Road Test: Ford Falcon G6

Review by Peter Maniatis - 22/July/2008

Ford Australia made a bold move by ending the Fairmont nameplate when it introduced the G series Falcon range, including this model the G6.

But the early signs are good and this bold move could pay off handsomely.

Designed to attract the attentions of Holden Calais and Berlina buyers and even European car owners, the G series Falcons (G6, G6E and G6E Turbo) show off a distinct look, reveal a luxury feel and provide enough room to easily accommodate the family.

Ford has gone to some lengths to increase fuel efficiency by tuning the inline 6-cylinder engines to make it one of the most efficient vehicles in its class. 

As you may have gathered from the other hands-on road tests conducted by the folks here at Web Wombat, the new Falcon's interior has also been modernised.

The G6 nameplate was designed to communicate a new era for the Falcon, and we are keen to find out if this new nameplate has the legs to last as long as the Fairmont.

Drive: 4/5

To see, drive, feel and be immersed in the new Ford Falcon – in this instance the G6 – is to be proud of Australia's capacity to mix it against international competitors with a leading technologically advanced platform.

In short: wow.

The G6 felt very sturdy, supremely stable and confident on the road yet soft and smooth enough to gain the family stamp of approval.

Things like dynamic stability control and ABS make it more controllable in wet weather, while the overall ride and handling blend is spot on, giving drivers plenty of control but ensuring a smooth ride for passengers.

Speed humps are felt but are easily manageable at the appropriate speed and the steering is well weighted and direct, making you feel in control of the car even when driving through corners on rough and patchy roads. 

While the way the car drives - more refined than ever and quieter than its main rival - has improved in every respect, it's the little touches that make the new luxury Falcon models memorable to drive.

From the new interior command centre (ICC) with its rotary input dial and easy-to-use menus, to the electric mirrors and the adjustable foot pedals (a godsend for those at the far ends of the height table), the car is a real step up from the previous model.

As soon as you get in and start toying with the controls and trying out the features it imparts a sense of sophistication.

The cruise control for example is more advanced than previously. It can be programmed at 1 kilometer per hour increments and can be quickly cycled at 10km/h increments if you hold down the relevant steering wheel-mounted buttons.

All of the necessary info, such as the cruise control speed and your actual road speed, are displayed on the new LCD screen on the instrument panel, and how nice! – you don't have to second guess what speed to set when in hilly areas.

If you pop over a hill and start descending quite rapidly (older cruise control systems would hurl the car down the hill at 110 or 115 and you would get pinged for speeding) the Ford Falcon G6 gears down to keep the car at the dialed up speed.

The model we tested was optioned with the 6-speed ZF gearbox ($1,500) which is made in Germany, but even the new 5-speed automatic that is standard equipment is a smooth shifter.

But this 6-speeder - what a luxurious and effortless gearbox this is.

It's very smooth and responsive and pairs well with the 195 kilowatt 4.0-litre engine and lets the car to move through the torque curve in a refined yet authoritative manner. 

It just feels right, and almost always finds the right gear for the task ahead and responds quickly when you want more speed.

There's also the 'sports mode' which is good for towing and sports driving as it keeps the engine in the gear you request.

From an engineering perspective, the people who work behind the scenes at Ford have ensured that the G6 is suitably luxurious. The 17-inch alloy wheels look good and work well with the premium G series 'face', while the smooth suspension and direct steering also add to the car's appeal. 

For the price of under $40,000 you get a lot of car, a lot of performance, and a lot of refinement in the G6. It's well though out on many fronts and hopefully this thinking extends to the ongoing servicing and support of the vehicle as well, an area too often neglected.

Engine: 4/5

I've become a bit of a fan the straight 6-cylinder engine in the Ford stable for numerous reasons. It's quite torquey, has a nice note and more than ever before it has an superbly refined feel and suits the G6's intentions well.

Only a few car makers use the inline six layout in their engines these days, BMW included.

