2015 Ford Falcon Reviews

Ewan Kennedy reviews the 2002, 2004, 2008, 2011 and 2015 Ford Falcon as a used buy. In October 2016 the last Ford Falcon left the assemble line, not long after its 56th birthday in Australia. What does this mean on the used-car scene for the period being examined here, 2002 - 2016? At this stage the answer is we

Based on our experience, the best towing vehicle is either a full-size 4x4 ute or wagon with a turbo-diesel engine and automatic transmission.

Peter Barnwell road tests and reviews the FG X Ford Falcon XR6 with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

Dark clouds may be amassing on the Ford Australia horizon with the approaching demise of manufacturing but there is some sunshine still in the blue oval skies. Heading the Falcon flight is the FG X XR8 sedan, with which Ford has returned a V8 engine – the 5.0-litre supercharged Boss unit – to the Falcon XR Series

Regular readers will be aware that one of our constant gripes is that Australian governments of all persuasions are making little or no attempt to encourage us to switch to low-emission vehicles. So the cancellation, in mid-2014, of the previous $2000 federal government grant on private-use LPG vehicles – including this week's test car, the Ford Falcon EcoLPi – while disappointing, should come as no surprise.The change means that buyers must now pay the full $2500 surcharge if they opt for the cleaner burning LPG fuel over the equivalent petrol-fuelled Falcon. Based on previous calculations by Ford Australia it will take about two and a half years to recoup this amount. In the unlikely event of the current low petrol prices continuing for any length of time then it will take even longer.Unless Ford changes its mind and follows the lead of Holden, who have decided to retain the Commodore name post-local production, then this will be the final generation of the Ford Falcon. And a sad day it will be with more than 3.5 million Falcons being sold since its debut in 1960.The EcoLPi is now available in the entry level Falcon and XR6 models with both sedan, cab-chassis and Styleside ute bodies. Our test was in the XR6 sedan.RELATED: 2015 FG X Ford Falcon six-cylinder vs EcoBoostMORE: 2015 FG X Ford Falcon XR8 review | first driveALSO: 2015 Ford Falcon FG X | the story behind the story The most obvious exterior change is the new global Ford signature trapezoidal grille, which to my eyes doesn't work anywhere near as well in the big Falcon as it does in the smaller Fords. There's also a new chiselled headlight treatment and smoother, wraparound tail-lamps with LED technology on high-end models. The EcoLPi XR6 gets daytime running lights where the standard Falcon doesn't.There's little to distinguish it from the petrol XR6The first thing that you'll notice when you get into the EcoLPi Falcon is a delay of a second or so between pressing the start button and the engine firing up. Indeed, apart from the screw-in fuel cap and a slightly smaller boot (down 71 litres to 464 litres) there's little to distinguish it from the petrol XR6. That boot space is helped by the absence of any sort of spare tyre. A repair kit is supplied.The EcoLPi six-cylinder engine generates 198kW and 409Nm at 3250 rpm, marginally higher (by 3kW and 18Nm) than the same engine when operating on 95RON unleaded petrol. EcoLPi's power peaks at 5000 rpm, 1000 revs lower than the petrol, and so can run out of steam a bit early.Fuel consumption from the Ford Falcon EcoLPi is about 25 per cent higher than that for the equivalent six-cylinder petrol model. The 120-litre gas cylinder can only be filled to about 93 litres as space must be left for expansion of the liquid into gas form. In country running the fuel range can be over 700 kilometres, around town this will drop to about 400-500km.The EcoLPi shares a five-star ANCAP safety rating with the whole FG X Falcon range.Official ADR 81/02 testing with EcoLPi on the combined urban/highway cycle produced figures of 12.6L/100km on the EcoLPi XR6. On a 400km round trip to the NSW South Coast we averaged an acceptable 13.6L/100 km.Similarly, CO2 emissions from the EcoLPi are 204g/km compared with 225g/km from the petrol XR6.In addition to the standard safety features both Falcon EcoLPi models get a driver fatigue warning system; reversing camera; front and rear parking sensors; front seat side-thorax airbags; and with its dynamic stability control recalibrated to match the Ford EcoLPi engine, transmission and suspension.The EcoLPi shares a five-star ANCAP safety rating with the whole FG X Falcon range.We found Bluetooth pairing to be frustratingly complex to such an extent that we almost went to the last resort and consulted the owner's handbook!While such things are an annoyance to motoring journos who change cars every week they will easily become second nature to 'real' buyers and Ford's Microsoft-based Sync2 system certainly offers plenty of leading edge technology including emergency assistance and voice commands to control telephone, music, radio, air conditioning and satellite navigation (package option in XR6).The system is accessed through a high-resolution 8-inch colour touch screen with four large colour-coded quadrants. It's easy to use with minimum distraction time.The driving dynamics so much better than any of the SUVsThere's also digital radio, that is if you live in a city.Coming off a succession of SUV road tests we found Falcon slightly more cramped on entry with the steering wheel needing to be set high and the seat low to avoid knee-scraping. Once underway all that was forgotten with the driving dynamics so much better than any of the SUVs. But that's the practicality vs performance trade-off battle that SUVs are clearly winning and contributing to the Falcon's demise.Out on the open road Falcon EcoLPi XR6 is indistinguishable from its petrol-fuelled partner. Its quiet and comfortable when cruising and with excellent turn-in, plenty of rear grip and minimal body roll even under hard cornering.Unlike other alternative fuels, LPG is readily available right across Australia

