Kia Motors America releases its newest TV advertising campaign for the Kia Soul, called “This or That.” It’s a sequel. Kia brings back the lovable singing hamster dudes who ushered Kia Soul’s popular entry into the US automobile market.
“Given the success and popularity of the hamsters in the initial Soul launch with a spot that won Nielsen’s Automotive Ad of the Year, it made sense to bring them back for a new campaign,” said Michael Sprague, marketing vice president of KMA. “We know the Soul target audience is digitally savvy and that they viewed the first commercial multiple times online, so the newest experience is rich with details in the hamster world and integrated Soul content for them to discover during repeat viewings.”
The TV “This or That” commercial shows the cool and savvy hamsters in hood singing a popular 90′s hip hop track, “The Choice is Yours.” The break-dancing, hip-hopping hamsters groove around suburban city blocks cleverly singing “You can get with this,” pertaining to the suave and shiny Alien Green Kia Soul, “or you can get with that,” pointing to washing machines, toasters and cardboard boxes being driven by “un-cool” hamsters as though they were automobiles. The commercial hints a very obvious choice.
The cool, loud, and MTV-ish commercial is what Kia Soul is all about – young, hip, and highly personalize-able. It can be what you want it to be. For real, this versatile five-door produces great audio sound with available Audio Upgrade Package, which includes speaker lights that dance and pulse to the beat of the music, mood lighting to produce a lounge feeling, and funky black cloth seats with “glowing” Soul logo.
Kia Soul hamsters comemrcial:
As with the first Soul hamster commercial, “This or That” is the creative creation of David&Goliath, KMA’s ad agency for recording. The music, “The Choice is Yours”, is from the 90′s hip-hop group Black Sheep. The TV campaign will run through the month of July on cable TV networks including Comedy Central, Fuse, MTV, MTV2 and Spike. Beginning May 28 it will also appear in movie theaters across the United States and on the Web at Pandora, Facebook, Social Vibe’s PetVille, Kia.com, and for a contest in YouTube.
As the now popular hamsters are making waves in TV advertisement, the Kia Soul is doing perfectly well in the market. It has been receiving recognitions and awards from several important groups. Edmunds.com and Parents Magazine named it as one of the “Best Family Cars for 2010″; Motherproof.com said it is one of the “2010 Top Cars for families”; Cars.com declared it as the “Best Hatchback of 2010″; and Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com considered it as one of the “2010 Top 10 Coolest New Cars Under $18,000.”
The Soul is as cool as its TV commercial. It is modern, unique, stylish, and appealing to the young and young-at-heart. It is the perfect combination of style, value and personalization options. The Soul comes in four trims: Soul, Soul+, Soul! (Exclaim) and Soul Sport, with four special editions: Ghost Soul, Ignition Soul, Denim Soul, and Shadow Dragon Soul. Choose the best that fits your personal style. Pricing for the 2010 Kia Soul crossover begins under $14.000!
May 28th, 2010 at 8:16 pm
Sorry, Dumb just Dumb..
May 29th, 2010 at 7:52 am
Funnnnnnnnny…Sorry I work for Kia.
May 29th, 2010 at 3:46 pm
Advertising and Styling are making me proud of my decision to support KIA’s efforts to excel in the automotive world. Hats off to you guys and gals in the KIA KLUB.
May 30th, 2010 at 8:43 pm
You have reached and touched my heart and SOUL with this outstanding creativity-I am a very proud KIA salesperson and I spent the majority of my life in the creative TV and Radio industry. Long before Canada had good creativity I represented a California production house and have always loved ‘Great commercials etc.’ Not only does KIA produce outstanding vehicles, the commercial creativity is tops. Take it ftom a guy who was an owner of a large REP shop in Canada. Congrats guys. Regards, Peter O. Gassyt
May 31st, 2010 at 1:50 am
why does KIA Australia NOT play ads like this on TV here in Queensland or any other stateyou see nothing of the Soul,it’s all about other KIA models,wake up KIA AUSTRALIA.
June 2nd, 2010 at 3:55 pm
You know what Hyundai ain’t selfish at all. The Sorento scored 80 making it no.3 best small/midsize cuv over the Tuscan and Sante Fe. The Sorento scored higher than the every .05 of second seeing CRV too. According to Cosumer Reports. In the otherwords, the Sorento is better than that Equinox and right behind Subaru Also, in S.KOrea, Kia sales are up because of the K7 and K5. However, Hyundai sales are down. I thought the Equus and Genesis would for sure make sales increase. When the better looking K9 arrives, I will feel sorry for the Genesis.
June 2nd, 2010 at 4:01 pm
I was hoping that the Sorento would score higher than that stupid rav-4.
June 2nd, 2010 at 11:07 pm
When the next Optima and Sportage arrive, which do you guys think will be the new best selling Kia? The Optima, Sportage or do you guys think the Sorento will continue? You know what I think? I think not only the Optima will lead, but I think it could be the first Kia to have sales in the double digits. The Sorento is just outside of making double digit sales. I think the next Optima could sale between 9000 and 11000 units a month. When the Sportage arrives, do you guys think the Sorento will outsell the Sportage or visversa? I think the Sportage and Sorento will run neck to neck in sales. I think the Sportage will outsell the Sorento but not by much. And my final question is which do you guys think will outsell when 2011 arrives, the Forte or the next Rio? I think the Forte will outsell the next Rio; however, depending on what it looks like the Rio could outsell that. Do you guys think the next Rio will outsell the Soul. I think the Soul will continue to have strong sells and won’t be affect when the next generation Rio arrives.
