February 5, 2016
Everyone knows that during Super Bowl Sunday, the game itself is only half the attraction. For many non-football fans, one of the main reasons to watch this year’s Super Bowl broadcast—besides being roped in by family, friends and/or significant others—are the commercials. With that in mind, here are five of our favorite Super Bowl 50 car commercials (listed in alphabetical order): Audi—“Commander” (pictured) An elderly man sits stoically in his living room as he reflects on his bygone days as an astronaut. This doesn’t sound like the start to a fun Super Bowl 50 commercial, but that all changes when his son comes by to visit in his 2017 Audi R8. With its 205-mph, V10 engine, the Audi R8 instantly transports the commander back to his spaceman days. Appropriately enough, David Bowie’s “Starman” is the soundtrack for this literal and metaphorical journey, which is a fine way to honor the legacy of the late and great rock ‘n’ roll legend.
Hyundai—“First Date” If you’re a dad, you can relate to the anxiety of seeing your teenage daughter go out on a date with a boy. Chances are that you wouldn’t react to the situation as hilariously as comedy superstar Kevin Hart. In this Super Bowl 50 spot for the 2016 Hyundai Genesis, Hart uses the Car Finder feature to keep tabs on his daughter’s date. The Car Finder is the focus of this humorous minute-long spot, although we do get some nice shots of the Genesis coupe in action. Hyundai—“Ryanville” There are plenty of ladies (not to mention a couple of gents) who wouldn’t mind spending some quality time with Hollywood heartthrob Ryan Reynolds. That’s the premise for “Ryanville,” Hyundai’s Super Bowl 50 ad for the 2017 Elantra. Two ladies cruise in their 2017 Hyundai Elantra as Salt ‘N’ Pepa’s 1994 classic “Whatta Man” plays in the background. The spot highlights the vehicle’s auto emergency braking feature, which comes in handy when you’re surrounded by Ryans. Kia—“Walken Closet” “Do you want to be devoured, Richard?” That’s the question posed by veteran actor Christopher Walken in this minute-plus Kia Super Bowl 50 commercial. In “Walken Closet,” an ordinary schlub named Richard heads to his walk-in closet only to find Walken (walk-in, Walken, get it?) waiting for him. Walken ultimately reveals the 2016 Kia Optima, which he describes to Richard as “the world’s most exciting pair of socks.” Seems like a weird metaphor, but you’ll have to watch the ad to see what I’m talking about. Toyota—“Heck on Wheels” The Toyota Prius may have plenty of virtues, but it doesn’t exactly have that bad-boy cache. Toyota hopes to change that perception during Super Bowl 50 when it airs its minute-and-a-half long “Heck on Wheels” ad. A seemingly mild-mannered man rocks out as soon as he gets behind the wheel of his all-new 2016 Prius, which displays impressive handling and drivability. It’s rare enough to find music videos on the air these days, so check out the commercial below if you’re looking for a tune to hum while driving like an American badass in your electric vehicle. So which of these Super Bowl 50 ads is your favorite? Let us know in the comments section or by contacting us via Facebook and/or Twitter!