Browse over 9,000 car reviews

Feedback CARSguide Car Of The Year Winner 2006


Read related story


greg penrose
great car


scotty
It looks as though most people have seen through the smoke & mirrors of the marketing campaign ( all spent on News Ltd execs no doubt) that has won them this award and no doubt many more to come. On a positive, it is good to see the aussie car industry building better quality cars. My personal opinion though, is that the VE Commodore is the Prince Charles of cars - look at it from dead front on and you will see what I mean - Cheers Big Ears.


ALan W
Holden have done a good job, especially with 2 recalls over there heads. I would like to thank the "experts" for there choice. Do I holden.com.au??


Ross
No surprise the VE won - the amount of bias toward Holden

almost not only Carsguide but other motoring magazines in this counrty means that Holdens could fall to pieces while being driven and would still win COTY awards - it is a wonder any other make has ever won any of the COTY awards in Australia.


Mr Questions
How on earth does a company spend $1b and still end up with a car that looks the same as the last 3 models and still seems to have the worst recall rate of all cars on Australian roads!!! If this company was ASX listed it would be worth about 5cents.


Michael Daly
I think it's probably a good car but I also think Holden have have spent most of the billion dollars on over saturating the media.


Troy
I sat in a new Calais and it felt just like the Audi i'd sat in earlier that day, but all for a quarter of the price. So much car for your money! Worthy winner


Dot
I agree Roger J. This car is awesome and who ever knocks it, has eyes behind there ass


sasha
I don't really think so. It may be a good car and definitely better than the awful plasticky and poorly detailed Toyota Aurion (incidentally the Aurioin is sold as a V6 Camry in other world markets). My concern is that while it has come close to matching the Ford Falcon it has not managed, even with the benefit of $1 billion dollars, to comprehensively overtake the BF-II Falcon. The media will fawn over this car for a few months but they always do. It is embarrassing to watch, actually. For a few months they heap a new locally built car with praises and then a few months later the same car that was "automotiive nirvana' suddenly becomes a dog. The only car this did not apply to was the current Falcon and Territory. If you look at the initial road tests of the Commodore and the Aurion as well as the Mitsubishi 380 and incidentally also the AU Falcon you get heaps of praise and accolades of perfection being heaped on the car. A few weeks pass and all the chinks in the arm our appear. Its almost as if the media is too scared to tell the truth upfront. So anyway I don't think the VE Calais is the automatic winner. I would have chosen the Porsche, the Volvo C30 or the Mazda CX7.


Graeme
Nice looking car, have GM used the Mitsubishi 380 floor pan to ?


B Jordan
Biased "motoring" journalists demonstrated by the many, many articles of Holden products which never, never find any faults. I've learned to not to take any notice of their articles anymore until they show some credibility. Are they all driving Holden demos??


Buster
I am surpised that Calias won COTY after the billion dollar baby has already had a 2nd multi-million dollar recall program! Who needs reliability & safety in a Aussie Family sedan? She'll be right 'eh boys!


Mike
How much did General Motors pay?


Ricki
Recalled car! Fuel Guzzler! Too Expensive! Bad Decision (Bribe?)


Rich
As a current Commodore owner, l cannot understand how a fat oversized V8 car designed for the over 60's won coty. The Omega is the model most of us will look at and test drive. Calais, just not the right model for today. I guess the 1 billion they spent (god knows where) must have been used on buying out votes to kick start this car. Dont have an opinion on the other finalists!!! Just seems like someone was brought out as a lot of others seem to suggest?


Sean Ramic
i am a deadset holden fan no doubt about it but i dont think a v8 calais should be compared against the cars it was compared against we are talking chalk and cheese trying to compare all these different not even similar model cars against each other

 


 

stuk
A $billion piece of crap is still a piece of crap! GMH has had electrical problems for years now (I rented an Adventra in 2004 and it had serious problems) and they have done nothingabout fixing them. Mitsu and the Big T would never let that happen! Coomodore = Crap. End of story. But big advertising budgets speak volumes....