The final chapter in Ford Australia's muscle-car story is a supercharged, track-focused V8 hot rod. Blast hurrah.This is what you call going out with a bang. The XR8 was finally reinstated to the struggling Falcon line-up last year after it was dropped back in 2010.The supercharged V8 hero arrived too late to save the Falcon, with Ford's local production set to end in October next year, but it will at least give Ford fans something to smile about.The XR8 is essentially a reborn FPV GT-RSPEC, a track- focused muscle car, which has been updated with new styling and some fresh technology.The XR8 is effectively an FG Falcon with Ford's latest corporate designed nose and tail.It looks like the soon-to-be-released Mondeo (sold as Fusion in the US), with a little bit of Mustang mixed in.It has a subtle raised bonnet, instead of the bold power bulge of the FG model, and W-shape LED lights that give the car a more aggressive look.The interior is updated slightly, with a new-look screen, instrument cluster and fresh leather trim (with new seats).It looks neat and clean and everything is within reach, but it also looks very dated.The eight-inch touch screen looks good and has the latest Sync 2 system, which, among other things, means the car can call for help automatically in the event of a crash. There are two USB charger points in the centre console too.There is plenty of room in the cabin and the leather seats are very comfortable. The driver's seat is still too high, even though the cushion has been recut to lower the seating position.The XR8 has satnav and a reversing camera as standard. Unlike the SS-V Redline Commodore, it doesn't get self-parking, but that's unlikely to bother the target market.The XR8 is a snorting muscle carThis is a muscle car, made for people who enjoy their driving. More importantly, the XR8 misses out on a heads-up display, which is a notable omission in a car that requires close attention to the speedo. There is no option of any automatic emergency braking either.The XR8 is a snorting muscle car, but is actually quite refined around town, when driven smoothly. The optional automatic is the best choice for anyone who is going to spend most of their time in the traffic, as the manual is fairly clunky.The XR8 has a stiffer suspension package; the old cars would slump into a corner and float around over bumps.This car is well tied down, and feels sharper and more responsive through corners, helped by its precise, well-weighted steering. The penalty, on bumpy roads, is a jittery ride, bordering on harsh.Wider rear tyres now mean the XR8 is less of a handful and can sling out of corners fast, instead of sliding about.The transmission also helps with the driving experience, intuitively adapting to more enthusiastic driving and extracting the most out of the big V8.This engine is an absolute gem.Not satisfied with a 5.0-litre V8, FPV threw a supercharger into the mix as well.It has a wicked soundtrack, a mix of supercharger whine and exhaust thunderOfficially, it has 335kW, but it actually produces 375kW thanks to a supercharger overboost function that operates almost all the time in all gears, except first. That makes the SS Commodore's 270kW (260kW as an automatic) look and feel paltry. It is a thrill to accelerate and has way more torque than you need in any gear.Buyers should do the odd track day to unleash this beast.It has a wicked soundtrack, a mix of supercharger whine and exhaust thunder, with some cracking and popping thrown in.It is a thirsty beast and expect it to go well above the official fuel economy figure of 13.6L/100km, but hey, this is a hot rod that probably won't be used for commuting.

