Road Test: Holden Commodore SV6 : VE Series II

Review by Tristan Tancredi - 14/December/2011

A 6-speed manual SV6 is the latest addition to the Holden Commodore range.

With a style that oozes "sport" and "performance" the SV6 is a treat to motor heads. The VE Series II Commodore rocks a 3.6L SIDI Direct Injection V6 under its hood and performs with style.

With a 5 star safety rating and Holden IQ technology coming standard, there is a lot to like about this SV6.

Coming in at $42,790, the SV6 is quite expensive for a Commodore, considering the more fuel efficient cars on the market for the same price. Inclusive in that price is a variety of goodies nonetheless. 

So let's have a look at what you can expect from this new SV6 VE Series II Commodore.

Drive: 4/5

Driving this beast around town and there are little obvious complaints as this car drives quite smoothly.

The 6-Speed manual transmission, despite being quite "clunky" at times, delivers a smooth transition.

A crisp sounding (slightly loud) noise buzzes through the interior as the car potters along in the lower gears.

A strong sports suspension plants the car firmly to the ground and offers the driver a strong sense of control. You can really feel the car massaging its way through different corners in ultimate comfort.

ESC (Electronic Stability Control) comes standard and increases braking and cornering safety.

Also coming standard are ABS and EBD (Electronic Brakeforce Distribution). These enable further assistance when braking late, to keep the car at the correct angle and to reduce stopping distances.

Engine: 4/5

A 3.6 litre V6 engine delivers 210 kw of power at 6700 rpm.

The Spark Ignition Direct Injection engine has heaps of guts as it delivers the oomph expected from a Sports edition Holden Commodore.

The cars straight line speed is impressive, reaching high speeds with ease.

If there is one downside to owning a large, powerful sport sedan, it's that it guzzles through the fuel. This SV6 claims 9.8l per 100 kms however we clocked it a touch closer to 11 litres. So driving the car around town is somewhat impractical and very costly.

With a greenhouse rating of 5.5 out of a possible 10, the car does leak a far bit of CO2 emissions.

Exterior: 4/5

At a glance, the SV6 Series II isn't noticeably different. It's still a big, chunky, brute of a car.

The design of the car simply screams "Performance", it looks fast, mean and aggressive. With a bold front fascia and rocking 18" alloys, the vehicle is stylish.

The SV6 is quite a long car measuring in at 4894mm therefore not great for city driving (and parking).

An advantage of the length is the generous leg room available for front and rear passengers. There is plenty of space even with a car full of blokes. This is complimented with 496 litres of cargo space.

Front fog lights, dual exhaust outlets and a rear spoiler (designed to reduce wind noise and drag) blend together to create this sporty, stylish ride.

Safety: 4.5/5

It's no surprise that the Holden Commodore has a 5 star ANCAP safety rating when you take a look at the safety features.

Including Dual-Stage front airbags, side impact airbags and curtain airbags aswell as seat belt load limiters and pyrotechnic pretensioners.

These hold occupants firmly in their seats in the case of severe impact.

Rear park assist and a reverse camera are optional even though they should come standard for a $42,795 car.

Interior: 4/5

The first thing to note when sitting in the drivers seat is the positioning. Sitting comfortably in Sport Front Seats offers tremendous body support that allow the driver to keep total control of the vehicle.

The seats are fitted with body hugging bolsters that support the thighs and shoulders of the occupants. 3 hours into a decent stint behind the wheel and the comfort levels barely decline.

The well positioned drivers area allows clear views of the road ahead and decent access to rear and side mirrors.

A premium multifunction steering wheel gives access to a variety of electronics, including audio, trip, blue tooth and phone functions.

An entertainment system is complimented by a touch screen positioned in the centre dash. The touch screen incorporates radio, CD aswell as Holden IQ CD Ripping (that stores up to 15 CD's), Blue tooth streaming and iPod integration.

The 7-speaker sound system doesn't fulfill the "powerful" vibe the car delivers. Rather the standard speakers are ultimately quite weak in comparison.

A Holden IQ sattelite navigation system is optional to the SV6 Commodore. Featuring full colour mapping, integrated voice, turn-by-turn guidance and traffic management control the system was quite slow and "buggy" at times. Showing alternative (longer) routes and resetting frequently, it became more of a hazard then a guidance.

The touch screen, although reliable most of the time, can still have moments of delay or non-response causing attention to be diverted from the road ahead.

Simple central display and sporting instruments are positioned well so drivers can take quick glances and keep their eyes on the road.

The Dual-Zone Electric Climate control is easy to use and compliments the comfortable drive.

Overall: 4/5

 While the Commodore is packed with sporty goodness it comes at a base cost of $42,790. Combined with hefty on-road running costs, the SV6 isn't very kind to the back pocket.

With front sport seats with body hugging bolsters and a 5 star ANCAP safety rating, the car thrives on superior driver comfort. 

A mean and aggressive looking design, the car performs as one would expect, with grunt. Available in auto and 6-speed manual transmission the car is likely to be a favourite for Holden lovers everywhere.

Despite a few noticeable deficiencies, the SV6 is a solid, reliable, safe addition to the Commodore range.