Road Test: HSV Grange

Review by Feann Torr - 29/Aug/2007

If the Senator is the HSV of choice for the well-heeled business executive, the Grange is undoubtedly for the CEO. It's exclusive, it's powerful, it's imposing and it's overflowing with luxury features. There's wall-to-wall leather for a start, no less than three DVD screens, a 10-speaker stereo, tri-zone climate control, wireless headphones, and unlike the other V8 models in the HSV range, the Grange is big. 

Very big. 

Based on the runaway success that is the WM Holden Caprice, the Grange is a long wheel base vehicle. It's the limousine model, and though the driver gets plenty of luxury options, the rear seat passengers also benefit from the red carpet treatment.

It's longer than the Commodore-based HSV models by more than a quarter of a metre, affording an obscene amount of leg room for all occupants, and powered by the Chevy Corvette's powerful 6.0-litre V8 it takes off like a Concorde. Muscle car performance with prestige car looks and appointments? It's almost too good to be true.

The HSV Grange doesn't have any local rivals as such, because FPV doesn't have a long wheel base model. But it could compete with German vehicles such as the Audi A8 and Mercedes-Benz S-Class, which are likewise stretched luxury limousines. We recently received a new poster from HSV updating its previous marketing campaign of "Australia 1, Germany 0" with "Australia 2, Germany 0" picturing the new Grange alongside the Senator, presumably trumping their well-established luxury European competitors. 

Clearly HSV is confident it can take on the Germans with its new HSV range, and in terms of performance it holds it's head very high.

Comparing it, if somewhat indirectly, to some of Europe's highest quality cars could be a double edged blade, for the HSV Grange doesn't have the fit and finish of its German rivals. Then again, you won't need to remortgage the house to attain this Holden Special Vehicle, and with high levels of luxury and an impressive standard feature list, perhaps the Grange isn't outclassed after all?

Coming off the back of the hugely popular Holden Caprice, the Grange hits the ground running and HSV's new E-Series range has been selling like hotcakes too. All these factors suggest streamlined success for the Grange. Too good to be true? Let's find out:

The HSV Grange packs a visual punch, with a lower ride height, new body kit, and that huge 19-inch wheel/tyre fitout

Engine: GM 6.0-litre LS2 V8 The longitudinally mounted 5967cc V8 engine has an aluminium alloy cylinder head and engine block. The valvetrain includes 2-valves per cylinder (one inlet, one exhaust) actuated by gear-driven pushrods (OHV). The 6.0-litre engine features a freakishly high 10.9:1 compression ratio, which necessitates 98 RON octane petroleum fuel, and the HSV Grange has a 73 litre fuel tank capacity. Fuel consumption: 14.5L/100km (combined cycle) Max Power: 307kW @ 6000rpm Max Torque: 550Nm @ 4400rpm Max Speed: 270km/h 0-100km/h: 5.2 seconds (claimed)

Acres of soft Nappa leather greet those who are afforded the privilege or riding in the HSV Grange

The numbers tell a tale of supreme power and imposing size. The HSV Grange is a luxury long-wheel based performance limousine powered by a huge V8 and will never suffer from the heartbreak that can affect lowly 6-cylinder vehicles: performance anxiety. On the road this thing fair flies and is very deserving of the HSV badges.

But target buyers are going to want more than just slotted brakes and tweaked cylinder heads. They're going to want luxury, and thankfully the HSV Grange delivers in spades.

A light touch is all it takes to fine tune the 10-way electric adjustable front seats - complete with subtle 'Grange' lettering - and it's not hard to find a comfy position in the Grange. Not by a long stretch. In fact, the thing is so cavernous that it feels wrong not to take advantage of all the space. There are few cars on the market that offer these levels of cabin and boot space, and at under $100k it represents good value.

Of all the HSV models, the Grange is the least overtly sporty model. Sure, it's got machismo dripping out of every pore, but the front seats for instance are not quite as heavily bolstered as the other guys in the HSV troupe and this is the first sign of it's luxury limo persona. The interior has a smattering of sportiness thanks to its HSV updates over the Holden Caprice (upon which it is based), but overall it still comes across as more of a luxury car than a sports sedan.

Features like the soft Nappa leather covering seats and doors inserts, the 10-speaker Bose sound system with 6-stack CD system and the conservative (for an HSV) exterior styling tell a tale of suave sophistication rather than flat out wheel-smoking mayhem.

The rear seats are almost as comfy as the fronts, with contoured edges and soft cushioning and you feel very cosseted leaning into them. Rear seat passengers get twin DVD screens, separate climate and audio controls mounted in an easy-to-reach ceiling console, plus wireless headphones and the kind of leg room you'd expect on a first-class flight to London.

But that's not to say that calling the front seat to ride shotgun is a waste of time in this car. Oh no. Hunkering down in the plush Nappa leather seats - offered in either onyx (black) or urban (beige) - and scanning the instrument cluster provides a number of clues as to the vehicle's potential, and the contoured steering wheel confirms it.