June 2nd, 2010 at 11:11 pm
When the K9 arrives, do you guys think the K7 will outsell the K9 or the K9 will outsell the K7? I think the K9 will outsell the less expensve K7 only because of the looks. Think about it, everytime a new Kia is unveiled, it looks better and better. Why do you think the Sportage looks better than the Sorento and the Optima looks better than the K7? And even if the Sportage looks better than the Sorento to me, the Sorento has look that says, “it belongs in the Kia line up with the rest of the gang.”
June 3rd, 2010 at 12:39 am
JTZ – the Sorento EX (V6) got 82 points and the Toyota Rav4 Ltd (V6) got 83 and that could be mainly because the Sorento is a new vehicle and no assessment to reliability can be made like it can for the Rav4, but it did score higher than the Santa Fe Ltd (V6) which got 80 points.
June 3rd, 2010 at 3:08 am
Have you guys noticed that every NEW Kia vehicle released since the Soul has won IIHS top safety pick? I bet the Sportage and Optima will win that also. Aren’t we supposed to have the new Sportages by now?? I though they said late May, early June.
June 3rd, 2010 at 3:29 am
Greg – in Canada its suppose to be at dealers within the next 30 days (announced on the Canadian newswire yesterday by Kia Canada). Not sure about the US, they haven’t even posted the prices on the media site, when Canada announced the pricing a number of weeks ago.
June 3rd, 2010 at 4:13 am
I know in Canada the Sportage and Optima is going have more featuers than in the US. Even though Kia US sales are about 31,000 to Canada’s 5000 units. Does that make any sense? Kia earns more revenue from the US but Canada gets more featuers and more and better exterior colors. I wonder why? It’s not like the population up there is greater than in the US. Besides, why waste money having better exterior colors when they have to deal with wayy more snow and salt. What is so special about cold Canada? There currency up there is a rip off!!! No way was the ugly wannabe Mercedes 08′ Amanti worth $35,000.
June 3rd, 2010 at 5:06 am
Whoa, give a little respect for our Canadian neighbors! True their currency is a ripoff, but buying a car in the US, and transferring it to Canada costs more. Our Canadian friends have to deal with much colder weather than us (I’m in Michigan. so not TOO much colder). Not to mention, they have to deal with downing comments from uninformed United States citizens. The Canadians are a proud, peaceful people. I honestly don’t see why people look at Canada in such a bad way. There is a reason Canadians get more features and colors. The reason is Kia Canada orders them that way. Kia Canada’s prices would probably drop quite a bit if they sold US spec vehicles. Remember, they get more features, but they PAY for them.
June 3rd, 2010 at 5:44 am
thanks, Greg, your right its all based on the way KIA Canada orders the vehicles for our market.
jtz – get your facts straight, where do you live, have you every been to Canada? Excuse me while I go out and shovel the snow off the drive in this 30C (86F) temperatures!
June 3rd, 2010 at 5:51 pm
Wow, cowelpic I had no idea the Sorento was only one point away from the ugly girly ride Rav-4. So where does the Subaru sit? The article made it seem as if the Sorento was about 5 points away from that girly ride of the Rav-4. Also did you guys hear? Ford is taking Mercury off life support. I never knew what was the point of keeping Mercury alive for such a long time anyway. “You gotta put Mercury on your list.” Good bye annoying commercial. Mercurys were always for women anyway…. just liek the Rav -4.
June 3rd, 2010 at 10:24 pm
Kia’s marketing legacy includes
Maniac – Salesman does a parody of “Flash dance) includes being drenched on a bucket of water.
Kia Hamster – for the Kia Soul. 3 Hamsters driving in a red pimped out 2010 Kia Soul. WHild the rest of the population are riding in Hamster wheels.
Kia Super Bowl -How you like them- 4 animal figurines come alive in human size factor. Enjoy their Lifestyle in Vegas and dance clubs. Reality is inverted back by a scene change and mother with her son drive the Sorento, while the four creatures return to their original forms which are teddy bears.
Kia A new Way to roll- Hip marketing fusing hip-hop with the Kia soul. Since the Kia Soul is Hip hop in style.
this is exactly what Kia needed. And whatever advertising agence they have using, they need to give them a raise in contract.
June 4th, 2010 at 5:11 pm
jtz – top ten from the Consumer SUV ratings: (July `10 issue)
1. Subaru Forester 2.5XT Ltd – 87
2. Toyota Rav4 Ltd (V6) – 83
3. Kia Sorento EX (V6) – 82
4. Toyota Rav4 (base, 4-cyl) – 82
5. Subaru Forester 2.5x – 82
6. VW Tiguan SEL – 80
7. Hyundai Sante Fe Ltd (V6) – 80
8. Honda CR-V EX – 76
9. Kia Sorento LX (4-cyl) – 75
10. Mitsubishi Outlander LS (4-cyl) – 73
June 14th, 2010 at 6:35 am
Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. Was the guy who wrote this STONED??
June 28th, 2010 at 5:47 am
Carl:
Chill out, please! I’m as white and nerdy as they come, and racism has never come to mind whenever I watch this commercial. The hamsters (not rats!) are representing people who are stuck in their daily rut and the Kia Soul is supposed to help them break out of it with this hip car. This is how I interpret the ad. I think the KKK members are much too busy wallowing in their bigoted ideology to pay attention to this ad.
July 1st, 2010 at 12:49 am
That is the dumbest shit I’v ever seen. You must have a bunch of stupid dumb ass motherfuckers in your advertising department. Just because of this stupid ass ad, I would not even think about buying a piece of shit of a car like a fucking KIA
July 1st, 2010 at 12:58 am
black car uh! Yea right black carl is a coward white racist motherfucker who thinks he is funny. Keep hiding behind those sheets black carl, because you are just as stupid as those sorry ass holes who work in the advertising department for KIA. I hope you sons of bitches go out of business.
