Rate This Ad: Nissan off-roads through the decades

A new Nissan commercial takes viewers on a ride through the decades. Titled “60 Years in 30 Seconds”, it features spokeswoman Brie Larson time-jumping from the 1959 to present day in various Nissans. If you think that sounds familiar, it’s a premise Nissan has used before. However, instead of sports cars, this time it’s off-road vehicles.

The ad starts with Larson driving a new Pathfinder up a mountain road. Typical car commercial stuff, so far. Suddenly, she warps to 1959 behind the wheel of a Datsun 320 pickup complete with Betty Draper coif and garb. Next, she’s navigating from the seat of a Datsun 240Z at the Safari Rally, a race which the Z won in 1971. Then it’s the 1980s and she’s in a D21 Nissan Hardbody running the Baja 500.

That’s followed by some sand-flinging in the Empty Quarter in an Armada (appropriate, since the Patrol has such a following in the Middle East). Finally a new Frontier crests Hell’s Revenge in Moab. It all comes full circle at the end as she’s back in the Pathfinder.

Admittedly we’re suckers for any ads that feature classics. However, it would have been cool to see a longer version with some actual Patrols climbing sand dunes in the Paris-Dakar, or even the original Fuji-go and Sakura-go on the Mobilgas Rally. While opportunities may have been missed, we understand that it’s an American-market spot, so it makes some sense they didn’t want to include models that weren’t sold here. But enough nitpicking from us. What did you think of the ad?

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8 Responses to Rate This Ad: Nissan off-roads through the decades

  1. Taylor C. says:

    Unfortunately, this ad was very cringe-inducing from the getgo. Good for bringing Brie Larson into the commercial, but I’m not sure what bringing a mainstream actress with not much existing Nissan affiliation does for increasing publicity. She just doesn’t seem to fit the image.

    Maybe this commercial wasn’t supposed to spark nostalgia like the Mazda or Honda, or begrudgingly Toyota commercial, but if it was all for “buy an SUV, run like wild,” then I guess it works. Miss Larson’s script, IMO, seems a bit lame, as she’s trying to put a play on all her words in each scene. I’m not sure what all her “left at East Africa, right at Baja, 180 at…” means.

    Finally, “this is the new Nissan…” like, you’re straightup telling us Nissan’s trying to resurrect itself? What about all the previous left and right and 180s you just took? That’s not part of the “took a while to get here?”

    I’m gonna go back to that 2016 Mazda commercial.

  2. Taylor C. says:

    not sure why none of my responses are uploading….

  3. CycoPablo says:

    Casting all-American girl? Check.
    Steak/sizzle ratio: 70/30.
    AdPuter verdict: Fail

  4. Special Kei says:

    I’m a sucker for blondes in ’50s hairdos. 10/10.

  5. pete240z says:

    So is Nissan back and all is good? I realize all business’s have challenges but will I regret buying a truck to replace my Silverado?

    What about that Z? Can I really ever get one? Technically in 2 years I will be done paying for my youngest college tuition…..YEAH!

  6. speedie says:

    The choice of actor is based on the demographics. Like many manufacturers, Nissan knows that many women are buying SUVs/ & trucks. I think the history part is weak and a bit lame claiming they are committed to trucks when they just announced they are killing off the Titan, their only full size truck sold in North America. I rate the commercial a meh 5.0

  7. Mark says:

    It’s nice to see car companies embrace their heritage. The only car company that is ashamed of their past is General Motors. The only commercial I’ve seen where a car from GM’s past is is featured was when they smashed a perfectly restored 1959 Bel Air to make a point about the safety of their current cars. The seller of that car stated that had he known GM planned to wreck the car, he would never had sold it to them.

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