While the Holden Caprice can be a bit wishy washy when pushed into corners, the HSV Grange displays a vigor that is difficult to fathom. It weighs near 2 tonnes and measures 5.16 metres long, yet with the magic that is Magnetic Ride Control (MRC) the Grange exhibits low levels of body roll through corners, even when you get abusive with the throttle. Add to this flat cornering equation a set of very wide wider tyres and the Grange turns out to be a very capable sports sedan and something that won't be shamed by similarly-sized German product costing three times as much.

The tyres afford the HSV Grange with an impressive amount of grip and together with the adjustable MRC suspension system, they make the car far more agile than it looks. They're seriously wide tyres too, fitted to 19-inch alloy rims all round with 245/40 R19s at the front and 275/35 R19s at the rear.

To be frank, I was really quite surprised with the differences that HSV has wrought on this luxury barge. It's no longer a liability through a corner and doesn't wallow half as much, and is far more enjoyable to drive as a consequence. Understeer is far less of a problem thanks to the MRC system, which works by firming up the suspension's damping rates. It's switchable too, so when the in-laws are riding in the back you just hit the MRC button to turn off the sports mode and the ride becomes far smoother, and is able to soak up road imperfections without transmitting them to occupants.

The steering felt a touch light when driving the car hard and felt as though it masked feedback ever-so-slightly, but almost everything else in the performance department comes up trumps. Throttle response is crisp, the 6-speed automatic is orders of magnitude better than previous auto transmissions from GM - packed with a neat tiptronic feature that actually works - and the brakes held up fairly well with decent pedal feel. It gets big 365mm front and 350mm rear discs.

You feel safe in this car too, even when driving the clogs off it, because there's a lot of safety features packed in, including electronic driving aids like ABS and ESP. There's also a plethora of airbags, including front, front side, plus front and rear curtain airbags, to calm the nerves of passengers who decided to accompany you on your jaunt up steep mountain passes to the ski lodge.

And then there's that Chevrolet-sourced 6.0-litre engine, the one that generates about as much power as the Snowy Hydro project. Outputting a prodigious 307kW @ 6000rpm, the engine sure does like to rev, giving the Grange a claimed 0-100km/h acceleration time of 5.2 seconds. It doesn't feel quite this rapid on the road, and I'd wager the true figure is a lot closer to 6.0 seconds flat, but the numbers are not quite as important as the feel. And the Grange feels very powerful. All you need to know is that this Aussie-made luxury colossus will light up its rear hoops without much provocation, such is the steam-rolling power on tap.

The engine belts out a stump-pulling 550Nm of torque @ 4400rpm, and despite its low tech 2-valves per cylinder and OHV layout, it still manages to have a strangely refined feel at lower engine speeds. Because it generates such a huge amount of torque right across the rev range, there's basically no holes in the power delivery either, so when you want to overtake, the Grange won't disappoint.

Downsides to having such huge reserves of naturally aspirated power means that you must burn a lot of fuel to achieve it, and at around 14.5L/100km (and that's softing it) the Grange isn't the most environmentally friendly vehicle. I passed one Prius driver who glanced at the gleaming quad exhausts and 6.0-litre V8 badging and almost choked on his soy-milk latte.

I think another aspect of this vehicle that strikes people is it's immense size. If you want to make an impression at the next corporate function, this is one way to do it. Sure, a luxury SUV is big and bulky and gets noticed, but the HSV Grange is sizable in a way that isn't as far less inelegant. Just one look and you can tell the Grange is the business.

Owners may find themselves in a quandry with the HSV Grange, as did I. It can make you indecisive. 

Does one drive it and enjoy the vehicle's engine and chassis performance, or does one sit in the welcoming rear seats and bathe in the glory that is twin DVD screens, wireless headphones, luxury leather, climate control, and leg room aplenty? It's not unlike giving a monkey fresh dung and a banana at the same time. He finds both very enjoyable - wanting to eat one and throw the other - but can't decide which to discard.

Ah yes, the troubles that face HSV Grange owners...

This flagship model is bears the HSV emblem proudly, and is an impressive vehicle in terms of both performance and prestige. It's expensive in terms of Australian made machinery, yet compares exceedingly well to its German rivals. Fit and finish aren't up to German prestige standards found on the likes Audi and BMW, but it certainly holds its head high and the standard features list is not to be sneezed at.

Overall: 4/5

To call the Grange big and bulky would be stating the obvious. To call it refined and articulated, well, I wasn't so sure about that after my first drive, but that's exactly what it turned out to be. Over time the HSV Grange proved itself to be more than just a Caprice with a body kit, but the real-deal flagship HSV. Too good to be true? Not quite, but does offer very good bang for your buck, with masses of luxury and some clever driving systems to boot.

The Holden Caprice costs about $70,000. The HSV Grange costs about $83,000. Is the extra $13,000 worth dropping for the HSV? Depends what you're after really, but in my mind it's a big fat yes. The fitment of the Magnetic Ride Control system alone makes this vehicle far more confidence inspiring to drive and it's a more prestigious vehicle with a number of bespoke fittings. But... if you're not planning on raising the tempo or simply don't like increasing G-forces the Caprice would more than suffice.

A magnificently equipped luxury vehicle with a sporting pedigree that does the marque proud, the HSV Grange is arguably one of Australia's best cars. And if you're looking for something big, luxurious and special, but don't want to break the bank with an Audi S8 or BMW 750i Sport, the HSV Grange won't disappoint.