Genesis Harnesses Sleek Visuals in Latest Most-Seen Auto TV Ad

Genesis takes first place on iSpot’s ranking of automotive commercials for July 22-28 with 182.3 million national TV ad impressions, 55% of which came from primetime ad airings. Across all dayparts, the 2024 Paris Olympics delivered about 10% of total impressions, while Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives and Celebrity Family Feud each generated about 5%. According to iSpot’s Creative Assessment, the commercial’s colorful cinematics had 35% of survey respondents citing the visual scenes as the “single best thing” about the ad. 

A spot for the ’25 Infiniti QX80 takes second place, receiving 174.5 million national TV ad impressions. Slightly over 6% of those impressions came from 2024 Paris Olympics coverage, while HGTV was the top impressions-generating network (10%). While surveyed viewers found the visual scenes to be the “single best thing” about the ad (31%), they also found the product itself compelling (29%). 

Summer sales event promotions from Hyundai, Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz fill out the remaining ranking positions.At No. 3: Hyundai’s “Summer: Add More Joy,” which had 156.3 million national TV ad impressions. Broadcast TV networks led for impression generation, with Fox delivering 12%, followed by The CW and NBC (both around 10%). 

In Volkswagen’s fourth-place spot, a man regrets his decision to feed a pigeon after an entire flock descends on his park bench. The humor helped this ad score above the automotive norm for attention and likability, with “funny” cited as the top emotion/reaction by viewers. Cable news networks delivered the most reach, with MSNBC accounting for 20% of the ad’s total 148.8 million national TV ad impressions, followed by CNN (10%) and NewsNation (6%). 

HGTV was a heavy hitter for the No. 5 Mercedes-Benz ad, generating nearly a third of its total 133.2 million national TV ad impressions, thanks to programs including House Hunters and My Lottery Dream Home. Other top networks by impressions included CNN (10%), Fox News (9%) and Golf (9%).

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1. Genesis: It Moves You

Impressions: 182,294,565 

Interruption Rate: 2.13%

Attention Index: 105

Est. National TV Ad Spend: $937,930

2. Infiniti: Once Upon a Time

Impressions: 174,481,960 

Interruption Rate: 3.31%

Attention Index: 86

Est. National TV Ad Spend: $1,026,572

3. Hyundai: Summer: Add More Joy

Impressions: 156,295,221 

Interruption Rate: 2.69%

Attention Index: 103

Est. National TV Ad Spend: $745,117

4. Volkswagen: Hot Dog

Impressions: 148,797,008 

Interruption Rate: 4.26%

Attention Index: 85

Est. National TV Ad Spend: $794,287

5. Mercedes-Benz: Make Your Dreams Come True

Impressions: 133,214,212 

Interruption Rate: 3.40%

Attention Index: 97

Est. National TV Ad Spend: $750,788

Data provided by iSpot.tv, The New Standard for TV Ad Measurement

TV Impressions - Total TV ad impressions delivered for the brand or spot.

Interruption Rate - The percentage of devices that were present at the beginning of the ad but did not complete watching the ad. Actions that interrupt ad play include changing the channel, pulling up the guide, fast-forwarding or turning off the TV. The Interruption Rate is measured on a scale of 0 to 100%.

Attention Index - A comparison of the ad’s Interruption rate against its specific media placement. The Attention Index is measured on a scale of 0 to 200, where 100 is the average and means the ad is performing as expected.
Est. National TV Spend - Amount spent on TV airings for the brand’s spots.