Here it is – Holden’s brilliant new VF Commodore. Not only is this the best Australian-made car, the Commodore truly is world-class.
Consider the technology. Reversing camera, lane departure and blind spot warning, rear traffic alert, auto self-parking – many imported cars costing twice as much don’t include so much.
And talking dollars, VF Holden Commodore costs between $5,000 to $10,000 less than equivalent VE models.
New Commodore looks better inside and out, drives brilliantly thanks to ‘best-practice’ engineering and a passion from the folks at Holden to make this a global car. Of course the SS Commodore is heading to America in left-hand drive as the all-new Chevrolet SS.
And much of the technology isn’t at first apparent. Aluminium is used for the bonnet and boot (a first for an Australian car) and also in the instrument panel – Holden pared 70kgs from the VF Commodore compared to the VE.
VF Holden Commodore Overview
Big news in the all-new Commodore range is the demise of the Omega. Introduction of the VF sees the entry model called the Evoke. The 3.0-litre SIDI V6 Evoke specifications highlight how advanced the VF Commodore range really is with standard inclusions like Rear-View camera, Auto Park Assist, front/rear park assist, Hill-Hold Control, Hill-Start Assist, Trailer Sway Control and ISOFIX child seat anchors and the MyLink infotainment system with its eight-inch colour touch-screen.
Moving upscale, the technology additions include world-class safety items like Lane Departure Warning, Blind-Spot Assist, Reverse Traffic Warning and Forward Collision Warning – the sort of technologies which only a few months back were seen only in premium European vehicles.
SV6 (3.6-litre SIDI V6) and SS (Gen IV V8) add sports bodywork, 18-inch alloy wheels, LED DRLs, sports seats, Blind-Spot Alert and Reverse Traffic Alert.
SS V is exclusively powered by the 6.0-litre V8 and gains leather sports seats, 19-inch alloy wheels, front fog-lights, satellite navigation, colour digital instrument display, eight-speaker audio and a DVD player.
For the SS V Redline you can tick Brembo brakes, 19-inch alloy wheels, FE3 sports suspension, nine-speaker Bose audio (sedan only), colour Head-up Display, Forward Collision Alert and Lane Departure warning.
The luxury 3.6-litre Calais includes premium styling additions and chrome highlights, leather seats, 18-inch alloy wheels, LED DRLs, colour digital instrument display, Blind Spot Alert and Reverse Traffic Alert.
Calais V goes further with the 6.0-litre V8 engine, eight-way electronic adjustment for the drivers’ seat, 19-inch alloy wheels, Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Alert, nine-speaker Bose audio (sedan only), satellite navigation, DVD player and heated front seats.
The VF Holden Commodore sedan range looks like this:
Evoke (automatic only) $34,990
SV6 (manual) $35,990
SS (manual) $41,990
SS-V (manual) $45,490
SS-V Redline (manual) $51,490
Calais (automatic only) $39,990
Calais V V6 (auto only) $46,990
Calais V V8 (auto only) $52,990
For Sportwagon prices add $2,000 (Sportwagon is automatic transmission only) and for automatic transmission prices of those models shown with manual prices, add $2,200.
Turning to the VF Holden Commodore ute, opening the batting is the Ute, priced at $32,990 (down by $2,500) and including the reversing camera, Auto Park Assist and front/rear parking sensors, and the MyLink infotainment system
VF Holden Commodore ute goes sporty with the SV, priced from $32,990 (down by $5,500) and featuring sport exterior mods, LED DRLs, projector headlights, 18-inch alloy wheels and sports seats inside. Underneath is the FE2 sports suspension and a limited slip differential for manual transmission models. On the technology front, the SV6 ute gains Reverse Traffic Alert and Blind Spot Alert.
SS drops by $3,500 to $38,990 and runs the same specifications as the SV6 ute but offcourse gains the Gen IV V8 powerplant.
SS-V Series starts at $42,490 (down by $5,000) and adds 19-inch alloy wheels, leather seats, satellite navigation and the colour multi-function display for the driver.
Range-topper is the SS V Redline (down by $1,500) which gains 19-inch alloy wheels with rear wider than the fronts, Brembo brakes, sports-tuned FE3 suspension, competition mode and launch control plus technology in the form of Forward Collision Alert, Lane Departure Warning and Head-Up Display.
The full range is:
Ute
Ute (automatic transmission only) $32,990
SV6 (manual) $32,990
SS (manual) $38,990
SS-V (manual) $42,490
SS-V Redline (manual) $48,490
The long wheelbase model is available in two forms – the Caprice with an LPG-fuelled 3.6-litre V6 and the Caprice V Series which runs the Gen IV V8. Both are down in price by $10,000 and feature the massive technology list including Auto Park Assist, Blind Spot Assist, Rear-View Camera, front/rear parking sensors, Hill-Start Assist and Trailer Sway Control.
The V6 Caprice runs 18-inch alloy wheels, leather seats, satellite navigation with live traffic updates and the MyLink infotainment system. The upscale Caprice V-Series adds two individual rear bucket seats, quad exhaust outlets, 19-inch alloy wheels, Forward Collision Alert, Lane Departure Warning, Colour Head-Up Display, electric sunroof and the leather-wrapped sports profile steering wheel.
The lineup is:
Caprice 3.6-litre LPG V6 $54,990
Caprice V Series Gen IV V8 $59,990
VF Holden Commodore Engine
There have been some technical changes for Holden’s VF Commodore powerplants.