July 1st, 2010 at 7:38 am
Oooh. You’re sthuch a sthcareweee guy, Big Rob. You kind of give me strong shivers on the backs of both of my fowwrrrarms.
July 11th, 2010 at 12:26 am
since day one kia aired the ‘hamsters’ commercials i’ve felt they were being racist. i agree with ‘black carl’… and im not black. i feel the kia hamster commercials are definitely aimed towards black people aka “hamsters”, which was a derogatory term used to call black people. and now they come out the with hip hop version with the hamsters in harlem? seriously not funny..
July 11th, 2010 at 1:38 am
You people are sick. This is what is wrong with the world today.
July 12th, 2010 at 2:56 am
Still Laughing! And I am 61 years old! Go figure.
David & Goliath really stoned the giant in this one. All Advertising Awards will surely go their way.
Genius, pure genius.
Nolasusan
July 14th, 2010 at 3:51 am
Well I’m black and I didn’t feel the commercial was racist at all – I loved it! People who spend their time looking for slurs and insults will find them even where there isn’t anything.
Just wanted to chime in so people wouldn’t think all blacks think like “Black Carl”. (who probably isn’t black anyway!) His kids probably cried because his over the top reaction frightened them!
July 14th, 2010 at 12:05 pm
Delightful, humorous and refreshing. The detractors, such as NYer are seeking political correctness even in a cute and funny video clip – must have nothing else to do or just angry at the world – losers.
Thanks KIA. I will buy a KIA for sure.
July 14th, 2010 at 12:10 pm
Big Rob will be fine – once he learns to speak English. Then, possibly, he will also learn to appreciate clean fun and humor – not just gutter English.
July 15th, 2010 at 7:50 pm
This ad is creative genius! I’ve played it about two dozen times. Made me want to buy a Kia Soul AND a hamster! LOL! Congrats to Kia and David and Goliath.
July 16th, 2010 at 3:04 am
Great idea KansasGirl. We will also buy a KIA and a Hamster. Certainly, they are smarter and cuter than the illiterate losers with their moronic comments above. Yes, and congratulations to David and Goliath.
July 17th, 2010 at 4:07 am
These commercials are so stupid! Seriously, did a two year old come up with this ad? Kia NEEDS a new marketing team! They all should be fired! The hamsters have NOTHING to do with cars!!! If I was ever going to buy a Kia, this commercial just ruined all chances of that ever happening.
July 17th, 2010 at 4:31 am
CLEARLY RACIST! TRYING TO SELL CARS TO HOODRATS! IT’S LIKE THEY ARE THE ONLY ONE’S THAT CAN AFFORD IT. SHOULD HAVE JUST USED MONKEYS LIKE THEY WANTED TO INITIALLY!
July 17th, 2010 at 4:33 am
WHAT I MEAN IS ……THEY ARE TRYING TO SAY THAT HOODRATS CAN’T AFFORD ANYTHING BUT A CHEAP ASS KIA! HOPE THEY REALLY ARE GOING OUT OF BUSINESS!
July 17th, 2010 at 10:31 pm
I agrre with black carl and big rob. as soon as i saw the commercial i said the white man was refering to black people as hood rats,superats,. the white man is a mf.
July 19th, 2010 at 4:47 am
This has to be one of the worst auto ads ever. I can not imagine what moron this ad would even appeal to. I think Kia needs to remember licensed drivers need to be at least 16. If 4 year olds could drive maybe you would have a potential audience for this crap.
July 19th, 2010 at 5:17 pm
I just signed on to congratulate David & Goliath. I thought Toyota hit the top, but the group at D & G got it. I was in advertising for years, so I am well aware of what it takes to find the right subject, words and then music. Reading the postings has been entertaining. I would say that few people realize that the words out of their head, via their mouth, reflects their IQ. For those who read more into this than was acually there, if you were connected to what is going on, you would know that hamsters were the popular pet this past year and the mechanical hamsters are all over stores. D & G incorporated a lot, obviously overlooked by many, into the commercial. I am guessing they hit the population age for which they aimed. Tthe rest of us love animals and appreciate good advertising.
July 20th, 2010 at 2:48 am
This is the CRAPPIEST, DUMBEST, MOST RETARDED ad for a vehicle I’ve ever seen, and I’ve seen a lot of Ford and Chevy commercials. This is not a good looking car. I’m sorry, anyone who likes the car or commercial is not normal, you need your head and eyes checked.
July 20th, 2010 at 5:26 am
“I’m sorry, anyone who likes the car or commercial is not normal, you need your head and eyes checked.” Don’t forget about the Cube, Juke, Civic, Accord, Crosstour and the HHR. Oh yeah we got to put ALLLLLLL the ugly cars to the kitchen table not just Kia. You know what, I feel like just doing that putting everyone to the kitchen table. So Ford and Chevy is orignal huh? The Fusion’s tailights came from the Subaru Lagacy’s. The Ford Edge’s tail lights came from the Forest. The Chevy Malibu headlights is a click and paste off the Mercedes C class’. The new Aveo is a click and paste from the Lancer’s face. The Ford Tarus’ face came from the 1999 or 2000 Nissan Altima’s face. I’m jtz, you thnk Kia is original I can get Nissan, Lexus, Infinti and Jaguar. I can get cars you never thought in your life looked like. Ford 500 and Audi A6 hint greenhouse. Jeep Grandcherokee, 1st generation Equinox hint tailights. Tundra, Honda Cr-Z, VW Iroc concept hint face. I can get Saab, Infinti, Lexus, Jaguar and Audi. 1st generation Toyota Rav-4, Nissan Juke hint exterior designs. Mazda Tribute and Honda Ridgeline hint headlights. I’m jtz, I can get any make from a to z. I notice alllll designs and from alll Manufacters. No design can trick me. None at all. See if you can get these side profiles, Honda Passport, Izuzu Rodeo, 1999 Lexus RX, 1st generation Acura MDX, Mercedes M class, Chevy Equinox, Toyota 4 Runner, Venza and Chevy Blazer, Hyundai Veracruz yet ONLY the 2003 Kia Sorento was a copy cat out of the 11.
