If most car ads are polished test drives through scenic valleys, Jeep just decided to take a detour through stand-up comedy.
And in the passenger seat? Iliza Shlesinger — comic, mom, and the first person bold enough to suggest that the 2026 Grand Wagoneer might just be “The Best Car To Have Sex In.”
Comedy Meets Capability
The brand’s new long-form reveal, “The Family SUV,” opens like a corporate pitch gone rogue.
Iliza walks into Jeep HQ armed with charm, chaos, and a pitch so steamy it could fog up the Wagoneer’s panoramic glass roof.
She riffs about mood lighting, massaging seats, and a sound system that could drown out any awkward noise — all delivered with that perfect Iliza mix of wit and mischief.
It’s not just a car reveal.
It’s a meta-ad about how car ads are made — and how far you can push a punchline before the marketing execs start sweating.
As Olivier Francois, Stellantis’s ever-game CMO, put it, “We wanted to make people smile.”
Mission accomplished — though a few viewers may be blushing too.
The Brand That Knows Its Wink
Jeep’s decision to let Iliza go off-script is a fascinating brand moment.
For decades, Wagoneer has been about old-money adventure: mahogany-panel nostalgia and rugged refinement.
This campaign adds something the category rarely sees — self-awareness.
By parodying the overly serious SUV reveal, Jeep signals that it understands the modern family SUV buyer: they’re juggling kids, chaos, and yes, the occasional romantic interlude between school runs.
It’s humour rooted in truth — something every parent watching instantly recognises.
From Off-Road to Off-Script
“The Family SUV” video lives primarily on Jeep’s social channels, with bite-sized edits for Instagram, TikTok, and X.
That’s where this kind of cheeky, self-referential humour thrives — short, shareable, slightly naughty but still brand-safe.
The approach feels closer to what a late-night host might do than a traditional automaker spot.
It’s reminiscent of how Ryan Reynolds blurs the line between spokesperson and storyteller for Aviation Gin or Mint Mobile — where the brand becomes part of the joke, not the punchline.
Lessons for Brands
Humour travels — honesty drives. Comedy works when it reflects reality. Iliza’s jokes land because the features she teases are real.
Social is the new Super Bowl. A well-timed TikTok clip now earns more cultural mileage than a million-dollar media buy.
Be brave enough to blush. In a category drowning in sameness, a little discomfort can create enormous recall.
Own your contradictions. Luxury, safety, sensuality — Jeep managed to fold them into one storyline without losing credibility.
Final Drive
Starting at under USD 65,000, the 2026 Grand Wagoneer resets Jeep’s flagship with new pricing and a more accessible personality.
But thanks to Iliza Shlesinger, it’s also managed to reset something more valuable — the brand’s sense of humour.
Because sometimes, the smartest way to sell a family SUV… is to remind people how families get started in the first place.
