Holden Nova Reviews

The Holden Astra 2019 range has been reworked, with changes to the model line-up and car’s equipment, and the six-speed manual gearbox option no longer offered on mid-level R+ and RS models.Still priced from $21,490 plus on-road costs - though currently available for $20,990 drive-away - the 2019 Astra range has seen the deletion of the R+ manual and RS manual, but the R and RS-V manuals remain available. Typically manual models are kept to the base variant, often teamed to a lower-output engine, as is the case with the Astra. In R and R+ guise, it runs a 1.4-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder, while the higher-spec RS and RS-V models have a more potent 1.6-litre turbo.  But Holden says it will retain the base manual R model, and offer a high-grade RS-V manual to appeal to enthusiasts."The rationale of sticking with a manual transmission in the RS-V was to cater for the ‘purist’ element of driving enthusiasts," said Holden spokesperson, Daniel Cotterill.There aren't many aesthetic changes, but R and R+ variants feature redesigned 17-inch alloy wheels and a slightly redesigned front bumper. Aside from the transmission offer adjustments, the 2019 Astra range continues unchanged in terms of mechanicals. The 110kW/240Nm (auto)/245Nm (manual) 1.4-litre turbo-petrol engine continues to be offered in the R and R+, while the 147kW/280Nm 1.6-litre turbo-petrol is offered in the upper-spec RS and RS-V models. The 1.4-litre donk is rated at 5.8L/100km on a combined cycle, with the larger 1.6-litre engine rated at between 6.3L and 6.5L/100km.Standard equipment continues as before, with the base $21,490 (all prices below plus on-road costs) Astra R offering 17-inch alloy wheels, rear parking sensors with a reversing camera, automatic headlights with LED daytime running lights, a 7.0-inch multimedia screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and DAB+ digital radio.The $23,740 R+ then adds a leather-wrapped steering wheel, rain-sensing wipers, an auto-dimming rear view mirror and Holden Eye, which includes autonomous emergency braking with forward collision warning, lane departure warning with lane keep assist and a following distance indicator.The $27,240 RS adds the larger engine, as well as different 17-inch wheels, blind-spot monitoring, keyless entry and start, automatic parking with front parking sensors and heated and electric-folding mirrors.The top of the Astra range is the $30,740 RS-V, which has 18-inch alloy wheels, leather upholstery, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, LED tail-lights, a larger 8.0-inch touchscreen with inbuilt satellite navigation, dual-zone climate control, remote start for the automatic and LED ambient lighting. Available optionally on the RS-V is a $1990 Touring Pack with adaptive cruise control, high speed AEB and a sunroof. The previously available Matrix LED headlights have been shelved for 2019.So far in 2019, Holden Astra sales are up by 1.3 per cent to 1,845 units, commanding 7.0 per cent and seventh place in the small car segment. The small car segment has sold 26,302 units so far in 2019, which is down 20.2 per cent compared with this time last year. 2019 Holden Astra pricing (plus on-road costs):R manual: $21,490R auto: $22,490R+ auto: $23,740RS auto: $27,240RS-V manual: $30,740RS-V auto: $31,740

Former homegrown-hero Holden left clinging to the top 10 as the new-car market's woes continue in 2019, with just-released February sales figures showing declines across most major segments.

So important has the race become to our carmakers over the years that they have, at various times, created and built a number of special "Bathurst" models.Some, like the classic Holden Monaros and the Falcon GTHOs, have been specifically built to enhance their chances of winning the races, others, like the anniversary Ford GTs, have been builtto celebrate success in the great race.Whatever the reason is these models have become highly prized by enthusiasts and collectors, with the result that their prices have climbed to unthinkable levels in response to the demand.Buying one of these classics is full of pitfalls and requires careful and thorough research before you hand over your hard earned cash. Like any collectable provenance is important, so the first thing to establish is that the car you are considering is genuine. Lots of replica GTs, GTHOs, GTS Monaros, and XU-1 Toranas and others have been built over the years. Some are accurate replicas; others don't even come close to being authentic.No matter whether they are accurate or not, they are not worth as much as the real thing. Check the ID on the car's build plate, check also the numbers that are stamped on various parts of the body and make sure they tally with the ID plate.Consult the relevant carmaker to check that the numbers on the carare correct for that particular model. It's also wise to talk to an acknowledged expert in the model you're interested in buying to find out the critical things you need to look for in a genuine car.Car clubs are a great place to find the expert you need to advise you, so too are the many companies around the land that specialise in restoring these cars.

