2013 VF Commodore Review: SV6, SS, Evoke Ute and Calais
NEW HOLDEN VF COMMODORE REVIEW
- What's hot: Massive leap in quality and refinement, great auto gearbox, good handling, huge list of included features
- What's not: Manual V6 transmission not so great, Cruze-ish steering wheel and stalks
- X-Factor: The best Aussie car ever made, at a truly game-changing price
Vehicle Style: Large Sedan
Price: $34,990 - $56,990
Engine/trans options: 185kW/290Nm 3.0 petrol auto | 180kW/320Nm 3.0 LPG V6 | 210kW/350Nm 3.6 petrol auto/man | 260kW/517Nm 6.0 petrol V8 auto | 270kW/530Nm 6.0 petrol V8 manual
Fuel economy listed: 8.3 l/100km (Evoke) | 11.8 l/100km (SS-V Redline) | 12.1 l/100km (SV6 LPG)
OVERVIEW
This is it: the one we’ve been waiting for. It hasn't been an easy road, but Holden has done it: the VF Commodore is the best car ever made in Australia.
No ifs, no buts.
If you've been thinking that this is merely VE Series III, hop into the driver's seat. Just a few minutes behind the wheel will confirm the VF is a vastly improved car over the VE.
You'd barely pick it from the exterior lines, but around 70 percent of the car is new.
While the cabin glass, door skins and exterior mirrors are carried over, it’s the stuff you don’t see that has made such a massive difference to the feel, character and quality of this car.
Like the nicely weighted electric power steering (EPS) system, the weight-saving aluminium bonnet and boot, the redesigned lightweight aluminium suspension and mechanical components and the aerodynamic improvements.
Overall, the Commodore has dropped 43kg, despite adding more noise insulation and higher quality interior materials.
And the changes to the car’s design and underneath has resulted in a drop in the car’s drag co-efficient from 0.330CD to 0.309CD
Holden has thus managed to bring the fuel consumption of its Evoke sedan down to 8.3 l/100km, which, on the basis of our drive, would seem perfectly achievable.
This figure, Holden (quite rightly) points out, is better than the Honda Accord Euro, Subaru Liberty 3.6X and Mazda6 petrol auto – all medium-sized cars.
Model VE VF pricing Rollback Evoke (auto only) $39,990 (Omega) $34,990 - $5,000 SV6 (manual) $42,790 $35,990 -$6,800 SS (manual) $47,790 $41,990 -$5,800 SS-V (manual) $55,290 $45,490 -$9,800 SS-V Redline (manual) $57,790 $51,490 -$6,300 Calais (auto only) $48,290 $39,990 -$8,300 Calais V V6 (auto only) $56,790 $46,990 -$9,800 Calais V V8 (auto only) $61,990 $52,990 -$9,000
Options
Evoke
- Blind Spot Alert / Reverse Traffic Alert - $350
- Satellite Navigation - $750 (Available September 2013)
SV6
- Satellite Navigation - $750
- Sunroof (Sedan only) - $1,990
- Rear wing spoiler (Sedan only) - $500
- Leather Appointed seats - $1500
SS
- Satellite Navigation - $750
- Sunroof (Sedan only) - $1990
- Rear wing spoiler (Sedan only) - $500
SS-V
- Sunroof & Bose® Audio Package (Sedan only) - $2490
- Rear wing spoiler (Sedan only) - $500
SS-V Redline
- Rear wing spoiler (Sedan only) - $500
Calais
- Satellite Navigation - $750
MORE: VF Commodore And Ute range REVIEWED
MORE: VF Commodore Pricing Announced
MORE: HSV Gen-F Pricing Announced
MORE: Unveiled: VF Calais V | Commodore SS | VF Ute | WN Caprice
MORE: HSV Gen-F range revealed
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