As another bumper weekend of cricket looms, James Stanford asks if a four can ever be better than a six.

The Falcon GT may be dead, but the elements we loved most live on in the new FG X XR8 which forms a new performance flagship in the leadup to the Falcon’s late 2016 end date.  Returning after a four year hiatus, the XR8 has often been a slower alternative to an SS Commodore, and even trumped at times by its six

Joshua Dowling road tests and reviews the FG X Ford Falcon at its launch.

Ford Australia has started the final chapter of a story that began in 1933.This week in Albury, it launched the last ever locally made Ford ute, the FG X, which will be produced until mid-2016 when Ford shuts its Australian factories for good.The locally made sedan-based ute has a special place in Australian automotive history, given it was invented by young Ford designer Lew Bandt.His creation came after a letter had arrived at company headquarters requesting a dual-purpose vehicle that was smart enough to drive to church, but practical enough to cart livestock to market.Back then, when delivery trucks had basic half-door cabins (or no doors at all), its passenger car cabin must have seemed luxurious.In terms of ride quality, it is superior to the importsAustralia’s obsession with utility vehicles grew even stronger when the Falcon-based ute, an Australian version of Ford’s American Ranchero, was launched in 1961.It outlived both the long-wheelbase Fairlane and the Falcon wagon. More recently, vastly improved workhorse utes (including crew cabs) from Thailand such as the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger have eroded its market share — and that of the rival Commodore ute — dramatically.Lower sales have meant less money to invest in new models and that is reflected in the lack of significant change in the latest model.The FG X ute doesn’t get all the upgrades that come with the sedan, which is perhaps why Ford didn’t include it in the official launch drive.Luckily, it brought an EcoLPI XR6 Ute along to haul spare wheels and this column leapt in to commandeer it.The ute looks the same from the rear but it gets the new Ford family front end, including its aggressive narrow headlights and daytime running lights. There are no aluminium body parts but the bonnet is made from super high-tensile steel that is lighter but also stronger than before.Inside, it gets a new eight-inch high-res touchscreen, new seats and trim and a fresh instrument cluster. It has a new radio, with dual antennas, which can also receive digital radio stations.New wide blade automatic windscreen wipers have also been fitted.There are no changes to the ute’s engine line-up, which comprises a regular 195kW petrol six-cylinder, the 270kW XR6 Turbo and the 198kW EcoLPI. There is no four-cylinder or V8 option.The petrol and gas non-turbo six-cylinder models get a converter that is able to save fuel without affectingrque refinement.Ford has rejigged pricing and the range runs from the base ute at $39,390 through to the red-hot XR6 Turbo at $39,810.Our XR6 gas-powered EcoLPI Ute is normally $35,140 but was fitted with the $4350 Luxury Pack that includes sports leather seats, satnav and 19-inch alloy wheels.The last ever Falcon is a handy work tool that also happens to comfortable and fun to driveIt is a smart-looking ute, especially thanks to the LED running lights that flash on when you flick the key in the ignition.The seats are more supportive than before and the leather trim looks classy. The interior still looks dated but it is still far more refined than any of the imported workhorse utes.In terms of ride quality, it is superior to the imports.The EcoLPI engine is an absolute beauty. It is well worth the $2500 premium and is noticeably more potent than the already pokey petrol six-cylinder (it has 18Nm more torque).Even better, the LPG tanks don’t intrude into the cargo area and there is still enough room for a spare wheel under the tray (this is not the case with the Holden LPG Ute).With a payload of up to a tonne and maximum tow rating of 2300kg, the last ever Falcon is a handy work tool that also happens to comfortable and fun to drive.It’s a concept that will be missed.