David King
How can you justify this car as the Car of the Year.A gas guzzling V8 that is so far out of the reach of the ordinary Australian it is not funny. In your own words this car has already had 2 recalls to correct faults, how many more will surface from range of vehicles that was rushed into production to stem the flow from the dealerships. I believe that there were more worthy winners in your final lineup then this vehicle which is a insult to all who read your newsletter, maybe it is time that you revisited what the drivers in the real world want from a car in these days off rising fuel prices and the struggle to look after the enviroment. I am not a"greenie" but I do belive that we must look at and develop alternative fuels, we only need to look to what the Eurpeans have done in improving the diesel engines which are so popular over there, a deisel engine even won Le Mons.


Angela
I don't see how a car that has had 2 recalls due to safety deserves to win Car of the Year. Are you guys being paid by Holden?


Kay Watson
I knew Holden could do it. Great!!


Johnnop68
To those people critizising the decision get a job, then maybe you should then give the car a test drive yourself instead of making ill informed comments. Remember it is now being sold in overseas markets and will be sold in more countries over next couple of years. Nothing else worldwide matches it at the price it is. $60,000 is not much money these days when you read that nowadays it takes people who work less time to buy a new car than less than 20 years ago. The Aurium is a upmarket camry with a v6, its even called camry in other markets. No doubt people will say they have tested a VE when they actually haven't because unfortunately a lot of writers on this are full of it. Remeber exports are crucial to our economy so put your own personal views behind you and give praise where praise is due, This car is helping all of us whether we are a Holden fan or not. If you don't like this go to the country or origin of the car you like and see just how lucky we are as a result of our local product. Also it wasn't the V8 that had a problem it was a outside component called a fuel pump as are the seatbelts. Those parts are not made by Holden, yet the car as a package is getting rave reviews around the world. Those journo's are not so called biased and to the person who said Holdn paid the journo's GROW UP you imbocile, who is paying you to write that crap. Oh I forgot you are either unemployed or on the payroll of another car company. BE PROUD OF AUSTRALIA AND SUPPORT AUSTRALIANS BY PRAISING A JOB WELL DONE BY OUR AUSTRALIAN HOLDEN WORKERS AND DESIGNERS AND EVERYONE INVOLVED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS EXCELLENT AUSTRALIAN PRODUCT.


Bill W.
It looks good with attractive lines - but under the skin it's still just old-fashioned American-inspired transport, and too big (as is the Falcon). Its choice as "Car of the Year" is out-dated, short-sighted parochialism at its worst. But it looks good, dammit!


Craig
I test drove a VE a few weeks ago. Major problems much to the embarrassment of the salesman...aircon couldn't be adjusted, running flat out all the time, radio didn't work as well as the rear left power window switch. This demo car had only travelled 100km. Indicative of GM's quality? I wouldn't buy one.


Pang
huh?! Calais over a Porsche Cayman?! what are you guys tripping on????!!!


Pedro
I think it was a great choice, although not my personal choice. It is a full sized, good looking, luxury car with safety, performance and low service costs. I'm absolutely sick of picking up car magazines and newspapers extolling the supposed virtues of Eurocrap cars. It is refreshing and rare to see Australian motoring journalists make objective decisions favouring non Euro vehicles. Propoganda, preconceptions, and a pathetic grasp for some sort of social status are the ONLY reasons people would NOT prefer a Calais to any other sedan under $100K , especially an ugly, overpriced, over rated, Eurocrap box.


Roger J
Talk about Sour Grapes. Credit where credit is due. For those who doubt the credentials of the VE I suggest you do a little research. The US, China even UK is falling in love with this car. The new Commodore is in the running to win the World car of the Year.


Eamon
I don't own or regularly drive any of the cars that made it into the final round so if I make a comment about which car should or should not have won, then I'm the one with the bias. The Calais won for a whole set of reasons, judged against criteria that was made public from day one.