Even this engine is coming to an end: when the Falcon's new American-made V6 arrives after 2010, we hope it has a similarly smooth feel and strong power delivery as this Aussie gem.

Another reason I like the engine is the great fuel economy. The claimed figure is 10.1 litres of fuel used per 100km, and we recorded figures of low 11 to 12L/100km around town, which was impressive for an engine of this size.

There's also an E-Gas LPG option for $1,400 should drivers want to try an alternate fuel type.

On the freeway with cruise control switched on the Falcon G6 is even more frugal, yet has a nice torque delivery when you need to overtake and the automatic gearbox has no hesitation in lining up the right gear.

Exterior: 4/5

At first glance and from a distance, the Ford Falcon G6 looks similar to the VE commodore. But closer inspection reveals a far more sophisticated design that takes a little from BMW and splashes subtlety where Holden pushes grunt.

There is a nice design line from the rear quarter panel right up to the front door that gives the car an appealing proportion. 

In my opinion the front quarter panel is a little suspect in its design line, but that may be overcome with bigger 18- or 19-inch wheels to fill the guards. The 17-inch alloy wheels that come as standard are quite attractive though.

Front on, the G6 looks like a nice premium car with its chrome grille highlights and fog lamps. It has a luxury/sports look to it that's very European: there seems to be some sharing of design rules with the latest Mondeo in that respect.

The front-end looks purposeful and has tasteful finishes, but is not so in-your-face that if you were a more shy and moderate driver you would overlook buying such a car.

Overall, while there are similarities with the previous Falcon, the new design grows on you and looks great parked in the driveway: a purposeful and prestigious Australian car.

Interior: 4.5/5

Inside the Ford Falcon G6 there is a clean form to the design. The dash is easy on the eye, the speedo dials are large, very clear to read and nicely styled and the centre console, a.k.a interior command centre (ICC), is much neater and more sophisticated than the BA's.

The Falcon G6 gets a colour LCD screen mounted in the centre console and our test model was equipped with a wonderful rear view camera. While it's a $500 option, the reversing camera will make its money back after all the obstacles and repair bills you avoid.

Plastics and materials across the dash felt modern and well built and have a soft-touch to them. I like doing the quick 10 second grope across the dash to get a sense of quality of materials and the Ford Falcon G6 comes up trumps.

The seats are similarly impressive: large and comfortable, the plush cloth seats have electric adjustments for the driver but with manual forward/back and recline adjustments. You have to get the G6E for the 'all electric' treatment.

Heaps of room in the back for the kids with anchorages for child seats, and plenty of head and leg room for everyone - it's one of the roomiest cars on the market - andI was totally taken aback with the full iPod integration in the new Falcon range. 

The iPod integration comes as standard on some models, such as the G6E, and can be optioned for $450 as part of the Technology Pack that also includes Bluetooth phone connectivity.

This system comprises an iPod adapter and even a little pouch in the armrest compartment, and when I say integrated – I mean integrated. If you option the iPod system you get full control of your music player and playlists via both the centre console dial but also via the steering wheel controls as well. 

You get to select your music as if you are looking at the iPod screen and all the while it stays hidden away in its compartment. 

At first I was totally impressed (and still am) but having told some of my more well-healed friends about this they say that BMW has been doing it for a while now – oh well, that's great, but it's even better seeing an Aussie incarnation.

Overall: 4/5

I'm very impressed with the Blue Oval's new generation FG Falcon and the G6 successfully brings a new era of luxury to the Falcon nameplate. 

While it is sad to see the Fairmont name disappear, it's replacement is a more refined and high tech vehicle that sits at that perfect place in a buyer's sweet spot with plenty of luxury and comfort features without a huge price tag.

At the G6 level you are getting most of the automatic luxury items you need, plus the car looks great from a styling point inside and outside, and for buyers searching for a family car with all the mod cons this is great value for money.

With a range of advanced features to make the drive more relaxing, and delivering one of the best ride and handling arrangements for our often rough Australian roads, the Ford Falcon G6 sets a new benchmark for locally made luxury cars.