheet Metal" (2002)

Not a single car on screen, only people acting out their commute: backing out of the garage, carpooling, sitting in traffic, waiting at a light. The point was that Saturn cared about the people, not the metal, and wanted to be a different kind of car company.

The 2010s

Volkswagen, "The Force" (2011)

A little boy in a Darth Vader costume tries to use the Force on everything in the house, with no luck, until his dad comes home and secretly starts the VW with the remote, making the car seem to obey. It was one of the first Super Bowl ads released on YouTube before it aired.

Chrysler, "Born of Fire" (2011)

Made after the 2009 financial crisis and the hard years in Detroit, it is a statement about the city coming back. Detroit native Eminem drives a new Chrysler 200 to his own music: Detroit, and Chrysler, were ready to rise again.

The 2020s

Jeep, "Groundhog Day" (2020)

Bill Murray relives his famous Groundhog Day role, but now he has a Jeep Gladiator Rubicon, and every repeated day becomes an adventure. The soundtrack is, of course, Sonny & Cher's "I Got You Babe."

Hyundai, "Smaht Pahk" (2020)

In Boston, passers-by with thick local accents marvel as a Hyundai Sonata parks itself with its Smart Park feature. The cast is all Boston: Chris Evans, John Krasinski, Rachel Dratch and Red Sox legend David Ortiz.