The best (and worst) Christmas car videos of 2021

The Superbowl may lay claim to the most expensive and grandiose commercials each year, but Christmas is always a fun time for feel-good and sometimes funny videos from carmakers.

This year is a little different. Due to widespread stock shortages across the new-car industry, a number of car manufacturers have opted to spend less on their Christmas advertising, according to industry analysts.

"We will not be promoting the holiday season as we have been," Vice President of Cadillac Rory Harvey told Reuters, pointing out vehicle stock is currently at a third of normal levels.

But while there are fewer companies making Christmas videos this year, there are still some floating around. While some are great, others are better to poke fun at – like a bad joke shared at the dinner table. Here are the best – and worst – Christmas-themed car videos of 2021.

Hipster Santa

We weren’t joking when we said car companies were spending less. Audi has literally recycled its Christmas video from 2020 – taking down the original version and updating it to remove the camouflage wrap from Hipster Santa’s Audi RS E-Tron GT, now that the model has been fully revealed. Don’t believe us? Here’s a link to the original.

A Waltz at Christmas

German humour at its best, with Academy Award-winner Christoph Waltz trying to avoid being dragged along to BMW’s Christmas party at the company’s iconic Four Cylinder building. Australian YouTuber Supercar Blondie makes a cameo, as does British celebrity Alexa Chung.

Fastest Tree in the West

US performance tuner Hennessey started a tradition back in 2019 by trying to find out which vehicle can get your Christmas tree home the quickest.

John Hennessey tried to beat the 291km/h record set by a 756kW Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk SRT by using his own personal 559kW Porsche 911 Turbo S, but failed in this video released earlier in December.

Rather than accepting defeat, John borrowed his wife Hope’s 596kW Audi RS6 wagon and had another go.

Click here to watch the video on YouTube.

Holiday Ride

Fair warning – this short film is a tear-jerker. Chevrolet really tugged on the heart strings with this one, pointing out that the holiday period can be difficult for some. But there is a lovely message of hope and love, delivered via a 1966 Chevy Impala.

Santa's Stratos Sleigh

Trust British auction house Girardo & Co to come through with the goods. The storyline may be lacking, but when you have Santa absolutely ripping it in a Lancia Stratos rally car – with some impressive drone shots to boot – it’s easy to forgive the plot holes.

Keep an eye out for a cameo by a Subaru Impreza WRCar.

Click here to watch the video on YouTube.

Bonus: Christmas Harris

Collecting Cars co-founder and Top Gear presenter Chris Harris pokes fun at the recent social media trend of roof-mounted Christmas tree delivering, while giving a quiet nod to competitors over at Girardo & Co.