Double
Objectively, It's hard to believe a car like this could possible win the car of the year award - which is not to say it is not a very nice drive. It's the biggest heaviest and thirstiest and it would have to be marked down on quality - we should expect better in 2006 and there were better. You have ignored the rest of the VE range which simply do not cut the mustard. It appears as if you had get the VE up somehow and cherry picked the Calais. I am quite sure had you had compared across the range the Aurion would have forced you to pick it - a tad inconvenient I suspect. I think we will look back at this and groan - a bit of a stitch up guys.


Phil P
NO....how can a car be judged COTY when it has only been around for 2 months with 3 recalls ????


Nathan Smith
Why not!!! Fantastic looking car and best around, take one for a test dive and see for yourself. All the Aurion is a Avalon dressed up.


Matt
All the write ups from all sources have rated the v8 Calais as top notch. Any negative comments in this debate should only come from those who have driven one. I personally believe Holden will be hearing a lot more interest from overseas markets when it is driven by more international media.


Mark McDonough
Well done Carsguide and Holden. A very worthy winner with a solid and safe driving platform and outstanding looks. As for the pathetic whinning whinges who berate Holden for winning this title, jump back in your environmentally unsound 1979 smog pump Toyota and drive back down to the pub. I am sure there there is a direct correlation between the more someone whinges about a Calais winning and the older, more unsafe their own vehicle is. I guess that also seperates the judges from the d***heads who think they know more than a trained vehicle judge. At least the judges drove the Calais!


MS
I love Holden and I think whatever they do is brilliant. The VE should have won COTY because it's a new Commodore and that's the most popular car in Australia. It's what we've always done!


DA
Yes - Any Aussie built car winning is great!


Jason
sometimes I wonder why I bother to read the local press on cars, too biased, too predictable. Car of the Winner 2006 maybe, but that car is what it's supposed to be at least 5 years ago !! Why are we so excited on it ?? Coz it wasted a billion dollars to build and a few recalls out already ??...amazing...


Ian
yes, great car, great winner, good to see an aussie car get the rewards it deserves


Joe Papez
Simply, NO!!!


Ben
What a surprise...the Holden Commodore won car of the year...how lame. At least Drive.com.au gave the award to a car that doesn't scream "bloody boring."


Cameron
yes its heaps better than the rest


Alan Peterson
Suzuki Swift move over.


John
Both the Calais (though I'd be happy with a 6) and the top of the line Aurion look the goods to me. But in this market segment, I feel GMH will still be the number one.


mike
not really, the calais is a very good car but it is not the best. i bought an Aurion it was way better than my friends calais. the calais returned feul figures of 15litre per 100km in real day usage. aurion is much a better package. anyway, who needs a stupid Calais? Are you going to hoon around the racing tracks?


Michael Iu
No! Calais is a second rate product, built by a second rate factory. Toyota can put together much better cars both here (in the Aurion / Camry) and more so in Japan (Lexus)...


Daryl Saal
So the best car in Australia is a 1.9 tonne vehicle, with a 6 litre pushrod 2 valve per cylinder engine that is made in America? tell your testers that it is now the 21 st century not 1954 when the basic design was laid down.


jeremy.
the holden commodore does not deserve to win.A safe car should win not a car that talks its self up.For example "world class quality" in two weeks the holden has had 2 recalls worldclass quality i think not.The ford territory should win or the toyota camry which is safe reliable not bad looking good value and most of all GOOD QUALITY.


rod beveridge
it has the looks and congratulations to holden for a great car


DARREN PALLOT
WHAT A JOKE!!! Are you on th GMH payroll again?? Good Car, but has been recalled TWICE in the first month....WHAT THE? That should be enough to put it down the list


Rob
Do i believe the holden Calais is a worthy winner?. I'm affraid not. A COTY winner should be a base car. The cheapest version of a car should be tested to find out how good it is. More people will be purchasing the base version than a version that is $10-15000 more expensive.


