Road Test: Holden VZ Calais V6

By Peter Maniatis - 28/10/2005

It started with the VT Commodore in 1997 and it ends with the VZ in 2005 - and the GM2800 underpinnings on which the VT-VZ models have been based has been an ample platform for creating what has perennially been Australia's most popular large car.

With addition of the 3.6-litre V6 engine, the VZ range has really turned a new leaf, and for those who don't want (or can't afford) the big V8, the V6 is ideal.

In the $53,290 Calais, the V6 engine is paired with GM's useful 5-speed automatic, which also brings EBD (Electronic Brake force Distribution), CBC (Corner Brake Control) and ESP (Electronic Stability Program) into the equation, endowing the car with the full gamut of electronic controls you'd expect in more expensive vehicles.

Add the Calais' new look to the upgraded technical and safety specification and you have a vehicle that on paper is a good rival to many European badged vehicles, let alone the Ford Fairmont Ghia. The Calais has always been about luxury and refinement, so let's get to it and see if the new VZ model still holds on to this credo:

Short of pulling out the handbook to see if the latest VZ Calais was actually imported from Europe as opposed to designed at Fisherman's Bend and bent at Elizabeth in South Australia, the Wombat Motoring crew are often taken aback at the continual elevation of quality stemming from Australia's own backyard.

Take one look at the VZ Calais and it's clear that design meisters moved the car's overall image from luxury to sports luxury.

It has a a ground-hugging stance that you won't find in the Fairmont Ghia, accentuated by bold 17-inch wheels and bodykit that skirts right around the car. The front end means business, with strong character lines running the length of hood and elegantly integrated front fog lights.

The latest incarnation of Holden's luxury Commodore variant is certainly an impressive local design, combining ingenuity and style. It's a car that was all-too easy to take out on a drive, no matter how insignificant the situation, thanks in part to the 5-speed auto transmission with Active Select (steering wheel mounted shift paddles).

You can leave the car in 'D' to do its own shifting, and it's not as dumb as the older 4-speed 'box, or use the paddles to manually coax the car along.

The latter is more suited to harder driving when it's just you and the car, allowing you to enjoy the good grip levels and responsive suspension without someone yelling into your ear.

On the road the wheels provide for better balance and handling than past models and when combined with the well tuned suspension system - one that is equal parts sport and comfort - the driver feels in complete control even in the most difficult road conditions.

I've heard Feann talk about a heavy steering feel in the Holden large car range, and I actually prefer it to the Ford's lighter touch, to be frank.

I also had the pleasure of taking the V6 Calais for a classic Australian road trip up the Hume Highway with a fully laden family and a boot full of gear, and it didn't disappoint in this respect either.

Standard leather is certainly a fine touch brought to the Calais range, and like all Commodore-based vehicles, the amount of interior space is very good.

Other noteworthy interior features include the electrically adjustable front seats (with memory settings for him and her), dual zone electronic climate control and the small touches are welcome too, such as a power time delay on the electric windows, meaning you don't have to switch the car back to close the windows if you forget.

Smooth and comfortable along the Hume you could be mistaken of feeling that you spent the other half of your home loan redraw facility and had actually bought a European cruiser. But no, with money safe in the bank the Calais takes care of safety, comfort and styling and with money to spare on the holiday you're on.

My comment back to the Holden design team about comfort and ride quality is that the Calais is at times too smooth. The fact that you can be legally cruising along the Hume at 110km/h and the car tempts you to get out of the car and run faster is a testament to the refinement delivered in this mainstay Australian icon of top shelfery.

If you are looking for a European badged vehicle around the $50k mark, consider the latest Calais as a viable alternative - it has made leaps and bounds in terms of electronic safety systems, and the new gearbox and 6-cylinder engine combination are very nice to use, and fuel efficient too.

Overall: 4/5

The decision point that many Australians make when thinking of upgrading from an Australian car to a European equivalent is quality - but it must be said that locally built cars have come a long way in the last decade.

What usually happens is that for the same amount of money as you'd buy a Calais, you would get yourself in a base model Merc or BMW, but with about half the cabin space and no where near the grunt. So what to do - buy the badge or just simply stick with Australian and go for the Calais?

In my mind, buying a Calais these days need not be a compromise. It offers driving pleasure with all the function and capacity needed for a diverse range of needs, from the classic family road trip to a business meeting to a brisk burst along a windy alpine road. I really like it.