10 of the best vehicle slogans ever written

We uncover some of the most iconic taglines in the history of motoring – but can you guess the brand?

A good slogan sticks with you long after you've heard it. The best ones? They become part of our everyday language, whether we realise it or not.

The automotive industry has given us some absolute classics over the years. From the cheeky and memorable to the downright genius, car manufacturers have spent decades crafting the perfect few words to sum up their brand.

Some have become so iconic that you probably know them word for word. Others might surprise you – especially when you find out which brand they belong to.

We've rounded up 10 of the most memorable vehicle slogans in motoring history. But here's the challenge: can you guess which brand each one belongs to before we reveal the answer?

Let's see how well you know your automotive advertising.

Everything we do is driven by you

After a tricky time in the '70s and '80s, this manufacturer's marketing people came up with this catchy little number. And if you find yourself inadvertently singing the slogan but aren't quite sure why, rest assured you aren't going mad.

In a genius move, they hit upon the idea of combining music and marketing in the early 1990s for their advertisements across their entire range.

But not just any music.

Not fond of doing things by halves, they enlisted the musical talents of Queen guitarist and owner of possibly the most enviable permed mullet in history (it's a thing), Brian May.

The result? A stonking advert featuring their iconic hot hatch, another hit for May and a slogan that's burned into our brains for all time.

Can you guess which brand this belongs to?

Answer: Ford

Though Mr May probably isn't driving a Ford Puma around the mean streets of London, you can still bag yourself a Ford lease and recreate the ad yourself.

The Power of Dreams

This manufacturer was clearly feeling all philosophical at the turn of the millennium when they adopted this inspirational slogan.

Conceived from a comment made by their founder, who stated "One must keep chasing one's dreams", their marketing team took what is essentially a regular cliché and made it their own.

The thinking behind the somewhat abstract tagline is simple – the power of dreams drives them to create "Intelligent products that enhance mobility and increase the joy in people's lives."

It's a pretty bold statement when you consider that for most of us, being in a car day to day is a fairly humdrum experience.

There's not much joy to be found in a traffic jam on the M5 after all…

Can you guess which brand this belongs to?

Answer: Honda

In fairness to Honda, the statement elevates the brand image to one of everyday practicality spliced with luxury – which is spot on for a Honda lease, we think.

The Best 4x4 by Far

From rugged off-roaders to premium family SUVs, there's no denying the practical and stylistic appeal of this brand's vehicles.

Beloved by farmers, country dwellers and yummy mummies everywhere, these cars are famed for their ability to get you from A to B, whatever the terrain.

Driving in the snow? No problem.

Chelsea in the middle of the school run? Easy as pie.

Even the British and Australian Armies have adopted them as one of their vehicles of choice.

And therein lies the beauty of this famous tagline – it's not only pleasingly rhythmic but is (in our opinion) actually true.

Simple but highly effective.

Can you guess which brand this belongs to?

Answer: Land Rover

Much like the iconic Land Rover itself – straightforward and gets the job done.

The Art of Performance

Following a damaging blip in their popularity in the 1970s, owing to a lack of manufacturing anything new, this luxury British brand upped their game in the '80s.

Under new leadership, they proceeded to rebuild their reputation and increase sales with a stroke of genius, frankly.

Rather than spending a fortune developing new models without any real idea if it would work, they tightened up their quality control and revamped their old models.

Their classic sports cars had been hugely coveted in the 1960s for their sporty looks and handling – so what better way to rebrand than to pinpoint these cars as cultural icons.

They drove their models firmly down the 'heritage' road – marketing them as works of art that held an important place in British motoring history – and it worked.

Can you guess which brand this belongs to?

Answer: Jaguar

The simple yet incredibly perceptive tagline encapsulates the idea of Jaguar being both aesthetically and technologically superior in one sentence.

We are not supercars, we are Lamborghini

Right, so the slogan sort of gives this one away, but let’s roll with it.

When the founder of this Italian brand complained to Enzo Ferrari about the dodgy clutch in his brand-new Ferrari, little did either of them know how the exchange would end.

Ferrari, comfortable with his dominance in the supercar market, ignored him.

So, like all determined car enthusiasts with a few million Lira to throw around, he decided to set up his own luxury sports car manufacturing business.

As you do.

But we all know how this story ends. It's safe to say that he didn't just succeed in his new venture – he utterly smashed it.

In fact, this brand is so popular that in 2021 every single car due to roll off the production line that year had sold out…by June.

Can you guess which brand this belongs to?

Answer: Lamborghini

The brand is synonymous with affluence. From other, less luxurious manufacturers, the slogan may sound arrogant but, in this case, it's just a simple statement of truth.

There is no substitute

Another gem from the premium automotive world, this beautifully self-confident statement is so spot on it's almost funny.

Long seen as the car of choice for anyone with a bit of nous and a true appreciation of all things vehicular, this German brand is the go-to luxury marque.

Anyone who has had the pleasure of driving one of their cars will attest to the superior driving experience and most agree that there really is no substitute.

Can you guess which brand this belongs to?

