G6E With LPG Is A Great Combination
Ford’s G6 range of Falcons has won substantial praise and awards; now the G6E is available with factory-fit LPG.
It all comes together in a great package: lots of kit, a luxury feel, a great drive…and it’s wallet-friendly.
What You Get
Ford’s G6E is a comprehensive package of extra features that combine to deliver one of the very best Falcons – ever.
There are just a couple of changes for LPG versions – the automatic is a four-speed with sequential sports shift and the optional 18-inch and 19-inch alloy wheels are not available.
Inside, the list of extra features is extensive and includes: beautiful leather seats (drivers’ seat 8-way power adjustable with 3-position memory); a nice sports leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio and cruise control operations; a premium audio system with a 7-inch screen, 6-disc in-dash CD, nine speakers, Bluetooth and iPod integration and a reversing camera.
The G6E-Gas tested by Car Showroom for a week was also fitted with the optional Safety Enhancement Pack which includes a perimeter alarm and Ford’s excellent power adjustable pedals with memory.
Under The Hood
Ford’s 4.0-litre six-cylinder engine loses just a bit when modified for LPG-running – offering 156kW and 370Nm. Petrol versions of the G6 are good for 195kW and 391Nm and drive through a ZF six-speed automatic.
To be honest, the reduction in power and torque is barely noticeable. In fact the only time we really noticed was when the G6E was fully loaded with adults and luggage…it didn’t push up our regular hill with quite the same oomph.
The Interior
Without a doubt the G6E provides one of the best interiors in an Australian car.
The leather-trimmed seats are supportive and for enthusiast drivers, the combination of eight-way power seat adjustment, the steering wheel which adjusts for reach and rake and Ford’s superb optional power adjustment for the pedals really does deliver an outstanding driving position.
Instruments are nicely finished with G6E logos and the center console with the 7-ich screen and controls for audio/climate control air and the rest (Ford calls it the Human Machine Interface – HMI – Interior Command Center) is very well done.
Credit also for the steering wheel-mounted cruise control buttons which are similar to gearbox paddle-shifters – very simple, fail-safe and ergonomic.
The G6E is a Falcon so interior space is massive. We tried our test car fully loaded with adults and also with the Car Showroom juniors in their child and booster seats…let’s just say everyone was happy and comfortable.
Boot space is restricted in the G6E-Gas as installation of the LPG tank requires relocation of the full-size spare wheel to the cargo area.
Exterior & Styling
The G6E exterior styling cues – such as the sporty chrome front grille and 17-inch alloy wheels - combine well with Falcon’s already sharp FG model styling.
Our test car was painted in the optional ‘Sensation’ (blue) – we thought it looked great and we got some positive feedback in the car park at the golf club…always a good sign.
On The Road
The FG Falcon lineup has received extensive praise for its ride and handling and the G6E with extra rubber gripping the road enhances that nicely balanced chassis.
We tested the XR8 a few weeks ago and the G6E delivered a similar confidence-inspiring feel over our mountain roads test route. Steering is sharp and we continue to be impressed with Ford’s rear suspension set-up which delivers a nice squat and positive feel when accelerating hard through corners – very impressive for a car this size.
Around town, the G6E-Gas made short work of Melbourne’s annoying tram and train tracks with good rebound control from the front suspension and high levels of noise suppression.
Some have said the LPG engine sounds a little raw under hard acceleration (compared to the petrol version) – that’s not a view we subscribe to. There is a slightly different exhaust note but it’s barely perceptible or unpleasant.
On the safety front, G6E models gain standard Dynamic Stability Control, curtain airbags and front seat thorax airbags.
This is a vehicle with a five-star ANCAP safety rating.
Challenges
Our only concern with the G6E-Gas is the amount of luggage space lost with the relocation of the spare wheel to the boot (required to accommodate the LPG tank and hardware). Families or those who frequently carry extensive luggage will need to weigh-up that matter and the reduced running costs provided by LPG. On the positive side, at least you get a full-size spare wheel – ain’t no space-saver in this Falcon.
Verdict
It’s unanimous Ford has delivered one of the best-ever Australia cars with the FG Falcon lineup.
LPG is top-of-mind at the moment with the Federal Government rebate on offer and its clear from the G6E-Gas just how well Ford understands the family car market.
The combination of a very well executed package (the G6) combined with factory-fit LPG ticks many boxes for Australian new car buyers in the current environment.
Add that together with the excellent driving dynamics of the Falcon’s well-balanced chassis and it’s hard to think of anything better.
The Competition
The most obvious rival is Holden’s Commodore Berlina LPG – it delivers more power but less torque from Holden’s modified V6 and leather seats are optional.
Toyota’s Aurion does not have an LPG option but the similarly priced Sportivo ZR6 does have lots of kit.