2004 Acura TL and Current Chevy Malibu hint greenhouse. So lets see I got Honda, Lexus, Toyota, Nissan, Izuzu, Ford, Chevy opps I forgot Nissan. 2011 Infitni M and 2009 LaCross hint greenhouse. Now I got them. Nissan Z, Poruche Cayyenne and Audi TT hint greenhouse. I told ya I’m JTZ how you gonna talk about Kia when the Nissan Sentra, Saturn Ion and 2005 Mazda 3 have simiular greenhouses. How you gonna talk when the Mazda 5′s face came from the Toyota Sienna’s. How you gonna talk when the Jeep Campass, Toyota Rav-4, Mazda 3 hatach and Outlander look alike from the side? As for commercials I can care less about what you think about the commercial. Chrysler 300 takes after the Rollsroyce.
July 20th, 2010 at 5:27 am
If you still blind BJB BKB whatever you wanna be called let me know so I can be sure to tell you the 2009 Ford Focus’ headlights came from the Nissan Quest’s
July 21st, 2010 at 8:14 pm
By far the most annoying commercial currently on the air. As soon as I see this commercial starting I cringe and the few times it’s played in the movie theater I wanted to cry. The song is annoying as are the hamsters. Can’t wait for this one to be taken off the rotation!
July 22nd, 2010 at 1:17 am
Lol if you think this commercial is annoying you should look at the Kia K5 commercial with the stupid beeping on YouTube. That is the most annoying commercial I have ever seen.
July 26th, 2010 at 5:51 am
Love! Love! Love the new “This or That” tv commercial!!! It is very SMART and WELL DONE!!!
July 28th, 2010 at 7:01 pm
Are blacks the only group KIA is trying to appeal to now?
July 28th, 2010 at 9:50 pm
First of all I want to say, my husband bought me the 2009 Borrego last year, and I absolutly LOVE IT!!! Second of all I love the new hamster commercial, I use to turn the channels when commercials came on, but now I watch them to wait for the new Kia Soul commercial to come on, and when it does, the volume goes up and me and my daughter get up and sing and dance along with the hamsters, we love watching them. Whoever does your marketing (AWESOME!), make sure you keep them, they are doing a really great job. I’m proud to say I own a KIA!!! And I also feel safe riding around with my daughter in it. Thanks Kia for making great vehicles and intertaining, eye catching commercials
July 28th, 2010 at 10:04 pm
It’s really said to see all the negativity on here. What ever happened to if you can’t say nothing nice then don’t say nothing at all!!! If you don’t like it, turn the channell, that simple!!!The only people on here that are not normal are the ones critizing others and Kia. And as for the black and white, grow up and get a life. it has nothing to do with color. People like you is what is keeping racism in this century. i am white, make great money and could have bought a Lexus or Mercedes, but my husband bought me the new Kia Borrego and I love it and would not trade it for nothing other than another Borrego. I support Kia all the way!!!!
July 28th, 2010 at 10:08 pm
Your husband is smart Crystal L, why buy a every .5 on a road, Lexus RX or Mercedes M class when you can get the rare Kia Borrego?
July 28th, 2010 at 10:37 pm
You know, the Hyundai Smoke is Black, and he REALLY, REALLY, REALLY LOVES this Hamster Commercial. If KIA did intend for these Hamsters to be Black People, then fine. Its a great way to get the Hip Hop culture on TV in a car commercial, which car companies usually shun the Hip Hop culture. Its not like they were doing anything degrogatory. They were wearing comfortable (urban) dress, which I wear at times too. They didnt say anything Derogatory at all. They were just rapping harmlessly.
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As the car companies shun the hip hop culture, its no wonder why its hard to close on a young person.
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People are concerned about this, when outside of: Hyundai/KIA, GM, VW, Chrysler there’s a total absence of Blacks in the car industry period. If Aliens came to Earth tomorrow and wanted to study human culture on the automobile being planted in Automotive companies many of those Aliens would think that Blacks didnt exist at all on Earth.
July 28th, 2010 at 10:39 pm
Now think about that, to those who complain about this commercial.
July 28th, 2010 at 11:07 pm
Being able to buy a KIA has nothing to do with being a Broke Ass Butt Ass Poor Hood Rat, guys. Its about being smart, up to date, who wants drive a weak looking
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By the way, I grew up REALLY POOR (and only realized how poor we were when I grew up), and trust me Mom and Dad wouldnt even have been able to afford a Used KIA much less a brand new KIA. AND THAT WAS BACK IN THE DAYS WHEN KOREAN CARS WERE SUPER CHEAP!!! The Bus, the Subway, the light rail, my Feet was my KIA, was my Hyundai.
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Maybe that’s why I love this company, they are an underdog company pulling themselves up-Just like The Hyundai Smoke.
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This company will be Luxury in 20 years, and you will regret the day you said this was a cheap ass company.
