Holden Commodore Evoke 2014 Review

Holden's VF Commodore was seen as the company's great hope for both local and export markets. But that hope was cruelled late last year with a grumpy government and cranky US management conspiring to put the local arm out of its misery perhaps five years earlier than we might have expected.

And part of the Commodore's swansong is the Evoke model aimed at fleet buyers – but sporting features that you rarely see at that level.

VALUE

Being the fleet special, the Evoke comes with a fleet price of $34,990 (or near offer) and mostly fleet-level spec. Surprisingly, it also comes with a few things you might expect the private buyer to be keen on, which -- judging by the VF's sales performance -- they are.

Headlining the VF's attractions is the auto-park feature that helps put the big sedan in a tight spot with less of the drama than working it out yourself. Not everyone is a fan of this feature, but it's there, underlining the big jump in sophistication for the VF.

Inside is clothed in cloth of a hardy variety and the plastics of a hard but not-too-scratchy variety. The MyLink shared with the Malibu is placed up in the dash and connects to your phone for music, Stitcher and Pandora integration, again a nice surprise in a basic car. There's no leather, not even fake, but the interior isn't too sparse without it.

Outside, the theme is once again basic. The VF rolls on 16-inch alloys of a fairly conservative design and high profile tyres suggest comfort if not high grip levels. The Evoke also sports air-conditioning, six-speed automatic, reversing camera and parking sensors (for the do-it-yourselfers like me)

DESIGN

The VF is a finely proportioned car, with a few hints of BMW here and there but an unmistakeably Holden look at the front end. Its tapering rear helps to visually downsize the car but the wheels look a bit dinky, especially when you see SS-Vs getting around with well-filled arches.

The interior is well thought-out, with an intriguing panel of what looks like recycled jeans on the dash and doors to break up the plastic. It's something different to the usual blank plastic expanse and it's a shame the company didn't see an opportunity for customisation.

SAFETY

The VF range has a five star ANCAP safety rating, with six airbags, ABS, stability and traction controls, brake force distribution and brake assist. The reversing camera is a must given the high boot deck and has a good view of the car and its surroundings.

TECHNOLOGY

Under the bonnet is the old faithful V6, displacing three litres and producing 185kW and a mildly disappointing 290Nm of torque. That second figure is a bit weak considering small turbo engines are putting out that kind of twist and not a lot less power. It's not exactly a tech-head's delight, but it's honest.

DRIVING

The last Commodore I drove was a VE and I hated it. The wooden, recalcitrant steering ruined an otherwise decent chassis. Steering on a rear-wheel drive car should be good as a default and in the VF, that problem is gone. The steering is now much better, with a far better feel and a bit more information from the road surface.

It's also a much more fluid handler and with the newer model having a better traction and stability control program, a more settled car too. The VE could be diabolical in the wet and the lack of steering communication contributed to that. You can have some fun in the Evoke, but the tyres let it down as they're too high profile and weak in the sidewalls. But the fundamentals are there, so that's a start.

In normal driving, however, this is a fine car to roll around in. While it may not have the height of its SUV nemeses, it's certainly an easier car to manouvre around and has the V6 punch most SUV owners can only dream about. The six-speed automatic is much-improved over the VE, with a much better response and less dopey shift patterns.

The ride handling team have struck an excellent balance, with good body control and a mix of handling and comfort. The VF understeers when pushed hard, but can easily be dialled out with a lift on the throttle if you've got a little too enthusiastic in a roundabout. Grip isn't bad, even from the cheap tyres but there'll be no Nurburgring lap records from this one. As ever, passengers have acres of room in their supportive seats and back seat passengers have a good view out as long as they're over five feet tall.

VERDICT

As fleet specials go, the Commodore is probably the best. It's easily a better car than the current Falcon (soon to be updated) and has a massive edge over the soporific Camry, Holden's own Malibu and assorted Korean competition. No, it isn't stacked with gear and isn't the last word in technological sophistication. It's also not a blinged up compact SUV, which is where all the private buyers seem to have gone, but in my world, that's a huge plus.

And never mind you won't be able to buy one in three years, right now this is a great car that can be had for a great price. Go and drive a much more expensive German competitor and you'll see it isn't the naff Dad's car that it used to be. It's a world-class, competent big sedan that doesn't deserve its undignified euthanasing.
 

Holden Commodore Evoke sedan

Price: from $34,990
Engine: 3.0-litre 6-cylinder petrol, 185kW/290Nm
Transmission: 6-speed auto, RWD
Thirst: 8.3L/100Km

RIVALS

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