Gavin
There was never any doubt about your "decision". Holden means a great deal to News Ltd.


Mitch
the same day the calais V is crowned CARSguide car of the year, my dad finally recieves deliveriery of his V8 Calais V. it is definatly a worthy winner!


Glenn
Not enough cars were tested. There is no way a hyundai elantra can make the top 10 in any car contest. There are plenty of better cars which didn't even make your list.


johnl
NO CALAIS DOES NOT DESERVE TO WIN VERY BIASED JUDGES,firstly how can you pick a v8 in todays economic climate when people out there are buying small cars and scooters to save on fuel prices.Also you spend as much as 1 billion dollars you must not have any recalls,you have not mention no safety rating on the car as well.In my mind you judges dont no how to judge the car of year is the FIAT PUNTO out of all the cars chosen it has the best fuel economy the best safety,best looks and performance.I dont understand how the FIAT PUNTO wins germans golden sterring wheel award and autocar magazine best car and we give it a ten.so i guess the PUNTO scores a ten out of ten.I guess all thats left to say NUMERO UNO FIAT.


John Ralph
How can a V8 be Car of the Year. The mass market consumer is NOT interested in buying the vehicle. Yes it is a good car for what it is, but for the average Australian, so what. It is hardly relevant in todays market. Just because the Journo's have had their thrashing of the vehicle & their fun, that means NOTHING in the eyes of the mass market. So Get real - wake up. The journo's are not going to buy the vehicle themselves, and nor are they representative of the typical consumer. Go get a real job.


Frodo Baggins
I get sick of Holden fanboys, and their inability to comprehend the existence of non-Holden Commodore automobiles. It's inevitable that some of them will start their one-eyed crowing on this page very soon. It's also inevitable that the Holden Commodore will win every "Car of the Year" Award in Australia (and its already won a couple here in NZ). They have built a great car - not flawless - but definitely the best expression big Aussie sedan yet. However, I think the Focus XR5T was unlucky - and where was the Mazda CX7? - probably the best crossover since the Territory - with more of a sporty emphasis.


John-Paul
Too heavy, too thirsty. A largely irrelevant car to the majority of Australians (check dwindling sales). HELLO! Do you journos have any concept of global warming??!! Surely the Punto or Japanese hybrids are leading the way in fuel efficiency....doesn't the car industry have some responsibility here?


Josh H
Absolutely. I own one, and as each day goes by, the more my praise grows for it. Brilliant around the bends, classy and expensive looking interior, and sitting on its 20" wheels no other sub 100k sedan comes close in looks. So what, some external suppliers caused the all new car to have to be recalled? I wouldn't not buy one due to the fact I need to drop into the dealership for a quick change over of a part. Look at any other make, they have recalls too. Well done to everyone involved in the VE development!


Wayne Smith
CARSguide writes: "... while the Aurion is clinical and precise in the manner of a surgical instrument, it falls a little short on the count of emotion." In other words, the Aurion would have won COTY, if only it, too, had two manufacturing defects worthy of product recalls.


richard
dont think its good enough its already looking old to my eyes.And whats with the guards there to flared.It looks sily from behind.from side on u can see under the gaurds like the old magnas.There just over done i think


jack
In your face ford ( Found On Rubbish Dumps )


Dan
Holden Schmolden! This "competition" is rigged. I am sure there are much better cars than you boring average joe Commodore. Sorry, I mean "luxury" Calais. The only reason this fat gumby-looking common car won this thing is because Holden basically PAID money to get their name at the top. The winners of these competitions nowadays all come down to which marque spends the most money on advertising in the newspaper. Holden shouldn't be pleased they have to PAY to get their name there.


Bogan
Of course not


Bruce Acutt
When are Australians going to wean themselves off gas guzzling cars when 99.99% of the trips are suburban, bumper to bumper. Pick a sensible smaller car to educate car buyers that they dont need big cars.


