Road test: Holden Adventra

By Feann Torr & Peter Maniatis

The AWD revolution is well and truly upon us, and a case in point is Australia's biggest family car manufacturer, Holden, releasing it's own crossover four wheel drive wagon.

Beating Ford to the line as Australia's first locally developed and engineered AWD crossover (the AWD Magna isn't considered a true crossover), Holden is likely to claim bragging rights in the power stakes, due to Ford's insistence to use only 6-cylinder engines for the Territory.

Though the Holden Adventra isn't pioneering a new crossover genre - Volvo, Subaru and Audi have their XC70, Outback and Allroad models respectively - it does signal the marque's intent to go down the AWD crossover path, that which mixes the traditional wagon with go (almost) anywhere all-paw traction.

More than just a jacked up wagon, the new Adventra aims to please those with a passion for the outdoors, and with the ability to get off the beaten track with a 4WD system tailored to local conditions and V8 power to ensure all wheels get plenty of torque, the Adventra is off to a good start.

Make: Holden
Model: Adventra (CX8)
Price: $48,990
Transmission: 4 speed auto
Engine: 5.7-litre, 16-valve, Vee-eight cylinder
Fuel Consumption: City cycle - N/A, Highway cycle - N/A
Seats: 5
Safety: Front driver and passenger SRS and thorax airbags, ABS, EBD

Drive

2004 Holden Adventra CX8

Despite sitting 80mm higher than the standard VYII Commodore wagon, the Adventra offers a familiar feel to its rear wheel drive siblings whilst delivering noticeably better road holding capabilities.

This familiarity is most likely due to the calibration of Holden's 'Cross Trac' full time AWD system, where the torque split is 38% to the front wheels and 62% to the rear wheels.

Testament to Holden's new AWD system, grip levels in the wet were impressive under heavy acceleration, as were rapid escapes down bumpy unsealed roads.

Driving the Adventra on dry bitumen feels as if you are in command of the road, and behind the wheel of a more expensive 4WD European soft roader. It's a solid car, but one that offers adequate feedback through the steering wheel.

The extra height delivers the classic 4WD benefits of better road visibility, and also feels as if you have greater control on the road - be it real or perceived, and far from just an automotive gimmick, the Cross Trac system works well in light to medium off road conditions.

With V8 torque levels to back it up, the Adventra has good reserves of power to call on when needed, whether overtaking on the freeway, crossing shallow creeks, and heading up steep inclines. With a towing capacity of 1600kg (which can be increased to 2100kg if need be), the Adventra is well equipped to haul boats, caravans and other heavy loads.

While Holden is quick to point out that it's the first local manufacturer to offer an AWD crossover vehicle that's been designed, developed and engineered in Australia specifically for unique local conditions - an indirect swipe at Ford's Territory - such facts matter little if the end result is wanting. Thanks to Holden's engineers, this is not the case, and the Adventra does a lot of things right.

Compared to a standard rear wheel drive Holden wagon, there is a discernible difference in the way the Adventra both grips the road and turns. It should be mentioned, though, that this is no desert dueller. The Cross Trac AWD system gives users a better feel for the road and a very pragmatic power delivery when inclement weather arrives, but it will protest if you try to cross difficult terrain.

In terms of its off road credentials, a rollover angle of 54 degrees is in it's favour, and it complies with the official definition of 4WD with an approach angle of 20 degrees and a departure angle of 21 degrees - extra brownie points for that one.

The Bridgestone Turanza tyres, developed specially for the Adventra, handle loose (small) stones and light off road conditions well, but are geared more towards sealed surfaces. With chunky 225/55 width/profile tyres, both the entry level CX8 and luxury LX8 get 17-inch rims.

Cross Trac provides good handling in the rough...

As such, the feeling of control and the relationship the vehicle has on the bitumen is definitely delivered via the AWD system and the Bridgestone rubber, and it will be interesting to see how the upcoming AWD HSV Monaro and other high performance all-paw Holdens drive -- one would assume rather well if the Adventra is anything to go by.

Holden's 5.7-litre V8 engine gives plenty of grunt and power, in turn contributing to the car's sense of control in all but the very worst conditions, but it also gives you that extra confidence off road when you know you need a bit of get up and go to get out of the rough stuff.

One thing that did irritate us about the Adventra was the time it took the engine's electronic control unit to tell the fuel injectors to open 100%.

Though this is probably more an issue with the auto-only transmission, it felt like throttle response was lacking somewhat when the pedal was aggressively pushed to the metal. It also drinks more fuel than the a similar RWD Holden V8.

Obviously not delivering the 4WD capabilities that LandCruiser and Pajero buyers are looking for, the Adventra definitely delivers the function, look, feel and stance of the intermediate AWD vehicle. All wheel traction gives the driver greater confidence to travel further for weekend expeditions and not have to worry half way down a long dirt road of getting caught in changing conditions caused by rain, for instance.

