The Commodore Holden is an automobile manufactured since 1978 by the Holden subsidiary of General Motors (GM) in Australia, and, formerly, in New Zealand.

THE VERDICT

Good:

Smart appearance; great ride & handling; severe amounts of space for 5 adults. The SS variant is a progressive take on the muscle cars of yesteryear...

Not so Good:

No diesel powered variants on supply; limited mid-life facelift exterior changes.

THE REVIEW

Design and Engineering

Good:

Launched in August 2006 the VE Series Commodore is a truly great design with a terrificly solid 'wheel at each corner' stance, a tough front-end and a pert rear; rear wheel drive layout helps in the handling stakes. The mid-life facelift (VE Series II) arrived in September 2010 and thankfully the design hasn't changed for the worse.

Not so good:

Small side mirrors contribute to the great design (but could be bigger...so you could see more). The fat A-pillars can also restrict vision (especially when at a T intersection). VE Series II exterior changes to the top selling Omega (entry-level) grade are limited to a tiny raised lip on the boot lid and slight changes to the front bumper - so don't expect your post September 2010 Commodore to stand out from earlier VE's in the parking lot.

Interior and Styling

Good:

The high number of driver adjustment controls means just about anyone should be able to get comfortable behind the wheel. There are also huge portions of space for front and rear passengers, clear instrument dials & sizeable easy-to-use control knobs, appropriate front storage space, a relaxed rear bench seat and a large boot. The big transformation inside, from VE to VE Series II, is the 6.5-inch touch-screen Holden-iQ system (yes, it's even standard on the entry level Omega) inserted in the re-designed (and better looking) centre console surround. Dual-zone climate control is also traditional across the range.

Not so good:

The electric window controls continue to be positioned in the unusual centre console position and the handbrake still looks like an afterthought and feels flimsy. The high waistline exterior design affects visibility for kids in the rear seats.

Performance

Good:

The standard 3.0L V6 petrol engine offers more than enough poke to shift 1,700kg plus of Commodore - however, it’s tough to beat the grumble of the V8-powered grades with the 6.0L engine sounding great at low, as well as high, revs. Overall, the Commodore offers a quiet ride with minimal wind noise at highway speeds.

Not so good:

V6's fuel economy is good, but not remarkable.

Ride and Handling

Good:

The handling is fun and generates great confidence in the driver. In spite of the steering being light the ride stays smooth and composed even on the roughest roads. It also offers the option of the ‘Redline Edition’ that offers substantial wheel, braking and suspension upgrades for the V8-powered V-Series models.

Not so good:

Too much tyre noise on variants with 18-inch and up size alloys; the ride comfort also diminishes (most noticeable over rough Aussie back roads).

Buying and Owning

Good:

Affordable. High levels of standard safety kit - both active and passive: ABS, TC and ESC have all been tailored for Australian problems and it shows. The ESC is a very beneficial safety feature, and on dirt roads Holden have updated it to work excellently - providing the Commodore is an outstanding choice for out on the open road.

Not so good:

Low resell score for a number of the variants - comparable to Falcon, blame the fact that it's a popular fleet and taxi car, so they have a high revenues and often turn up at auctions when they're only three years old.