The Commodore SS ute has become an Australian institution but you don't need to attend the nearest B & S ball to appreciate its endearing character and abilities. From its invention in the 1930s, the great Aussie coupe utility was a workhorse but the addition of a lusty V8 engine, sports suspension, a bodykit and maybe a six-speed manual transmission moves the emphasis from 'utility' to 'coupe'. The Commodore SS, like its Ford rival, is the true Australian sports car of the twenty-first century.
What You Get
There has never been a 'hero' Holden colour called Shrinking Violet and the new Poison Ivy (dark, vibrant metallic green) encapsulates the SS Ute's out-there character. Its payload has more to do with performance, handling and image than with the weight of gear it can carry in the tray. Here is the two-seater counterpart to the Commodore SS sedan.
Under The Hood
Holden's Chevrolet-sourced 6.0-litre V8 makes 270 kW of power at a sporty 5700 rpm and a monumental 530 Nm of torque at 4400 rpm. As you would expect, urban fuel economy is marginal. The surprise comes on the highway. Car Showroom has seen consumption of less than nine litres per 100 kilometres of open road cruising and that was before the introduction of AFM (Active Fuel Management) on vehicles equipped with automatic transmission, which cuts four cylinders right out of the action in various light-throttle driving conditions.
A gentle right foot should see the SS using little more than eight litres per 100 on a gentle interstate cruise, thanks to tall gearing which sees engine rpm hovering around 1600-1700. So intelligent is Holden's six-speed automatic transmission in combination with AFM that the automatic SS has an official fuel consumption rating of 12.9 compared with 14.0 for the manual version. All current model VE Utes have six (front, side and curtain) airbags, which gives them a major safety advantage over their Falcon rivals in side impacts.
The Interior
Cloth-trimmed sports seats provide good support and the cabin is very spacious for its two occupants. There is some storage space behind the seats, but not as much as you get in a Falcon ute. A leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear knob match the sporty character of the SS Ute. Standard kit runs to air, cruise, four-way electrically operated driver's seat, integrated Bluetooth technology and six-stacker CD.
Exterior & Styling
The extroverted, coupe-like styling of the VE Ute range is a key element in the appeal of these vehicles. Some would argue that the VE themes work even better here than on the sedans.
With its standard 18-inch alloy wheels and lower ride height, the SS looks as ready for business on the race track as on the farm - perhaps more so! At least the Utes, unlike their sedan counterparts, come with five full-size wheels.
On The Road
The usual VE negative of the excessively broad A-pillars applies to the SS Ute. The driver must adapt to this design fault by moving his/her head more. A limited slip differential is part of the SS's broad armoury, along with traction control and electronic stability control.
This is a real driver's machine, which feels much more 'planted' on the road than older style utes. Independent rear suspension is a real Holden Ute advantage, especially in the SS application where carrying really heavy loads is not an option (due to the reduced payload). The sports suspension and 18-inch wheels make for a firmer ride but it is never harsh.
Challenges
The fat A-pillars are the only significant fault. Some minor switchgear requires too much learning.
Verdict
If you do much of your driving under highway conditions, this V8 Ute delivers economy that would have seemed outstanding in a six-cylinder vehicle only a few years ago. There is obviously no compromise on performance or image.
The Competition
The Commodore SS Ute competes directly with the Falcon XR8. Arguably, the Ford has better ute credentials while the Holden has an edge in driving pleasure and economy.
Thumbs-up:
Great style, great grunt, surprising highway economy
Thumbs-down:
Too-fat A-pillars, insufficient storage space behind seats, minor ergonomic irritations
