With the Commodore SS V-Series Sportwagon, Holden lets you combine family convenience with performance car muscle – keeping Mum and Dad both happy.
And with the reduced fuel consumption of Holden’s optional Active Fuel Management (AFM) system, you can add a degree of responsibility.
What You Get
The Sportwagon is a clever design and in SS V-Series guise, it comes with scintillating V8 performance and real on-road presence, boosted by the massive five-spoke 19-inch alloy wheels. Our test car was painted black which added an extra purposeful look.
If you add the optional sports suspension with its reduced ride height, firmer springs and limited slip differential – well you might still be driving a wagon, but it’s equipped for some serious sports driving.
Inside are nice leather seats and of course that substantial luggage capacity.
The SS V-Series Sportwagon really does let you have the lot.
Under The Hood
Standard SS V-Series Sportwagons come with Holden’s Generation Four alloy V8 but the Car Showroom test car was fitted with the optional six-speed automatic transmission and the AFM version of the V8.
Maximum power is 260kW at 5700rpm and peak torque is a stomping 517Nm at 4400rpm. Holden says the combined cycle fuel consumption is 12.6l/100kms and the C02 emissions of 298 give the SS V-Series Sportwagon a 2.5-Star rating in the Federal Government’s Green Vehicle Guide.
The Interior
Inside, the SS V-Series continues the high standard sports theme with nicely shaped leather-trimmed sports seats, alloy faced pedals and instrumentation finished in the usual SS orange colour and subtle SS logos.
A nice driving position is assured thanks to four-way electric adjustment of the drivers seat, and the thick, leather-wrapped steering wheel adjusts for rake and reach.
Mounted on the center console is the 6.5-inch multi function screen (reversing camera and satellite navigation are optional), and above that are orange instruments displaying information such as oil pressure and temperature – a nice touch as drivers of high performance vehicles like to keep on top of that sort of stuff.
The sound system is a six Disc CD with MP3/Bluetooth compatibility and an auxiliary input jack. Remote controls for the audio and trip computer are on the steering wheel.
In the rear is the usual Commodore abundant space for three passengers and the good-size cargo area (rear seat folds flat 60/40) with a cargo blind. Our test car was not fitted with the optional rear seat DVD screen (including remote control and two headphones) – much to the chagrin of the Car Showroom juniors!
Exterior & Styling
You’d be hard-pressed to think of a large wagon anywhere in the automotive world that can match the styling aplomb of Commodore’s VE range, and the SS V-Series adds to that reputation.
Now in the middle of its model range, we still like the broad curves of the front fenders plus the neat incorporation and packaging of the wagon rear end.
For the SS V-Series you can add those hefty 19-inch alloy wheels, the neat rear diffuser and four chrome-tipped exhausts, projector headlights and fog lights.
On The Road
Commodore has a five-star ANCAP safety rating, so there’s no corner-cutting when it comes to features and driver aids. There’s front, side and side curtain airbags, ABS anti-lock brakes with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD and Electronic Brake Assist (EBA) plus Traction Control (TCS) and Electronic Stability Control (ESC).
And of course Holden’s independent front/multi-link rear suspension has been developed especially for local conditions.
We had the chance to put the SS V-Series Sportwagon through our standard test procedure and also used it as a day-to-day family vehicle. It’s an all-round package that’s hard to fault.
On our mountain roads test route, the Sportwagon didn’t feel a whole lot different to the SS sedan – yes the extra length meant it was not quite as nimble and mid-corner undulations were a tad more unsettling in the rear, but we’re talking extremes here. Overall, the SS V-Series Sportwagon still had the precise turn-in and overall poise we’ve come to expect from Holden.
Refinement levels were generally good with just a bit more harshness from the rear when straddling Melbourne’s tram/train track crossings.
Around town, the wagon did not present any challenges although the optional reversing camera would make parking a bit easier.
And of course, as a family vehicle, the cargo area came into its own, easily handling our goodies.
Challenges
The SS V-Series is getting up there in price within the Commodore family. Standard fitment of satellite navigation and the reversing camera would improve its value-for-money stats and also make the Sportwagon a better all-rounder.
Verdict
Australians love our wagons and we love our V8 muscle. With the SS V-Series Sportwagon, Holden has delivered on both counts and AFM technology is just right for the times.
The Competition
Chrysler’s 300C Touring is a similar vehicle – well worth a look. The SRT8 version is a beauty but does carry a price premium over the SS V-Series Sportwagon.
If you can’t stretch to the V-Series Sportwagon, Ford’s slightly smaller Mondeo Zetec looks great, is well equipped and costs less.
Likes:
Nicely styled inside and out; glorious V8
Dislikes:
Needs the reversing camera and sat-nav to complete the package
