2008 Holden Epica Reviews

Holden’s medium-large Epica wasn’t a sales success during its time on the new-car market that began in March 2007, with the car being quietly slipped off the new-car price list in February 2011.The Epica was relatively expensive and had a sedan body in a class that favours hatchbacks. Its South Korean heritage didn’t do it any favours either, though there was some Holden input in the design and mechanical setup. The result is poor resale value that makes the Holden Epica a real bargain on the used-car front.Epica has moderately good steering feel as it has some Aussie design input in the suspension and steering. However, it may be firmer in its ride on medium to rough roads than some owners like. On motorways it’s impressively smooth and quiet.Holden Epica’s interior space should be better for a car of this size that has the space saving layout offered by a transverse engine. Legroom in the rear is restricted unless those in the front are willing to give up a few notches of seat travel. Boot space is good, an advantage of the sedan body as it has a longer tail than hatchbacks’.Holden Epica has proven reliable to date and we see no reason why this won’t continue as, by the time it was designed, the Koreans had learnt a lot about build quality. As always, good cars can fall into bad hands so it still pays to have a professional inspection before forking out your hard-earned.The biggest feature of the Holden Epica is its straight-six petrol engine in a class of car that’s totally dominated by four-cylinder engines. The sixes are delightfully smooth and give Epica a real air of refinement.The six-cylinder petrols come with capacities of 2.0 litres and 2.5 litres. The former are offered only with a five-speed manual gearbox, the latter with an automatic transmission, also with five ratios. Performance is good without being outstanding as these are relatively small engines in a largish car. A slow seller, the 2.0-litre engine was pulled from the Australian market midway through 2008July 2008 saw the introduction of a turbo-diesel engine. This time with just four cylinders and a capacity of 2.0 litres, but with the advantage of a six-speed automatic transmission compared with the five-speed in the petrol autos. It has far too much turbo lag but once that has finally passed it works well when climbing hills, even with a load on board.Holden is well represented Australia wide, with dealers in even the smallest of towns. It’s unlikely country dealers will have spare parts of the Epica in stock, but bits can generally be delivered within a couple of business days. We have heard no real complaints about spare parts prices, or of shortages in the populated areas of Australia.Epica is easy to work on with a decent amount of underbonnet space. Good home mechanics can do most of their own work – but we advise they steer clear of any safety items.Insurance costs are generally low. As is sometimes the way with any car that’s a relatively small seller, there can be quite a variation in premium prices so it’s worth shopping around. Just be sure you are comparing apples with apples.WHAT TO LOOK FORBuild quality is generally good, but listen for squeaks and rattles when driving on rough roads, especially in the area behind the dashboard. This is unlikely to be a cause for breakdown, but can be irritating. Check under the bonnet for signs of weeping at the petrol pump.A petrol engine should start easily and idle very smoothly, anything else is a sign to be wary. Diesels that are overly noisy may be due for a major service, or an overhaul.Epicas with the 2.0-litre six-cylinder petrol engine are underpowered by Australian drivers’ standards and may have been thrashed. Get a professional to check it if there’s the slightest doubt.Upholstery that gets a lot of work may be showing signs of wear. Check the rear seats as bored kids can knock them around. Look for damage to the front wheels as the Epica is a bigger car than some drivers realise and the wheels may have skimmed the kerb more than once.CAR BUYING TIPCars that were unpopular when new sometimes pick up in value as they age - note the word ‘sometimes’, though. 