Answer: Porsche

We think Porsche have nailed it here. And with an iconic range that spans from the Cayman (affordable and sleek), through the Macan (big, boxy, beautiful), and right up to the iconic 911 (need we say more), there's sure to be a Porsche lease out there for every car connoisseur.

It's a Skoda, Honest

Another giveaway I’m afraid.

But a feather in this Czech brand's cap if ever we saw one.

Introduced in the 1990s, when the brand was bought out by Volkswagen, this tagline is almost solely responsible for turning around their fortunes.

At the time, they were notorious for being a dodgy budget brand – somewhat unfairly given that their build quality was actually very strong.

But, alongside Lada, the brand suffered at the hands of the '80s wave of consumerism. Nobody wanted cheap and cheerful back then and they became a running joke.

When Volkswagen intervened, tightening up quality control and launching the Felicia, they were confident that they had a great product.

The challenge, however, lay in changing the public perception.

By acknowledging their poor image, they suggested that they were in on the joke. Even better, they were suggesting that anyone who went so far as to buy one was somehow one step ahead of the game.

Can you guess which brand this belongs to?

Answer: SKODA

You don't need me to tell you how the story ended but just in case you've been living under a rock – it's a happy ending, with a SKODA lease representing one of the best and most affordable ways to get behind the wheel of a brand-new car.

The Ultimate Driving Machine

Possibly one of the most recognised slogans of any brand, this German manufacturer captured the attention of generations in just four simple words.

First introduced in 1973 as part of their marketing campaign, this moniker encapsulates everything that young drivers desired at the time.

And still to this day – a lease from this brand is one of the most popular ways to get your mitts on some of the latest and greatest automotive tech.

The emerging motorists of the early '70s were the first generation born after World War II, and they wanted a brand that offered not just mobility, but style and fuel efficiency too.

The slogan's focus on driving experience was confident and fresh and, as a result, truly resonated with consumers.

In fact, it was so popular that it remained the centre of their marketing campaign for decades to come and is still associated with the brand today, some 50 years later.

Can you guess which brand this belongs to?

Answer: BMW

Which goes to show that sometimes, a little bit of self-belief goes a very long way.

Vorsprung durch Technik

In 1969, German manufacturers Auto Union GmBH and Neckarsulmer NSU Motorenwerke merged to become what we now know as this vehicle powerhouse.

In the proceeding years, they have become one of the most trusted brands out there. One thing has endured through the decades: their tagline.

Literally translating as 'progress through technology', the slogan originated from an old advertising poster on a factory wall in Ingolstadt. It was coined by Sir John Hegarty who said, "I had no idea it would become popular. It said everything and nothing".

Little did they realise that not only would it become one of the most quotable slogans ever but also one of the most enduring – still going strong some 51 years after it first made an appearance.

The concept of progress through technology perfectly befits a luxury brand. More than that though, at the time, Germany was still trying to shake off the shadows of the Second World War – in Britain at least.

By employing the clean, straightforward phrase and refusing to translate it, they were staying loyal to their roots, whilst also portraying their key selling points of efficiency, quality and progress.

Can you guess which brand this belongs to?

Answer: Audi

After all, if it isn't broken – why fix it. And how many brands can claim the same longevity as Audi?

Come to think of it, how many brands can claim to have their slogan featured in a Blur song?

If only everything in life was as reliable as a Volkswagen

Another one where the brand name's right there in the slogan…

Given that this German manufacturer is behind some of the most successful vehicle brand relaunches ever, it's only fitting that they steal the top spot.

As slogans go, this may seem uninspiring at first glance but don't be fooled.

Their cars are, of course, loved for their reliability.

They are widely seen as the go-to brand for first-time drivers, families, and anyone wanting style, affordability and safety as standard.

Launched in 1987, the slogan hit the market at a time when the UK was craving reliability.

The AIDS epidemic dominated the news, Terry Waite went missing, Thatcher had been reelected, and heavy snow and storms gripped the country.

In a not-so-subtle move, they launched their new slogan to the background of a television advert featuring a scorned woman, throwing her engagement ring, pearls, and fur coat away but keeping her car…and driving away from her fiancé into the sunset.

The suggestion that all she needed was a good old car instead of the materialistic trappings of '80s consumerism resonated with many.

But they surpassed themselves and decided to cast actress Paula Hamilton – who at the time, bore an uncanny resemblance to Diana herself.

Can you guess which brand this belongs to?

Answer: Volkswagen

A bold statement that paid dividends in terms of VW's marketing prowess – and as far as we know, heads did not roll. We salute them!

How did you do?

So, there you have it – 10 of the most memorable vehicle slogans ever created, from the catchy to the confident, the clever to the downright cheeky.

Whether you got them all right or found yourself scratching your head at a few, there's no denying that a good slogan sticks around.

Some of these have been with us for decades, and we're willing to bet you'll find yourself humming "Everything we do is driven by you" at some point today.

The best automotive slogans don't just sell cars – they become part of our cultural vocabulary. And while the cars themselves might evolve (hello, electric revolution), the memorable taglines that made us fall in love with these brands in the first place live on.