July 28th, 2010 at 11:08 pm
<<<<Weak Looking: VW, a Horrid Looking Honda, etc…
July 28th, 2010 at 11:14 pm
Speaking about sweet but cheap. Did you guys know that on the KIA website you can go configure a 2011 Optima which starts at $18,495. Talk about a Sweet deal, damm.
July 29th, 2010 at 4:49 pm
What my boy HyundaiSmoke said ” GM, VW, Chrysler there’s a total absence of Blacks in the car industry period.”
I told ja, there is no black man in any Caddaliac commercials. And speaking of commercials, I’m more offeneded by the new Chrysler commercail because the white man is acting like a black minister!!! Now why didn’t they just get a black man to play that roll? I went all over to Chrylser blogs and didn’t see anyone offened by it. But if Kia did that, it would be another 50 commets about how they are offeneded by the new Chrysler commecrial on here. I’m black too. The problem is haters are running out of negative things to say about Kias; as a result, they are looking for every LITTLE thing they can say negative. Obviously, I killed the “Koreans are the only ones copying” negative statement, so what’s left? That’s what is.
The next optima starts at $18,495, get the f**k outta here? You can buy an attrative and rare and less expensive ride than an every .5 of a second seeing on the road, Camry, Accord, and Altima?
To HyundaiSmoke: Are you offeneded by the Chyrlser commercial like me? Think about it: White folks, in a white background and a white minister mocking a black preacher but most of the time all I see is blacks driving Chargers, Avengers, and 300Cs in the Hood. Speacking of Chrysler, the Caliber’s tailights is on the Nissan Sentra’s.
July 30th, 2010 at 7:12 am
Really. This is your idea of a commercial that will sell cars to people who have jobs and good credit? It says “at Kia our best customers are rodent thugs for whom owning a Kia is one step up from a wheel or cardboard box.” Yes, I know when I get up to go to work everyday, I would feel good getting in my blinged out vermin mobile, if only as a metaphor for the daily return to the “rat race”. Perhaps not. And if that weren’t enough of a wholly absurd and off-putting thought, then let’s please also consider the obviously negative racist subtext of the commercial which in and of itself is phenominally offensive. Yes, comparing the urban rap set to rodents cruising rundown neighborhoods is sure to be considered complimentary. Well likely not.
July 30th, 2010 at 10:13 pm
Really, I thought the cardboard boxes represented boring and every .5 of second seeing on the road Camry, Corolla, Civic and Accords? Why else would the Soul’s word be called a “A New Way To Roll” The Soul is a new design that that stands out. BTW your metaphors suck Annette. Cardbroad boxes as poor people’s cars sure. So what is the toaster for than?
Whatesle Annette says:”Kia our best customers are rodent thugs for whom owning a Kia is one step up from a wheel or cardboard box”
Really? How can the 2011 Kia Optima, the first car in its class to have rear heated and cool seats, panaramic sunroof, 2.0L Turbo with more horses than the Camry, looks better than anything in and above its class, have a 10 year warrenty, have an good mpg, starts under $19,000 for a base price, has 18′ rims, and will have UVO installed be one step away from a cardborad box? If that’s so, why in S. Korea is the K5/Optima outselling the Sonata for the first time? Your metaphors really suck!!!
July 30th, 2010 at 10:22 pm
If Kia is one step away from a cardborad box, why did the 2011 Kia Sorento outsell the EDGE and Equinox and the Toyota Rave-4? If Kia is one step away from a box, why did HKAG outsell Huh-da and Toyota in Europe, Why did they outsell Ford for the first time Globally? Why because they cheap, Saturn was cheap too why did they go out of business huh? Why didn’t Daewoo do good in the states under its own badge huh? If they are cardboard boxes, why was the 2011 Kia Optima a hit at the NYAS? Why is the Sorento rated one of the best quality CUVs in its clas even better than the Edge? If Kia is cardboard boxes, why is the Soul better than the 2nd generation Scion XB, Why is it outselling the Cube? If Kia is cardborad boxes, why did they build up a plant in the states? If Kia is cardborad boxes, why is it that the K7 has a bigger panaramic sunroof than the LaCross? Why is it that the 11′ Sporatage has more panaramic sunroof than the GMC Accadia? If Kia is cardborad boxes, why isn’t Toyota no longer treated HKAG like cheap boxes? Why is toyota now treating Kia like a serious rival then Huh? If they are cardborad boxes, why is it that they are coming out with hybrids that will have more mpg than the Toyota? If Kia ia cardborad boxes why did the Borrego have class leading mpg better than automakers who been making V8s for years? If Kia is cardbroad boxes, why is it that VW is copying kia buy making animal like front bumpers for their faces? Why did Ford design the 2012 Ford Explorer to look like the 2005 Kia Mesa? If Kia is cardborad boexes, why is it that the Forte got a 5 star rating better than the Corolla? Why is it that the Sorento is safer than the EDGE? Why is it that Kia is developing stop and start idle engines? If Kia is cardboard boxes, why is it that the K7 can out perform the Lexus ES? Why is it that the K5 can out perform the Toyota Camry? Explain that?
July 30th, 2010 at 10:49 pm
Well jtz, I didnt see those commercials, however Dodge does have Ralph Giles in Charge who is Black, Hyundai has Andre Hudson who is Black and one of its Head Designers, GM has a Black guy running Cadillac, VWAG has Black PR guys, but other than that Blacks dont exist in this business for the most part. Look at the writers for the major blogs like Autoblog, Motor Trend, etc… none of them are Black. By the way, I got permabanned from Autoblog for stating this fact, WHICH IS TRUE. Its not like its a slanderous allegation either.