The Epica was one of the new generation of small and mid-sized cars Holden imported from Asia to replace its expensive European range.   Specifically it replaced the mid-sized Vectra.The Vectra was well regarded here for its responsive performance, but it was a premium product with a premium price and never really got   going. It wasn't surprising that Holden turned to Korea for a cheaper replacement.By adopting the Epica Holden became more price-competitive in a market segment that was growing as buyers downsized out of bigger cars like the Commodore and Falcon.MODEL WATCHGiven that the Vectra was a premium European model with all the technology and features expected of a car from that part of the world   Holden's decision to replace it with the Korean-built Epica seemed something of a step backwards.But it wasn't the giant stride feared, particularly once the Holden's engineers had finished tweaking it to ensure it was in tune with Australian market demands.Local engineers played a hand in the suspension settings, transmission controls and equipment levels.  It was also given a cosmetic makeover by Holden's designers so there   was nothing that jarred when it landed here.The result was that it had an appealing look and was packed with plenty of the features Australians buyers wanted.  Inside, the cabin was roomy and comfortable with accommodation for   three adults across the back seat, and beyond that there was a good-  sized the boot.There were two engines offered, both six-cylinder units, and two models, the CDX and CDXi.  Porsche designed the double overhead camshaft straight-six engine, which was an unusual choice for a front-wheel drive car given that it   has to fit across the nose.In its smaller 2.0-litre form it put out 105 kW at 6400 revs and 195   Nm at 2600 revs, while the bigger 2.5-litre produced 115 kW at 5800   revs and 237 Nm at 2600 revs.The 2.5-litre engine was the pick of the pair. Its performance wasn't breathtaking by any measure, but it was smooth and steady when the   2.0-litre simply lacked spark.The CDX was available with either the 2.0-litre or 2.5-litre engines; the 2.0-litre came with a five-speed manual gearbox and the 2.5-litre with a five-speed auto.Those who chose the better-equipped CDXi got the 2.5-litre engine and five-speed auto as a matter of course.Anyone opting for the 2.5-litre auto might well have been disappointed when they discovered the transmission wasn't equipped with a manual shift option that has become an accepted part of the motoring landscape in recent times.The Epica came with plenty of the fruit most of use expected, with standard air-conditioning, cruise control, cloth trim, alloy wheels, and power windows and mirrors, and six-speaker CD sound.IN THE SHOPA lack of complaints to Carsguide would suggest Epica owners are content with their lot.  Major concerns should have become apparent by now, but nothing has surfaced that would indicate there are any serious problems with the engine, transmission or driveline.Build quality appears to be of a good standard, which would seem to be reflected in the lack of complaints from owners.  Check for a service record that shows regular maintenance has been carried out.IN A CRASHThe Epica was well equipped in terms of safety; it had an array of airbags, including dual front, and front side airbags in the CDX, plus head airbags on the CDXi.If there was a missing piece of the safety jigsaw it was a lack of a dynamic stability feature to complement its ABS anti-lock brakes and   traction control systems.  ANCAP rated it four out of five stars.UNDER THE PUMPHolden claimed that the 2.0-litre manual Epica would achieve an economy of 8.2 L/100 km, while the 2.5-litre auto model would do 9.3 L/100 km.OWNER'S SAYLeo Mackinlay has done 9000 km in his Epica CDX 2.5 auto and says it   is a much better car than he expected. It is very well equipped, the   build quality can't be faulted, the engine is smooth, the ride comfortable if a little firm, and it is very quiet with no mechanical or wind noise to disturb the inner peace. If he has a criticism he says he would like the handling, which tends towards understeer, to be more neutral.LOOK FOR. Lacks fizz. 2.5-litre engine best. Economical. Smooth driver. Roomy and comfortable. Well-equippedTHE BOTTOM LINEDoes most things reasonably well, but there's little to get excited  about. 