Bruce Reid
The average punter must be scrathing his head at the awards for car of the year. No. 1 is for a 6 Litre, V8 guzzler and No. 4 costs almost $150,000 Apparantly, the criteria that was set places no importance on the current global environmental problems or the affordability factor for the average Joe.


trackdaze
V8 is dumb but ok. V6 commodore is god awfull.


Daniel Armstrong
Yes it certainly is. Anyone who has actually driven this car will completely agree that this is a fantastic car. It has a huge amount of features, great performance, and for 50 grand or so, it is brilliant.


Ro
I dont dispute the outcome. But its obvious that a top of the range car will be a winner with all the options. I feel this result is also biased as always. Thats a trademark of Carsguide car reviews.


Patrick
A worthy winner, well done Holden !


frank
predictable. Just about every new Falcadore has won car of the yearfrom at least one of the newspaper/mags everytime.


PR
Theres no way the Commodore should have won. Sure its a fine car, but lacks the refinement of German Euro and Upper Japanese marques.


Tony Colman
I have just purchased a Calais V8, and it is the best cat I have ever driven. I have driven the Aurion and Audi's. This is the best.


Chris
Did the Calais win the most recalled car of the year award?


Joe Paglia
Does the VE need to be a Calais with a 6 litre v8 and 6 spd auto and an almost 60k price tag to be voted as car of the year?what about the Omega and other lower models that will make up around 95% of Holdens volume?are you saying that the rest of the range aren't up to scratch?past winners have been model ranges and not just specific models ie. Ford Territory not just Territory Ghia AWD.


SOS
Not a chance. I guess you can see where most of the $1b went, straight to all the car journo boffins pockets. COTY is a publicity joke and I am thinking that most of Australia couldn't give two hoots about a silly award that means so little. COTY is won in the showrooms where sales make or break a model. Ask Bitsaremissing how sales are for the 380 since winning a COTY award.


jr
Besy car for Australian conditions my arse ! It dosent even have a proper spare tyre you clowns.


Deadly
A overweight six litre V8 dinosaur with a clunky transmission and highly questionable quality car of the year? - are you guys in some parallel universe?


Darren Broadbent
How can the Car of the Year be the VE Calais. Still car has been released for about 4 months and has had two major recalls, yes one was for the V8 engine. I thought with 1 BILLION dollars invested in the car that these problems would not occur! The Engine is basically the same V6 that was in the VZ I believe the Aurion should of won. New Engine new platform. Sorry guys you got it Wrong!


Allan
Well i'm glad to see that it was a Aussie made car that made it....Well done judges!!


Alan
With a dated drivetrain, cheep looking and feeling, poorly screwed together interior and poor aftersales service...no way! It would not surprise that the press will as usual overlook all it's faults and please the plebs by voting it the winner?


Glenn Corey
For those who have not yet had the privilege to drive one, Holden Calais V V8 is truly a world class car. My decision to order one 3 months ago will be vindicated when I pick up my car this coming Monday. I cannot wait. To know that it is now CARSguide Car of The Year make me feel proud to be an Australian. Well done Holden!


Richard
If my experience with Holdens isany guide the gloss will soon wear off. I spent more money keeping a Holden on the road in one year than I did keeping a Mazda for 14 years To me it looks like a TS stra (which is a good looking car) but why trumpet about something that has been around for 8 years.


sportivo26
This is not a surprise, not because the Holden is really a great car but with all the hoopla and drum beating that this car has been getting the past few months especially in Carsguide articles, what's to expect? I just think though that the criteria for your judging doesn't really reflect the real world especially now of increasing cost of living. I think fuel efficiency, durability, overall safety, reliability and over all value for money should be the determing factor. Cmo'n guys we don't buy cars to race and see how it will turn in a sharp curve, we buy cars to get from point a to b, and get there safely. As with your argument that this car is really built for Australian condition, then how come it comes standard with a space saver tyre and even the aircon is still optional on standard model. Ouch.


View cars for sale