4WD identity Simon Christie shows how to get moving again, once you’ve exceeded the Colorado ute’s off-road ability.

The Holden Colorado LSX might look like a rough and rugged off-road beast, but is it tough enough to handle family duties in the city? We put one to the test to find out.

General Motors Holden chairman and managing director, Dave Buttner, has vehemently denied speculation of a distribution takeover by UK-owned trader Inchcape.

Holden will put considerably more emphasis on its range of SUVs in a move to arrest a sales slide that has seen the company fall to record lows.The company held what it labelled an ‘SUV day' for media this week, ahead of a multi-million-dollar advertising campaign highlighting each of the SUVs Holden sells which will be rolled out over the coming weeks and months.That line-up starts off at the Trax, with the Equinox slotting in above it. For those who don't quite want to go all the way into SUV territory there's the Tourer, a high-riding wagon version of the Commodore/Calais, and the company offers a choice of two seven-seaters: the rugged Trailblazer (based on the Colorado ute) and the US-built Acadia (sold as a GMC in North America).Holden chairman and managing director, Dave Buttner, said the company is fully aware that it hasn't been selling enough of its SUVs to date, and asserted his hopes that 2019 will be the year of the SUV for Holden."As you know, in Australia for year after year after year, Holden was known for its passenger vehicles. And as we've seen the decline of the passenger car market over the last few years – that's not just a trend in our domestic market, but more widely – we've seen the passenger segment decline and the SUV segment grow."We have to ensure that customers in both Australia and New Zealand are aware of the portfolio of the products that we have to meet the market segmentation as it stands today," said Mr Buttner."The key thing is to create awareness – what does Holden sell? – which then leads to consideration, so the customer will consider buying a Holden as their next car, which of course then leads to inquiry at the dealership."We're unashamedly focusing on our SUV and LCV portfolio. It's where the market is, and of course they are more profitable product lines than others we have," he said.Despite that focus, Mr Buttner said Holden's remaining passenger car offerings – the Astra and Commodore – aren't under threat.Holden undoubtedly needs its SUV range to fire in 2019.For context, last year the brand managed 5433 sales of the Trax – which was down 27.5 per cent in a segment of the market that rose 17.2 per cent.The Equinox managed 4999 sales in its first full year on sale, which was just 2.9 per cent of the medium SUV segment, which tallied 174,259. The Equinox was outsold by the runout Captiva, which tallied 5100 units in its final year on sale.The Acadia only arrived late in 2018, so its sales were negligible at best, where the Colorado ute-based Trailblazer – which has been on the market for several years following a name change from Colorado 7 back in late 2016 – saw just 2606 sales, a drop of 21.1 per cent on the previous year.Mr Buttner is confident the new ad campaign will help right the ship when it comes to Holden SUV sales in Australia."We've got to go step by step. We've got to focus on 2019 – I really see this as being a pivotal, watershed year. We will go back to our basics, get the fundamentals right, land the portfolio of products that we have, stabilise the business, and then we'll worry about where we go with share after that."We said to our dealers very transparently, very honestly on Friday, we have to work together to get this year right."

The Holden Commodore and Holden Astra model lines are here to stay, according to General Motors Holden chairman and managing director, Dave Buttner.

GMC has unveiled a mid-life facelift for the US-spec Acadia large SUV, which is a strong hint at what's in store for the Australian version, which wears Holden badges.

GM is reportedly in talks with independent distributor Inchcape about the possibility taking over the Holden business in Australia