VIDEO: Sexy Toyota Sienna commercial makes no sense
Click above to view Toyota's sexy Sienna commercial
When most people drop $35,000 on a minivan, they don't suffer from the dillusion that the family hauler is sexy or cool. We're sure Toyota knows the Sienna is purchased mainly for its ability to transport human cargo in comfort and safety, but the Japanese automaker isn't above selling its minivan with humor. Unfortunately, Toyota's spoof of a Calvin Klein commercial isn't all that funny, but rather kind of strange. The only feature that's extolled in the automaker's 30-second pitch is the fact that the Sienna has a five star safety rating.
The catch line that's whispered as a voiceover says, "Somewhere between luxury and soccer practice lies Sienna." What does that mean? That the Sienna isn't exactly luxurious but it's designed for better things hauling the kiddies to practice so they can learn to bend it like Beckham? Maybe we're just cynics and like our minivans completely sex-free, so hit the jump to watch the video and tell us what you think.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Frat Stud 8:36AM (3/13/2008)
It's called irony, Chris.
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typhoon5000 8:40AM (3/13/2008)
A great way to keep moving backwards maybe. How dumb. It kinda reminds me of the Lincoln MKX commercial too, where there's a surfer women who "catches 3 waves".
I'll have to try that "5 star safety rating" line sometime LOL.
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icu812ru469 8:40AM (3/13/2008)
Sex sells... so maybe Toyota is giving a glimpse into their next generation Sienna where they'll best the Caravan and not just offer rear seats that face each other, but the two rear rows fold to create a "love mattress" for when you're waiting for your kids and there's a hot MILF there.
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Gregg 8:42AM (3/13/2008)
I commend you for coining "dillusion." Great compromise when one doesn't know whether delusion or illusion applies.
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tenfifteen 1:03PM (3/13/2008)
LMAO. We would've also accepted d'illusion or dilution... anyhow, speling and gramer is for suckaz, grampaw! LOLZ!
Gregg 1:32PM (3/13/2008)
yer welcum fer the laff riot, granmaw
typhoon5000 8:42AM (3/13/2008)
Now that I think about it, it actually makes some sense, cause think of what the orignal reason for minivans are anyways? sex.
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Big Bad Sedan 8:46AM (3/13/2008)
Just like it makes it no sense to buy Toyota to begin with.
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IndusCreed 9:04AM (3/13/2008)
I am having trouble imagining a sentence with Sexy and Toyota Sienna (or for that matter any friggin mini van) togther in it.
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PJ 9:27AM (3/13/2008)
Oh I don't know... how many ads couch SUVs as "sexy?"
And what's an SUV? Right. Minivan with a strap-on.
At least this ad was ironic...
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Frylock350 9:31AM (3/13/2008)
A CUV is maybe but an SUV is something entirely different. CUVs are minivans without the sliding doors. An SUV is a RWD or 4x4 pickup truck full-frame station wagon. A 4x4 body-on-frame SUV is entirely different than a FWD unitbody minivan.
PJ 10:00AM (3/13/2008)
While we recognize the engineering distinctions, the vast majority of owners do not. These are spendy parents who see seats, space, and styling and very little else.
ckm 3:23PM (3/13/2008)
@Frylock350: Not all SUVs are body on frame. In fact, the daddy of all SUVs, the Jeep Grand Cherokee and no one would call it a CUVs... Most modern luxury SUVs are built unibody style (BMW X5, Mercedes M & G, VW Touareg, etc).
Body on frame construction is useful ONLY if you are towing stuff. Otherwise, there are huge disadvantages to that design, particularly when it relates to torsional rigidity, NVH and crash integrity. The only reason why body on frame construction still exists in SUVs is because the design costs have been fully amortized by the companies offering body on frame...
leather bear 4:21PM (3/13/2008)
@PJ "And what's an SUV? Right. Minivan with a strap-on."
EXCELLENT!! (snork, snork)
One of the best lines I've read on Autoblog in ages (I hope you don't mind if I use on some of my SUV-driving friends).
Bill 9:14AM (3/13/2008)
If your minivan is sex-free, then you are overlooking one of the great perks of owning a minivan.
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geo.stewart 10:11AM (3/13/2008)
nice thing about the dodge.
stow that air mattress and pump in the stow n go.
take it out, drop all the seats and lay out that mattress on a flat-floor.
Za 10:47AM (3/13/2008)
So true...it is a versatile type of vehicle, what with the seat arrangements and all. There are some things the kids are better off not knowing.
mr.ed 9:22AM (3/13/2008)
Is doing it in a minivan an indoor our outdoor sport?
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SPG 9:19AM (3/13/2008)
Yes, as someone else commented, they are just trying to be ironic.
Possibly even showing that owning an immensly practical vehicle that's more efficient then an SUV with the same cargo area does not not mean that you personally can't be sexy. It's just your means of transport.
I'd love one of these sexy/un-sexy vans for a road trip.
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Frylock350 9:23AM (3/13/2008)
Same cargo area? I'd like to see a minivan that can handle the same cargo loads my Suburban can. And ride quality with an FWD unit-body long vehicle? Don't make me laugh.
Minivans are quite practical but nice they are not.