The 3.0-litre SIDI V6 is now rated at 185kW/290Nm (down from 190kW). Holden’s 3.6-litre V6 petrol engine delivers 210kW/350Nm (up from 180kW/320Nm while the LPG version is good for 180kW/320Nm (unchanged).
Of course the focus has been on reduced fuel consumption – for example the 3.0-litre Evoke is down to 8.3l/100kms (that’s less than some mid-size four-cylinder sedans).
For the 6.0-litre V8 in six-speed manual form you can chalk-up 270kW/530Nm or 260kW/517Nm in six-speed automatic (both unchanged).
VF Holden Commodore The Interior
No point beating around the bush here – the VF Holden Commodore sports the best interior seen on an Australian-made car. That’s the story.
Where the previous VE model was criticized for its hard interior plastic, the VF adopts modern soft-touch surfaces in a variety of model-specific materials. And where much of the VE’s interior was plain black, the VF scores different trim highlights materials (again varying according to the model).
Centre-mounted on the dashboard is the eight-inch colour screen (reversing camera, satellite navigation, audio, climate controls etc) with a handy flat panel underneath containing relevant controls.
Sports models get a flat-bottom, thick, leather-wrapped steering wheel (adjustable for rake and reach) and on some model Bose audio systems ramp-up the luxury/technology even more.
Holden’s MyLink infotainment system is a cracker with embedded apps and brilliant voice-recognition technology.
And luxury Calais models can be ordered with a black-grey two-tone colour interior which looks sharp.
But of course it’s much more than that and a standout of the new VF Holden Commodore is its refinement. Holden has delivered a miraculous advancement over the VE – the cabin decibel measurement of 38.4dB at idle ranks amongst luxury cars and it goes without saying this is the quietest-ever Commodore.
The work included firewall changes (including a lower plenum in steel instead of polypropylene) to minimize noise intrusion from the engine bay, the stiffer chassis and the new aluminium instrument panel beam. As well, there’s extra sound deadening, including in the wheelarches, 5mm thickness side windows (25 per-cent thicker than the VE), a new acoustic headliner in polypropylene and glass fibre and new layered carpet with high-tech acoustic insulation.
VF Holden Commodore Exterior & Styling
At first glance there is an evolutionary look to the new VF Holden Commodore and in fact the roof and outer door skins carry-over from the VF. But elsewhere Holden’s stylists have cleverly crafted a new style for the VF which actually makes it look a tad more compact.
There’s a new aero-look front end with modern headlights and model-specific front fender air vents.
But the sedan rear-end is a breakthrough with a high bootlip and all-new tail-lights.
And there are some new colours. We drove an SS V in ‘Fantale’ the new orange which rekindles memories of the Monaro, Torana and ‘Sandman’ but there’s also ‘Regal Peacock’ (a green metallic) and ‘Prussian Steel (silver-grey).
VF Holden Commodore On The Road
So how does all this add-up behind the wheel? The answer is – brilliant!
For drivers the VF is far-and-away the best Commodore so far. We know because we drove a bunch of them during a full day from Canberra through the Snowy Mountains and back.
Highlights were many but we’re going to single-out the new electric power steering system (perfectly weighted, great feedback and top-shelf precision) and the new levels of refinement (excellent isolation from road noise and bumps). Yep we’ll use that term again – ‘world-class’.
We drove the V8 SS V sedan, Calais sedan in V6 and V8, entry-level Evoke LPG. And SV6 sedan and SV6 Sportwagon. And our favourite was the SS V – of course Holden’s 6.0-litre V8 is a perennial favourite but we also appreciated the leather sports seats and the whole package delivered the sports/luxury package we really like.
But the Calais left a great impression too – particularly its two-tone interior treatment.
Every VF Commodore will be appreciated by those who like to drive – Holden’s chassis engineers have excelled and over the mountains the precision turn-in, flat stance, grip levels and feedback were all like no other Holden we’ve driven.
VF Holden Commodore Challenges
We understand the reasons why Holden went with the all-new VF Commodore including the roof and outer door skins carried-over from the VF. As good as the VF looks – and the rear-end is a cracker – it’s nevertheless a tad disappointing we didn’t get a ‘clean sheet of paper’ all-new design.
VF Holden Commodore Verdict
Holden has unleashed a show-stopper on many fronts – the best Commodore by miles and without doubt the best Australian-made car so far. Damn right it’s world-class.
How Holden has managed to add all of the new technology into the new VF Commodore and slash prices across the range by up to $10,000 is astonishing to say the least. Bottom line is Australian new car buyers are the big winners with the VF Commodore.
Then there’s the driving experience. New-found levels of refinement, the brilliant electric power steering system and a clever new suspension system all combine to deliver the best-driving Commodore and again a world-class experience.
VF Holden Commodore The Competition
Ford has a MY14 update coming for the Falcon but we don’t know the details as yet. We do know the current Falcon drives great and the lineup includes the remarkable 8.5l/100kms 2.0-litre turbocharged EcoBoost model.
Toyota Aurion enjoys the nice 3.5-litre V6 engine and is handily priced from $36,490. While not quite matching the VF Commodore for technology, space or driving dynamics, the Aurion is a silky-smooth operator which is beautifully built.
Chrysler 300 while more expensive, from $43,000 is generously equipped and delivers American style. Amongst large sedans, the 300 is unique in offering a diesel powerplant (3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel).
Thumbs-up:
Astonishing value; superbly styled and spacious interior; great chassis; world-class driving dynamics
Thumbs-down:
Exterior looks are too similar to the VE