The mid-sized sedan has struggled for sales since replacing the classy (but costly) European Vectra, failing to deliver enough quality or driving enjoyment despite a value price point.Now it has been re-jigged and revamped with a sub-Camry price and several significant upgrades _ from six-speed auto, six airbags and ESP stability control to the new turbodiesel _ to win more friends and mount a stronger challenge to the Toyota pacemaker.GM Holden knows the importance of the Epica as it works to boost sales of everything around the Commodore in its showrooms, and it also knows the car can and will do better after tweaking which makes it what it should have been from the start. And the under-done 2.0-litre six-cylinder engine, which contributed to the sceptical reception from the Carsguide team, has been dumped.“The petrol version established the Epica nameplate, but ideally we would have liked to have had the diesel from the start,” says GM Holden's head of sales and marketing, Alan Batey. “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?”Even so, the updated Epica hits showrooms just as Mazda cuts the price of its classy 6and Ford does the same with its mid-sized Mondeo, and with Honda making good ground with an all-new Accord Euro.So it won't be easy for Holden, even with the turbocharged diesel _ the same one used in the Captiva SUV _ coming into the Epica, with the promise of 110kW and 320Nm of torque and economy of just 7.6 litres per 100km.Holden cannot help comparing the Epica diesel with the petrol Camry, trumpeting a 23 per cent advantage on fuel economy. It also says the move to six-speed autos from the previous five-speeder has improved highway economy by as much as 14 per cent.Holden says about half of Epica buyers will go for the diesel, without setting an overall showroom target. It believes the combination of the diesel with a tweaked six-speed auto _ with Australian tuning _ will be a breakthrough in the class. The Epica, from GM's Bupyong plant in South Korea, has essentially been relaunched with the lacklustre 2.0-litre manual-only CDX now axed from the line-up. The Epica has always looked good and the back end has been tweaked a little, with new alloy wheels.Equipment improvements include a telescoping steering column and rear-parking radar on the flagship. There are two models in the line-up, with the CDX opening and the CDXi for people who want more luxury for more money. Pricing starts at $27,990 for the 2.5-litre auto CDX six, with the highly-touted diesel coming in at $29,990, and the step up to the CDXi adds $3000 to the bill, with a leather trim choice for another $2000.On the road the diesel Epica is a good thing. Surprisingly, it's the sporty choice in the range. It has solid pulling power in all situations, from city stoplights to highway overtaking, and the engine calibration means it is eager on kick-down but moves easily through its six speeds to the most economical gear. One of the evaluation cars had a brief miss-fire during the preview drive, but this was more likely down to crud in the fuel than any engine drama.The gearbox is smooth and the engine is relatively quiet for a diesel, but rattly at idle in a car without the noise-suppression package essential for a class-leading diesel. But we have no reason to question the economy.The Epica also seems a little sweeter in the suspension, although the electric power steering brings some strangeness to the wheel _ just like the new Accord Euro, but not as bad _ and we would have liked a left-foot rest and a touch-change lever, which is set for the sports shift used in the Commodore.The cabin is a let-down _ drab grey, cheap plastics and poor finishing. Definitely no Camry.It's not at the top of its class, but the price is right, value is good, and the diesel will do well.

Holden boss Mark Reuss has announced a bigger economy push, including E85 ethanol, LPG and biofuels.But for now, the latest car flying the frugality flag is the mid-sized Epica, with a 2.0-litre common-rail turbo diesel engine developing 110kW at 400rpm and 320Nm at 200rpm joining the range.The turbocharger’s variable geometry turbine offers high torque at low revs and better efficiency at high speeds, and mated to a six-speed automatic transmission driving the front wheels, the South Korean engine – basically the same as that in the Captiva SUV — delivers 7.6L/100km and complies with Euro IV standards with an emission figure of 210gms/kmCO2.It has pushed the 2.0-litre petrol engine out of the range, but the 116kW/237Nm 2.5-litre six-cylinder petrol remains, now mated only with the six-speed auto and still returning a fuel figure of 9.3L/100km – although Holden says the new box helps deliver a 14 per cent improvement in fuel economy at highway speeds compared to the outgoing five-speed Aisin transmission.The weight penalty of the diesel engine is 17kg, but Holden has added speed-sensitive steering to help compensate. The suspension uses McPherson struts in front, and multi-link rear system.The Epica has been given a slight facelift, with a new grille, alloy wheels, fascia, taillights and boot lid strip. The standard equipment list has been beefed up with automatic headlights and stability control incorporating anti-skid brakes, brake force distribution and traction control, while curtain airbags now bring the count to six.The upper-spec CDXi gets eight-way adjustable driver’s seat, sports body kit, foglamps and leather on the steering wheel and gearshifter.The extra spec hasn’t pushed up the pricing, with the base model CDX petrol still sitting at $27,990 and the CDXi at $30,990, while the diesel engine puts a $2000 premium on that.There’s no doubt what’s under the bonnet when you turn the key of the diesel Epica, with the diesel clatter clearly evident – although not offputting. The six-speed transmission makes good work of what’s on offer with the diesel – and hugely improves the performance of the 2.5-lite petrol, for that matter.Where the smaller petrol engine of the previous model had baulked at the thought of steep slopes, both the new drivetrains have no hesitation. And the long-throw, vaguely-slotted manual shifter won’t be missed, either.When we drove the first Epica in May last year, we decided the larger petrol engine was the best choice. The diesel has changed that opinion, and should end up on a large share of the shopping lists.This is at a time when mid-sized car sales have been trailing off for a few years, with Camry keeping the lead in a segment that held 14 per cent of the market last year with 92,000 units.Holden’s Epica sales have been sitting around 300 per month in the good months, dropping to well below 100 – and in the 40s – as supply tightened. If the flow of cars increases, that figure should pick up with the new diesel in the range.

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.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.