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Im sorry but this is America you want to do business here YOU MUST HIRE BLACKS!!! I really like playing around with cars, even though my College Education is in Social Work. i do plan on getting an Automotive degree soon enough, as I see this as a second gig.
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Annette Please, I dont know how old you are but everybody wears hoodies and baggy clothes these days even Goths and EMOs. You showed your Bias by calling them thugs, and you showed how out of touch you are as well. I know younger guys who go to work in business suits including myself who come home, and take off those suits and the first thing they put on are clothes JUST LIKE THE SOUL HAMSTER COMMERCIAL!!!!
July 30th, 2010 at 10:49 pm
Huh. (Ditto)
July 30th, 2010 at 10:51 pm
Not just in America, but Hyundai Europe has a Black Chick running Euro Interior design. She designed the Tucson Interior.
July 31st, 2010 at 4:15 pm
I love this ad and hope you guys can develop it into a full length movie. I don’t get the issue with blacks carrying such a big chip on their shoulders that they see racism in everything. This ad is just fun. I’m not a rapper, but the hamsters and the animation are simply amazing. More, more more…. I’m not sure it motivated me to by a car or even a hamster, but I love the ad!
August 1st, 2010 at 3:21 am
Well there is a lot of Racism in America, but in this ad its not the case. As a matter of fact this ad casts a shadow of fun on the hip hop culture.
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It’s about opportunity. If a group of people lack true sustainable opportunity due to discrimination, then they will see everything in the general society as a whole out to get them. It’s “If they discriminate against me on a job, then why wouldnt they do something as simple as make fun of my people in an ad too.” Blacks do not feel included, and hiring a couple of Black big whigs to say “Hey we got Blacks” is not going to cut it anymore. You’re going to have to have Blacks in every position in every company, in every neighborhood in America, etc….Hyundai/KIA does it from the sales to techinical positions, etc… Why cant everybody else?
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People hate this Race Issue, but its too bad as race and opportunity is what’s going to hold America back. Most of the Baby Boomers who are working and leaving the workforce are White. The Gen Y’s coming into the workforce in the US are mostly Minority. Its a sea change that’s going to be equivalent to the Berlin Wall falling down, and the whole world will be watching too. Do you want a bunch of people who now make the majority of the population to have little, while the Minority group lives in enclaves hidden behind gates like in South Africa or Brazil has a lot, and its seen as tough titty to everybody else? “I got mines, and if you dont have yours then tough titty” is the attitude in America right now.
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Its destroyed Brazil and South Africa. Dont let it destroy America becuase it will, and America will cease to exist as a superpower under the whims of China and Europe doing whatever THEY TELL US TO DO.`
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That’s why Minorities especially Blacks must be seriously (NOT BS programs) helped along.
August 1st, 2010 at 3:37 am
This is a Global World, and America is LAUGHABLY AND DISGRACFULLY getting left in the dust playing White Supremacy. The plan is for every country in the world to one day turn into a diverse stew (not melting pot) that America is. In the future it will be normal for an Ohioan to move to Guangzhao province in China for work, and someone from Shanghai to move to Kinshasa to work.
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This whole Illegal Immigration debate is comical as soon enough, all of the countires in the world will be under regional governmental bodies. If the US, Mexico, Canada, and the rest of the smaller countires in Central America were to form a North American Union. Immigrants from the Latin American Portion of North America will flood into the US and Canada, and like Europe with Eastern European Immigrants flooding into Western Europe they will be citizens, so therefore there’s nothing you can do about it.
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America wants to play 1950, while the rest of the world is moving towards 2050.
August 3rd, 2010 at 4:18 am
Whats so funny is Kia has no clue that Hamster was a term used for over 30 years in NY as a substitute for the “N” word…..
August 3rd, 2010 at 7:21 am
quite frankly, this is one of the most ingenious ad campaigns i’ve seen in a long time.
it has been demonstrated in the ad business that a commercial or advertisement with animals in it will be remembered by 85% of its audience after the FIRST viewing. check.
the music is catchy because of its underlying RHTHYM. that hooks a subliminal place in your brain no matter what any peripheral b.s. is projected on it. again, another HIGHLY effective hook in advertising.
this ad campaign is BRILLIANT. people who are projecting all kinds of other ridiculous imaginings onto it are going to find something to complain about in EVERYTHING.
i see NOTHING in it that’s racist. there is nothing in it that is pejorative to anyone. it’s cute, it’s fun, and it’s successful.
i really hope that there will be many more of these imaginative, ingenious and just plain adorable commercials. they’re winners all the way around.
August 4th, 2010 at 5:01 am
Hey, all you haters – Kia had the best sales month for the Soul EVER the month after this supposedly racist commercial came out. Hahaha. I saw a video on youtube of this 3 year old who watches the commercial and then runs around the house singing “DO…….DAH……..DIPPITY.” It is SO cute.
August 4th, 2010 at 12:38 pm
This is another reason why I like Kia because of the haters. If I owned a Huh-da or Toyota and went to their blogs, I would find the blogs boring since way more people praise Huh-ads and Toyotas more than HKAG. I love it when my Forte makes people mad. The Corolla can’t do that!!! Haters is what makes this blog not boring especially since this blog ain’t up to date about Kia anymore.
August 4th, 2010 at 10:16 pm
I just saw the 2012 Chevy Orlando. All it is is an Isuzu Axiom design. But since it’s a chevy, people are going to pretend they don’t see the Axiom. If it were a Kia, the words “Kia is always copying “would appear in several sentences and ignoring the fact that the 2012 Ford Explorer design came from the 2005 Kia Mesa.
