Holden Epica CDXi diesel 2008 review

The Daewoo-sourced Epica was launched here in April last year with a choice of an underwhelming 2-litre petrol motor and a more perky 2.5-litre six-cylinder.

But both cars failed to inspire buyers who had a rich choice in the mid sized market between Toyota's Camry, Ford's Mondeo, the Mazda 6 and Honda Accord.

Add a shortage of supply and the Epica fell to a distant fifth in the sales charts.

Explore the 2007 Holden Epica range

• Holden Epica 2008 review
• Holden Epica CDXi diesel 2008 review
• Holden Epica CDX 2008 review

Holden's marketing and sales boss Alan Batey, says he wanted to establish the Epica - the replacement for the European-sourced Vectra - with a diesel version but at the time it was not available.

Now it is and Holden expects the diesel Epica will account for at least half its sales.

“The petrol version established the Epica nameplate, but ideally we would have liked to have had the diesel from the start,” Batey said.

“We believe the vehicle will be very successful; we are offering economy to the mid sized equation. For under $30,000 you can now buy a diesel with a six-speed automatic and six airbags, how good is that?”

The Epica, from GM's Bupyong plant in South Korea, has essentially been relaunched with the lacklustre 2-litre four-cylinder manual-only CDX now axed from the line up. The range now consists of two engine choices (the in-line six cylinder petrol and the four-cylinder diesel) one transmission (six-speed auto with manual select) and two well equipped trim levels (the CDX and the CDXi).

The Epica gains more in the value stakes with extra equipment while pricing for the petrol remains unchanged starting at $27,990.

The commonrail diesel, the same motor from the Captiva, slips in under the $30,000 barrier at $29,990.

There's a $3000 difference between specification levels.

Standard safety equipment includes electronic stability control, traction control, anti-lock brakes and six air bags. Service intervals have ben stretched out to 15,000km. The CDXi gains reart park assist.

The turbocharged diesel, according to Holden, sips on average just 7.6 litres per 100km despite adding 70kg to the car's weight. It develops 110kW at 4000rpm and a hefty 320Nm of torque at 2000rpm, although it is not the cleanest diesel on the market, producing 210g/km of carbon dioxide. Holden says the diesel is 23 per cent more fuel efficient than market leader, the petrol-powered Toyota Camry with an automatic transmission and has lower CO2 emissions.

Holden says switching from a five-speed to a six-speed automatic transmission for the petrol model has improved fuel economy at highway speeds by as much as 14 per cent, although its overall fuel economy rating remains unchanged at 9.3l/100km. There have been minor styling changes to the front and rear to bring the car more up to date. DRIVING You can understand why Holden wanted the diesel Epica from day one. For an oil burner it is remarkably quiet and vibration-free and provides a comfortable drive thanks to a well sorted suspension. The sombre all-grey interior is still a let down, feeling cold and lifeless and doesn't match the upmarket feel of the Thai-built Honda Accord. No question about the Epica's value for money however. The move by Holden to bring the diesel in under $30,000 should be a market winner.

But you can question the match between automatic and diesel engine. At 100km/h the motor spins away at 2000 revs; move up to 110km/h and the engine is more relaxed at 1800rpm, meaning the car is more fuel efficient at speeds above most highway limits.