More Car Dealers Should Hire Women … Like Iliza Shlesinger
These funny ads point out the disparity in auto sales, and the opportunity
Cars are fun. Buying a car is not fun. And anyone who says this is deeply mistaken. The evidence is all there: women buy or influence the purchase of 85% of all new cars. And they’d rather have a root canal than buy a car. The car dealer experience leaves many with a distaste for cars altogether.
But what if the salesperson at the car dealership was fun? Made you giggle? Was blunt with the truth? Allowed you to have fun on the test drive, such as driving on an off-road trail or taking a spin on a muddy route? That is the idea in this new ad from Jeep starring comedian Iliza Shlesinger—which you can see here.
This story is 100% human-researched and written based on actual first-person knowledge, extensive experience and expertise on the subject of cars and trucks.
I Have SO Many Thoughts About This, I Don’t Know Where to Start
Last year, Jeep went out on a limb and put comedian Iliza Shlesinger in an ad, playing on the idea that the space in the Jeep Grand Wagoneer makes it an ideal car for, uh, romance. The ad was cleverly crafted, featuring Iliza pitching skeptical ad agency execs on a campaign idea and she played the bit brilliantly. It was the most fun and funniest car ad of the year.
So the company came back with Iliza and some of the cast to take the idea to the next level. No, not the romance, but the sales pitch. Now, the campaign puts her in the sales showroom of the Jeep Grand Wagoneer, demonstrating its features to customers and accompanying them on test drives.
Read: For 2026 the Jeep Grand Wagoneer Got A Makeover and Now It’s More Jeep, Exactly as It Should Be
Why We Love Iliza In Jeep Grand Wagoneer’s Ads
She’s funny. She’s disarming. She knows how the car works, knows its features and what makes it great.
Of course, the ads take a lot of creative license; the language isn’t what we’d expect from buyers or sellers. The red light mask, the audio book, the car wash guy at the end—not reality. But the idea of having fun, off-roading on a test drive, of bringing your dogs along, would go a long way toward convincing me to buy a Jeep Grand Wagoneer.
Read: 2026 Jeep Cherokee First Drive: The Cherokee is Back…Now Hybrid, Modern and of Course, All Jeep
What Iliza Doesn’t Do Also Wins Us Over
And then, there’s this: The one word she never mentions is ‘deal.’ And she never tells the customer she has to talk to her manager.
What the ads don’t do is poke at the weaknesses in the dealership sales process, the part people hate, the time spent in the finance office, and the often-talking-down-to customers that they experience.
Read: 8 Things a Service Advisor Says to Get You to Pay More For Car Repair
Leading With Real, Relatable Culture Is a Great Start
Diffusing the tension that customers bring to a dealership creates a nice tone and humor is the perfect way to do it. Make the customer laugh, foster an environment that feels fun and vibrant rather than a hear-a-pin-drop silent showroom with shiny floors and precious cars we’re afraid to touch. Please.
And, more women on the sales floor answering questions and telling the story of a new car in her way rather than the torque-and-horsepower and ugh, deal, that we’re all so used to (and resist).
Then, more reality: the stroller, the dogs, kids’ car seats, tote bags, game gear, rear seat passengers, phones, snacks (her charcuterie plate did look pretty appetizing, so I’d welcome that on a test drive). And, a saleswoman that 85% of customers can relate to. She doesn’t have to be Iliza, but it would be great if she were somewhat like her.
Now, can we talk about the service lane?
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