August 5th, 2010 at 4:37 am
I just been on youtube, According to the commets on there, there is way more people who love the new Soul Commercial than think it’s racist. It’s not even a comparison. It like comparing the Soul’s sales to the Cube’s in July.
August 5th, 2010 at 6:42 am
Honda and Toyota=YAWN
August 5th, 2010 at 10:06 pm
Guess what? The Kia Sorento is still top ten best selling CUVS, beating the every .5 seeing on the road, Murano, Lexus RX as well as the Highlander that took the Saturn L300′s HEADLIGHTS!!!
August 5th, 2010 at 10:17 pm
I’m sort of shocked the Subaru Forester didn’t make top 10. Speaking of being shocked, why is it that the Ford Escape outsold the Edge? Oh well, as long as the new Sorento outsold the Explorer, Mazda CX-7 and 9, Forester, Nissan Marano, Lexus RX, Honda Element (ugly looking thing) I’m cool with that. However, I’m very shocked to see that none of Hyundai’s sedans made 10 ten. The elantra came in 11th. Now how could the Elantra outsell the Sonata? Could it be that more people are waiting for the K5 to debut?
A new thought just came to mind. When the next Sportage arrives, do you think the Sorento can remain the 10 ten best selling CUVs or do you think the Sportage will just take over. It would be good for both Hyundai and Kia to see two Korean CUVs to be listed as top 10 best selling CUVs in a month togather. With having both Kia’s CUVs to be top 10 that means someone will have to be booted out!!! Can the UVO keep two Kias as top 10 best sellers?
August 6th, 2010 at 5:24 am
Hey who thinks the ugly civic is original? Well it’s not. The headlights is a knockoff from the last Mazda 6 and the Pontiac GTO. Huh-da just designed the hood to look different so that the headlights could get away from copying. Speaking of copying don’t let GM fool you to thinking that they did a good job differing their cars because they didn’t. What other GM sedan has the Saturn Aura’s greenhouse? It’s the 2010 LaCross. And the G8 not only copied the 2004 altima’s greenhouse but is also on the Lucern’s as well. Does the Forte’s greenhouse look like the Next Elantra? Does the K7′s house look like the Genesis? The Enclave’s taillights came from the 2002 Corolla’s. All GM did was clone from different segments instead of the same like how the LaCross used to be an Impala. If HKAG was doing this people would say, “Hyundais and Kias still look alike” ignoring the fact that the Outlook and the Accadia look more alike than the Sorento looks like the Sante Fe. It can’t fool me. Also the New Accord Coupe’s taillights came from the Audi A6′s and the Accord sedan’s tailights came from the current Focus’. I also see Huhda and Toyota seem to have the same signature headlights. Look at the Corolla’s and Element’s headlights. Those lights look more alike than the Forte’s looks like a Civic’s.
August 7th, 2010 at 10:55 am
It is fascinating to see that most of the comments that are negative and hateful are written by “victims” and contain a pronounced lack of familiarity with the English language. Apparently, those who find the charming KIA ad offensive are illiterate, unemployed and resort to obscenities when words fail them. It is a sad comment on our society.
Believe me, not everyone who has a sense of humor is a racist and there is not a racial insult behind every ad. It seems, however, that the victims, spewing obscenities above, don’t have a sense of humor.
Cheer up losers! Get a job and make something out of yourselves. Above all, learn to speak English. You will be surprised how much this will help. Why, one day you may make enough money to buy a KIA…
August 10th, 2010 at 12:20 am
Bendy, come on. That whole English and Job argument is quite uneccessary.
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What’s the deal in this country now when somebody has a contrary argument to your beliefs people accuse them of being a moron, unintelligent, or whatever? NO THEY JUST THINK DIFFERENTLY THAN YOU DO, AND THAT’S PERFECTLY OK AND HEALTHY!!!
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Oh course this commercial isnt Racist, but their argument has brought out the reasons why they would think such a thing. Well, at least the reasons I mentioned about opportunity and visibility.
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My Quote:
“It’s about opportunity. If a group of people lack true sustainable opportunity due to discrimination, then they will see everything in the general society as a whole out to get them. It’s “If they discriminate against me on a job, then why wouldnt they do something as simple as make fun of my people in an ad too.” Blacks do not feel included, and hiring a couple of Black big whigs to say “Hey we got Blacks” is not going to cut it anymore. You’re going to have to have Blacks in every position in every company, in every neighborhood in America, etc….Hyundai/KIA does it from the sales to techinical positions, etc… Why cant everybody else?”
August 27th, 2010 at 3:06 pm
when are the hamsters are going to make public appearance in the st louis mo area
November 8th, 2010 at 2:01 am
haha, you know “hamster” is a derogatory term for black people right? I can’t believe that people aren’t flipping out about this…
November 10th, 2010 at 8:48 pm
I love this commercial. It is cute, happenin and full of soul. I can’t believe some people have soooo many entries in here bashing and fighting. Get a hobby
November 17th, 2010 at 1:15 am
I have not heard that hamster is a term for black people. I thought they were trying to portray that KIA owners are cool. I don’t however think that thugs or thug looking hampsters are cool.
December 5th, 2010 at 8:08 am
Referring to Geico…
December 13th, 2010 at 6:51 am
The hamster commercial is idiotic at best…who are they really trying to advertise to? I am quite sick of seeing a commercial that seems to be directed at attracting the attention of elementary school children. This is almost as shallow as the commercials with the stuck up little kid claiming his parent’s vehicle is dorky and reflects on him, so he eagerly jumps in his friend’s family car and compliments it; nice to see advertisers are trying to get the youth of America to be shallow and possession oriented, while at the same time making negative comments about families on fixed budgets that try to keep older vehicles running because they can’t afford the ‘new and improved’ vehicle being advertised…pure garbage.
