Nissan on Top of Most-Seen Auto Ads Chart

Nissan takes first place in iSpot.tv’s ranking of the most-viewed automotive commercials – the ads that have generated the most impressions across national broadcast and cable TV airings.

The top-ranked spot for the week of March 1 advertises the ’21 Kicks and features music by C.U.T. According to an iSpot Ace Metrix survey, this commercial scored above the norm across all industries for various aspects including attention, likeability and watchability. Surveyed viewers found the commercial “energetic” and “colorful,” with 27% considering the visual scenes to be the single best thing, while 21% thought the music was the best.

Second place goes to Hyundai’s ad promoting its Spring Upgrade Sales Event, offering customers zero-percent APR financing on select models for 60 months, plus no payments for 90 days. This spot scored above average across all industries for its informational aspect, with 17% of surveyed viewers considering the deal/offer to be the single best thing.

At No.3 is Honda’s ad for the Pilot with three-row seating, which, the announcer suggests, makes the SUV “always capable and equipped for family life.” Per Ace Metrix, this spot performed above the norm across all industries for multiple aspects including attention, likeability, watchability and relevance. Surveyed viewers considered the ad to be “soothing” and “wholesome,” with 24% citing the visual scenes as the single best thing.

Chevrolet takes fourth place with a 15-second spot proclaiming that its models, including the battery-electric Bolt, make life “just better.”

Toyota rounds out the ranking with an ad asking viewers to imagine themselves in a new Toyota during its Ready Set Go! event. The spokesman notes that each model comes with ToyotaCare, a 2-year, no-cost maintenance plan with roadside assistance.

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1. Nissan: Limitless Possibilities

Impressions: 241,620,854 

Interruption Rate: 2.58% 

Attention Index: 116 

Est. TV Spend: $7,687,934  

2. Hyundai: Spring Upgrade Sales Event: The Upgrade You've Been Looking For

Impressions: 221,809,330 

Interruption Rate: 1.89% 

Attention Index: 133 

Est. TV Spend: $4,314,227  

3. Honda: Style and Comfort for the Family

Impressions: 176,883,680 

Interruption Rate: 2.55% 

Attention Index: 124 

Est. TV Spend: $2,760,061  

4. Chevrolet: Just Better

Impressions: 165,440,767 

Interruption Rate: 2.38% 

Attention Index: 129 

Est. TV Spend: $1,673,463  

5. Toyota: Ready Set Go!: Imagine: Downtown

Impressions: 146,199,498 

Interruption Rate: 2.02% 

Attention Index: 134 

Est. TV Spend: $2,829,758

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 your 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 your ad’s Interruption Rate against your specific media placement. The Attention Index is measured on a scale of 0 to 200, where 100 is the average and means your ad is performing as expected. 

Est. National TV Spend - Amount spent on TV airings for the brand’s spots.