Due to the high ride and its off road pretensions, the suspension travel is longer than usual - and also more durable - and is set up a little more softly than Commodore. This results in a more comfortable ride over pot holes, speed humps and generally cruddy roads.

Even with supple suspension, the car felt pretty good in most conditions, and didn't pitch too much under heavy acceleration/deceleration, though the softish suspension and higher centre of gravity resulted in a fair amount of body roll in sharper corners. It's no SS.

Brakes wise, and the Adventra does remarkably well for its 1940kg. The almost two-tonne vehicle gets upgraded brakes (302mm vented discs front, 286mm solid discs rear) to deal with the extra bulk, but in addition to this and to match its rugged intent, the Adventra also benefits from a more robust cooling system, and chassis reinforcements such as a protective undertray (front and rear) made the cut too.

Engine

The Canadian-built Generation III Chevrolet small block is the backbone of Holden's powertrain range, and in this application it works particularly well.

Lusty V8 engine provides effortless driving

The car feels nicely planted when pushed to higher speeds and though the transmission is the weakest link in the drivetrain package, it's not a hard vehicle to live with. While the 460Nm of torque is distributed to four wheels instead of two, the Adventra still has plenty of pickup.

Power output of 235kW @ 5200rpm gives the car a lusty top end, while peak torque of 460Nm @ 4000rpm ensures there's plenty of mid-range shove.

The bottom end - say between 1500rpm and 3000rpm - isn't lacking either, and despite it's almost two tonne kerb weight, it feels pretty quick.

Vital statistics are as follows: The all-alloy 5667cc V8 has gear driven overhead valves (or pushrods), two valves per cylinder, a 10.1:1 compression ratio and a 75-litre fuel tank. Power generated is 235kW @ 5200rpm, and 460Nm of torque hits @ 4000rpm.

According to Holden, the Cross Trac system has 1781 variables programmed into the AWD software which, when used with the automatic brake differential (ABD) system to modify the torque split, can deal with gravel, sand and 'deformable surfaces', such as mud and snow without driver intervention.

Exterior

Holden's design team deserve a pat on the back for coming up with the rugged look of the Adventra, yet again adding a fresh touch to the VY family. Based on a slightly stretched Commodore wagon, the front end gets a new front bumper housing with faux metallic sump-guard and xenon headlights round out the front end.

Flared wheel arches go a long way to differentiating the Adventra from a stock standard wagon, giving it more width and a tougher, more robust demeanour, and these flow to the side skirts, which get a touch of metal for added contrast.

Like the front bumper and on the side skirts, there's also an aluminium-look section at the rear, while newly-designed brake light clusters, high-mount LED light strip, central-mount reverse lights and twin rectangular exhaust pipes give the car a very modern derriere.

The six-spoke, 17-inch alloy wheels of the CX8 we tested lend the car a more decisive look, compared to say the Volvo XC70's 16-inch rims.

Holden evolves it's styling to the AWD genre

The more expensive LX8 ($60,990) gets five spoke 17-inch wheels plus other additions like a sunroof and leather upholstery, which are cost options on the CX8 ($2,710 and $2,050 respectively).

All things considered, the Adventra is a very nice vehicle to look at, perhaps one of the best Commodore variants yet.

Interior

Seating is almost identical to that of the Commodore - roomy, comfortable and well suited to larger bodies.

The CX8 gets velour trim, which is actually quite nice to touch, plus a leather steering wheel, aircon and electric drivers seat adjustment only. The front passenger will have to adjust the seat manually.

The obligatory Holden-issue flip-out cup holders are great, and electric windows and mirrors on the entry level model are nice touches. The dashboard is fairly generic, but the chrome-rimmed dials are always nice to look at, and add a bit of dynamism to proceedings.

60:40 split-fold rear seats allow for bulky items, and storage areas such as the centre console and door pockets add practicality, and an extra row of seats can be optioned, taking capacity from five people to seven. The tailgate can be opened in two stages as well - in the traditional method, and just the flip-up window, allowing for quick access to the boot.

The multi-stack CD stereo offers good audio clarity via six-speakers, and in addition to ABS and EBD, four airbags (driver, passenger, 2x thorax) complete the safety package.

While it's not exactly setting trends in the crossover market segment, the Adventra's interior packaging is nonetheless well thought-out and suits the car's more rugged personality nicely.

Overall: 4/5

At a cost of $125 million, the Adventra program was money well spent. The wagon looks great, and while there are inherent issues with the transmission, almost everything else about AWD wagon works well.

While most Adventra's will spend more than 90% of their time on the black top, it still manages to operate adequately on the rough stuff, and it's a very versatile vehicle, with loads of interior room and all the mod cons.

The entry level price of under $53k puts the Adventra in good stead, as competitors such as the V8 Audi Allroad ($108,900) and 154kW Volvo XC70 ($68,950) may offer better craftsmanship, but not performance or value for money.

As the widest and highest vehicle manufactured by Holden, there's a lot to be said about the marque's first foray into the AWD crossover genre. And most of it's very positive indeed.