December 14th, 2010 at 6:31 pm
well, it’s not my type of music. I am suspecting that some may be racially offended by the commercial, but all that aside I really think that however practical the vehicle is, it really isn’t much different in styling (if I dare use that term) from the cardboard box, the toaster or the washing machine in the ad. It’s a box with windows.
December 15th, 2010 at 5:44 pm
A box with windows? when you saw the Hummer H2 and H3 was it also a box with Windows? When you saw the Honda Element was that a box with windows? When you saw the Scion XB was that too a box with windows? What about the Mini cooper huh? What about the Cube isn’t that a box with windows? That’s right Rob you bring out the Korean box, I’m bringing all the others to the kitchen table too. Also add the Mercedes G class into the BOX WITH WINDOWS. But only the Soul is the copy cat because its Korean. Please, And if the Soul isn’t that much of a different in styligh why did it win the Red Dot award huh? A cardbroad box? Why did the Soul outsell that Cube and XB?
December 16th, 2010 at 1:01 am
All of the vehicles you listed look like boxes with windows. This is coming from a fan-boy. The Soul won Red Dot because it is the box-with-windows that has the most personality. But it still looks like a box with windows.
December 16th, 2010 at 5:57 am
So what you gonna say now? Are you going to STFU like Pat on the Picanto Rendering? Or are you going to remain biased and finish your 5 month old racist commets with the others. Hey Rob you want to know what’s not biased? Regardless of what you think of the commercial the Soul is Kia’s top 5 best seller globally. So go ahead and keep commeting about the commercial what’s that going to do? I’ll tell you not a damn thang hamster boy! And I’m African American. Oh yeah add the Ford Flex, Chevy Groove, Dodge Nitro, and Jeep Commander with the other boxes with windows too. But only the Soul got the Red Dot design out off allllllllllll the Boxes with windows.
December 24th, 2010 at 2:24 am
I DO NOT LIKE THE COMMERCIAL FOR KIA SOUL. I THINK IT IS RACIST, STEREOTYPICAL AND DOWNRIGHT OFFENSIVE. IT REMINDS ME OF THE TERMS “RATS AND HOODRATS.”
March 5th, 2011 at 7:37 pm
I don’t understand the rats… Maybe that’s what you get if you buy a non-American made car. ????
March 14th, 2011 at 3:32 pm
Umm, are we the the rats? And for the record hamsters are rats/rodents. Duh! Might wanna rethink positioning potential customers as any kinda rodents. The people buying cars are not 12 yrs old and most not impressed by dancing rats.
March 14th, 2011 at 9:54 pm
Hamsters are rats? I didnt’ know that. Hey Mlm.Interesting very very intersting. I’m so glad you guys put your opinions on here. You know why? I had no idea that this could be looked at in both ways. This is just totally amazaing. I wonder if the next Soul commercial is going to have the hamsters or will they just ax them out. Think about it. Kia workers I’m sure come on here so if you keep it up, I’m sure the next commercial will not include the hamsters. I mean Kia doesn’t want to hurt or offend Patty, M tort or mlm. Maybe they thought since no one bitched aobut the Frist commercial, they thought the 2nd one would be better. I mean think about it. When someone makes a commercial or a movie doesn”t the sequal suck? So maybe Kia got too carried away wifh the 2nd commercial. But don’t worry guys who got offended, I’m sure this commercial is not on air anymore but if it is, the facelfited Soul will arrive soon and it will have a different commercial. After all, we are people not animals right guys?
April 13th, 2011 at 5:55 pm
Seriously how the heck can talking about or doing what blacks do racist? I mean how are they more different to white people, yellow people fricken olive people. seriously wtf is wrong with you guys? So if you put an ad about what white people do is that racist? fckin dickheads
May 19th, 2011 at 3:59 pm
Hamsters used to be a cute little animal for little children to enjoy. You’ve turned them into THUGS. Great!!!!!!!! Get a heart, it’s not worth the money at the expense of the impression it makes on little children.
August 17th, 2011 at 9:57 pm
I’m a senior citizen who feels strongly drawn to the Soul; NOT for the technological features (I couldn’t care less about EVO, MP3, USB files, GPS, IPODS, “smart phones”, GPS or automatic booty wipers) – - but for the comfortably stylish interior space and fuel economy of this subcompact hatchback-wagon. My only concern at this point is the question of build quality and reliability.
August 18th, 2011 at 1:24 am
Single worst commercial I’ve ever seen. It is disgusting, annoying, catchy for the worst reasons, and makes me never want to purchase ANY Kia product, let alone the Soul. Just makes me want to vomit every time I see it. Please step it up Kia with more classic commercials that make me actually inclined to think of Kia as a competitor to other companies as opposed to the lowest of the low.
September 14th, 2011 at 7:37 pm
this commercial is clearly racist. It has two rodents who are clearly meant to be ethnic minority individuals dancing and being ‘cool’. I will not purchase a kia ever. It is what it is.
September 14th, 2011 at 10:44 pm
I seriously get a big laugh out of those idiots. They are always so victimized! Oh, a silly cartoon car commercial is attacking my ethnicity! Please don’t buy a Kia, then. Afterall, you are the type of people think a car company should cover oil changes and windshield wipers under warranty! Kia doesn’t need your worthless (probably counterfeit) money! LMFAO!
January 21st, 2012 at 6:51 pm
The party anthem commercial with the robots is beyond retarded. Makes no sense, I’d never buy a Kia anyway, but to compare them to hamster cages, certainly isn’t making me feel any safer behind the wheel.