The Holden Commodore Ute – Australian motoring icon and a favourite with tradies, recreationalists and those on the land. With the Holden Commodore Ute SS V-Series Special Edition, you can add performance car enthusiasts to the list.
With a front end borrowed from GM brand Pontiac and in-your-face 19-inch alloy wheels, the Holden Commodore Ute SS V-Series Special Edition is pure muscle; as good as it gets for local mass-produced utes. In fact, it’s no exaggeration to say you could search the world and not find a better high-performance ute.
Oh, and did we overlook the growling 6.0-litre V8 of this Holden Commodore Ute? Probably important that bit!
Holden Commodore Ute SS Overview
Sitting supreme at the top of the Holden Commodore Ute family, the SS V-Series Special Edition combines high performance V8 muscle, purposeful looks and even genuine practicality for tradies and other ute buyers with its plastic tub liner. The Holden Commodore Ute SS V-Series Special Edition rides on Commodore’s sports suspension and inside are nice leather seats, climate control air-conditioning and a six-disc audio system – perfect for a relaxing drive home after a day of tough physical activity (work or play).
It doesn’t pretend to be subtle (our test vehicle was painted ‘Red Hot’) and thanks to Holden’s world-class engineering work, the Holden Commodore Ute SS V-Series Special Edition delivers high standard, high performance driving dynamics. In other words: “It talks the talk and walks the walk”.
Holden Commodore Ute SS Engine
Talking of world-class engineering, the Holden Commodore Ute SS V-Series is pure 21st century thanks to the Holden Active Fuel Management (AFM) system which has cut combined cycle fuel consumption to 12.9l/100kms. That’s not quite Holden Cruze, but the Cruze doesn’t match the Holden Commodore Ute SS V-Series Special Edition’s 1600kg towing capacity for starters (that’s enough to tow a trailer with a Waverunner or three full-size dirt bikes).
AFM combines an engine management program and special valve lifters which, under light load conditions, can shut down every second cylinder. It saves fuel and you don’t notice its operation in any driving condition (just a different idle pattern when stationary).
The Holden Commodore Ute SS V-Series Special Edition is powered by the glorious 6.0-litre, 90-degree V8 which delivers 260kW of power at 5700 rpm and peak torque of 517Nm at 4400 rpm. Drive is to the rear wheels (naturally) via Holden’s six-speed Active Select automatic transmission.
Exhaust emissions are rated at 307 g/km.
Holden Commodore Ute SS Interior
Open the door of the Holden Commodore Ute SS V-Series Special Edition and the tantalizing smells of the leather seats alert you that this is the King of the Holden Commodore Ute family. The seats are large and supportive and the thick leather-wrapped sports steering wheel adjusts for rake and reach to provide a nice, low driving position (the feel is rather sports car-like).
There are the normal four-gauge Holden Commodore Ute instruments (speedo, rev-counter, fuel and temperature) and between is the trip computer screen with lots of information including a digital speed display (handy for quick reference on Melbourne’s variable speed limit, roadwork-clogged freeways).
Alloy-faced pedals and ‘SS’ and ‘V8’ instrument badges add a sporty touch to this special Holden Commodore Ute.
The center console features Holden’s large screen display for the six-disc audio system (auxiliary jack and MP3/Blutooth compatible) and the settings for the dual-zone climate control air-conditioning.
Like all Holdens, the Holden Commodore Ute SS V-Series Special Edition provides lots of storage nooks. Tradies will be especially pleased with the mesh ‘hold-alls’ behind the seats (perfect for storage of paperwork and small laptop computers).
Holden Commodore Ute SS Exterior & Styling
Holden Commodore Ute SS V-Series Special Edition scores the Pontiac front end with its twin bonnet scoops and cool air intakes. Combine that with the standard under-bumper fog lights and low-slung front splitter and the result is a powerful looking ute.
The sports body kit also includes side skirts and a rear bumper with cutouts for the chrome-tipped quad exhaust tailpipes.
Holden Commodore Ute SS V-Series Special Edition also gains massive 19-inch x 8-inch alloy wheels which fit snugly under the wheel arches thanks to the lowered sports suspension.
But utes are vehicles for hard work and both tradies and recreationalists will appreciate the sturdy high-density polyethylene tubliner which is part of the Holden Commodore Ute SS V-Series standard equipment. And as the polyethylene is more grippy than bare paintwork, keeping loads secure is easier.
Holden Commodore Ute SS On The Road
OK, it’s a fair chance Holden won’t be doing too much female-oriented marketing of the Holden Commodore Ute SS V-Series Special Edition, but it was embarrassing to see the blokes in the Car Showroom office standing in the driveway awaiting our return from Holden after picking up our Holden Commodore Ute test car – a reception normally seen when we have exotic sports cars. But the Holden Commodore Ute SS V-Series Special Edition is that kind of vehicle.
Holden Commodore Ute SS V-Series Special Edition is an alluring mix of ute practicality and high performance V8 muscle.
Inevitably there are some compromises and – like any ute – the Holden Commodore Ute SS V-Series Special Edition was tricky to reverse park into tight spots (the tray restricts rear three-quarter visibility) and its 5040mm length/11.7-metre turning circle made hard work of our tight CBD high-rise car park. Plus – like all performance cars – the low front splitter needed constant awareness to prevent it grounding.
The open road is where the Holden Commodore Ute SS V-Series Special Edition excelled. Combine that growling 260kW/517Nm, 6.0-litre V8 with a handy six-speed auto and the firmer springs included in the sports suspension package and the Holden Commodore Ute SS V-Series Special Edition was immensely satisfying over our high-speed mountain roads loop.
The wet conditions saw plenty of work for the Electronic Stability Control system but the Holden Commodore Ute SS V-Series Special Edition was still confidence inspiring with crisp turn-in, high levels of mid-corner grip and plenty of V8 grunt to balance things.
Holden Commodore Ute SS Challenges
Like the rest of the VE range, the Holden Commodore Ute SS V-Series Special Edition falls a little short in interior luxury look/feel because some of the trim plastic is a tad ‘basic’.
Holden Commodore Ute SS Verdict
The Holden Commodore Ute SS V-Series ranks as one of the best high performance utes. It looks the part, is brilliant to drive and AFM has delivered the mandatory fuel consumption improvements demanded by just about everyone today.
So if your budget doesn’t stretch to the HSV Maloo – the ultimate Holden Commodore Ute - you won’t be disappointed – the Holden Commodore Ute SS V-Series Special Edition ticks most (but definitely not all) of the Maloo’s boxes.
Holden Commodore Ute SS Competition
It’s a field of just one – the Ford Falcon Ute XR8. At the limit, the Falcons’ leaf-sprung rear end falls short of Holden’s independent suspension but really, both the XR8 and the Holden Commodore Ute SS V-Series Special Edition rank among the world’s best high-performance utes.
Thumbs-up:
Aggressive styling; mostly nice interior; great to drive
Thumbs-down:
Cheap interior plastics
