Nissan: No Lazy Horses

The all-terrain pickup is one of America’s sweethearts and pretty much makes up the backbone of the American automotive economy. It’s the most popular type of car throughout the country and for good reason. Here, we take a look at the new ad by Nissan for their Titan model. We’ll rate this ad out of 10 for memorability, effectiveness, style, humor, and execution. Take a look at our review to see if our thoughts match yours!

Memorability – 8 / 10

The ad is very memorable for its humor. The concept presents us with a clever and funny interpretation of the moment a car breaks down. Taking the notion of horsepower and literally placing tiny horses under the hood of the car. Horses that refuse to work properly out of laziness. The idea is catchy, visually stimulating, fun and highly relatable. The target audience of young and senior men will all relate to the disappointment and sheer frustration depicted in the scenes. Many will appreciate exactly how it feels to be let down by your vehicle and to be almost begging it to start and work as it should.

Effectiveness – 8 / 10

The actual product is shown for a few seconds towards the end of the clip. The comedic elements of the adverts take up the majority of the content which leaves very little room for presenting the Titan itself. Some will see this as a bad thing, while many of us will recognize that in today’s competitive market, standing out with either humor or drama is not just ideal, it’s the priority. For the few seconds that the Titan is in view, it does look incredibly attractive. Sometimes just a glimpse can be more powerful than 30 – 40 seconds of screen time.

Style – 7 / 10

It doesn’t get much more American than a pickup in a wild west desert scene. The extraordinarily muddy terrain surrounding the core character as he dances to his car adds to his sorrow and the disparity of his situation. It’s funny because he’s suffering, only to be saved by the ultimate hero; the pickup he and everyone else should be driving through this hostile landscape. Excellent humor from the lazy horse characters makes the scene almost impossible to forget, while the build and character of the main character ensure he is relatable to the target customer profile.

Heart or Humor – 9 / 10

The humor is very much in line with the styles used in modern movies aimed at the millennial demographic. It’s sharp, obvious and has a touch of dryness. The panned out shots showing the main character in full dancing for his car, with bits of sorry scenery in the background are the ones that portray the message most clearly and will get the most laughs. It almost symbolizes the feelings of sheer insanity most will feel when they are so desperately let down at the side of the road.

Execution – 8 / 10

Instantly relatable, very clever and highly likeable. The ad portrays the product as the hero and it’s driver as the smart one that’s clearly winning the decision making game. Is there any better way to sell a pick up?