Road test: Holden Commodore S

Comfort and Handling

The S model ate up corners with glee

Taking the Commodore S around town is easy, as the supercharger doesn't kick in if you're light on the throttle.

Fuel consumption takes a hit if you like to go fast - and frequently - but in general, it's not horrendously thirsty for a 3.8-litre mill.

While the chassis felt good when pushing the car to its limit, and very collected under hard brakes, the Commodore didn't switch directions as neatly as I was hoping.

In retrospect however, this is more due to the car's overall weight than any glaring problems with suspension or chassis.

The suspension does an admirable job of soaking up road imperfections, though it does use stiffer sports suspension, so every so often you'd hear a 'thump' when wheels went through deep pot holes or over large roadkill.

On the upside, the re-jigged FE2 suspension gives the Commodore S sure footed grip when you drive with more enthusiasm. With traction control on, the supercharged car took to the twisties with aplomb, feeling much less like its 1560kg kerb weight, and more like about 1200kg.

Turn traction control off however, and you better be very sure of your driving skills, as the torque builds extrememly quickly, which will often convert into loss of traction at the rear.

Even so, lift off the throttle, dial in a smidge more steering and Holden pulls back into line like a train on rails.

New exhaust outlet is the money

The brakes, while not outstanding, still offer solid performance and when hooked up with ABS make for a very smart safety package. Even when we pushed the car to its limits, the excessive braking we put it through wasn't enough to induce brake fade.

Cruise control also comes in handy during those monotonous highway journeys; a standard feature on all Commodore S models.

The steering wheel conveys a good amount of feedback through the road - much more than I would have thought for such a large car. This, in turn, translates into more confidence on the road as you are always being informed of what the front wheels are doing.

Slow-speed maneouvering is a cinch, and again, the Commodore felt a lot less like its large car pretensions would have you believe. An 11-metre turning circle is also well above par, and while parallel parking is pretty straighforward, rearward vision isn't the best thanks to the high bootline and rear wing.

Engine

The Commodore S comes standard with the same 3.8-litre pushrod V6 as all other Commodores, but for an extra two-grand, you get the supercharged mill.

The naturally aspirated six makes 152kW @ 5200rpm, and while the supercharged engine makes 171kW @ the same peak of 5200rpm, torque is a different story.

171kW of power @ 5200rpm

The non-forced induction engine offers maximum torque of 305Nm @ 3600rpm, though if you opt for the crankshaft-driven Eaton M90 supercharged V6, 375Nm of torque peaks @ a low 3000rpm.

According to Holden, the car sprints from 0-100km/h in 8.7 seconds, though I must say that it felt much quicker than this, even loaded with four passengers.

When the 'charger is at full boost everyone involved will know, as all are firmly pressed into their seat cushions. It's almost as if you can feel the extra amounts of air being forced into the cylinders.

At the same token, some drivers may not appreciated the intense rush of power as the charger spools up, but then you can also get the Commodore S without one, so everyone is suitably catered for.

Despite its age, the Buick-sourced 3.8-litre V6 is still quite smooth through the rev range, with the supercharger making sure it's never out of breath.

Extras

A multi-purpose cup-holder made from extra-grippy rubber can take two standard sized drinks and also smaller bottles, while in the rear, the centre seat folds out to form a rather practical stable table, replete with dual cup holders.

The bodykit is really impressive

Switchable traction control is a nice inclusion, as is the power button, which basically allows the engine to reach higher revs before the automatic gearbox decides another ratio is in order.

The model we tested also had the proximity sensors in the rear apron, which emit a beep that intensifies as you close in on an object and while useful, they are a cost extra.

The Blaupunkt stereo, now standard with all Commodores, is a pretty sweet piece of kit, and the S model we drove included a handy in-dash CD six stacker.

Even at the highest volumes the stereo would only distort when serious bass was being played, and provided for good acoustics throughout.

New to the VY Commodore is a small multi-fuction display, located just below the tacho and speedo. Upon starting it does a quick check of primary engine systems, and also has added extras such as a stop-watch, trip computer, fuel consumption, overspeed alarm and distance to empty. It's also pretty cool when you push the power or traction control buttons, as animated icons flash up to let you know they've been de/activated.

Interior finishings are good for a sub 40k vehicle, with seatbelt holsters nicely concealed in the walls and door trimmings matched to the seats. The engine immobiliser and alarm help keep things secure, while air-con will keep things cool. A three year, 100,000km warranty is good, but still pretty standard these days.

Overall: 4/5

If it's a big family car that you're after, you can't go past Holden's new VY Commodore. The new look is very modern and will probably age a lot more elegantly than the previous models, which erred more on the curvy side.

But if it's a family car you're after during the week, and something with a more sporting character for the weekend, then this supercharged Commodore S will be just the ticket.

To be frank, I was expecting a low-tech, heavy-feeling car, but the new VY felt really accomplished in almost any task, particularly on the open the road. The newly designed interior is refreshing: Everything's within reach and easy to operate. The price is good, considering what you get, but if its sheer grunt you're after, then perhaps the new SV8 would be a better proposition.

At the end of the day, Holden has done what it needed to do to fend off a reinvigorated Ford, and the new styling alone is worth the price of admission.

Perfect for Australian conditions, the new VY impressed more than anticipated, and turned plenty of heads, to boot. The Commodore S is easily one of the most aggressively styled sports sedans that's ever come out of Fisherman's Bend, and with performance and comfort to match, it comes highly recommended.

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