Holden Commodore

A stylish family mover that has withstood the test of time. Faces its toughest challenge now, though.

• Comfort

  The SV6 is generally pretty comfortable. Of course, if you go for the 19-inch rims, the ride quality is going to deteriorate. There is also a fair bit of road noise on some surfaces. New tweaks on VEII have improved rear ride, too.

  

• Performance

  The ‘premium' Alloytech has 195kW, but you have to rev it pretty hard to get them all to appear. Compared to the Falcon's I6, it's short on torque, but it gets along pretty well. The manual is nice, but the five-speed can be a bit slushy.

  

• Cool

  It's one of the most distinctive shapes in the automotive world. It also manages to look 'classless'; it looks at home in both the shopping centre and the business park car lot. Get used to it - you'll be seeing these things around for years.

  

• Quality

  VEII saw the introduction of an centre console touch screen that can be spec'ed with Bluetooth, nav and a hard drive. Seats are comfy, too. Long-term, it's probably not going to age as well as others, but it's also priced accordingly.

  

• Handling

  Just like SS, the SV6 is far more nimble than it 1.7-tonne bulk would suggest. It has a stiff body and the new suspension and solid steering rack means it handles like some of the better sporty European prestige models that cost a lot more.

  

• Practicality

  Pretty much as expected for a large(ish) sedan. One big problem is that Commodores don't have a split-fold rear seat and has to make do with a ski-port. The loading lip ids narrow, too.

   

  

• Running costs

  Fuel is still the main concern even though it goes through less than the SS. Cerntain engines can be run on E85 blend ethanol fuell, but it's not common. Tyres can be pricey too. You may want to check the cost of the rubber before decided whether to go for the optional 19-inch wheels.