Holden Statesman V8 2005 review

Domestic sales are down, revenues are down and the cost of production is the same. GM's predicament is complicated by huge bills for workers' health care and superannuation.

So the bosses in Detroit are battening down for a rough ride. Moves to date include cutting its salaried North American work force this year by 5 per cent — 2800 jobs.

GM product guru Bob Lutz was the mover and shaker, as he had been impressed by rear-drive Holdens.

But while Zeta architecture will still underpin the next Commodore range, the VE due next year, it is no longer headed offshore. Internationalisation of the project was deemed too expensive in these tight times.

So the Americans, having had a small taste of Australian rear-drive engineering with the Pontiac GTO, nee Monaro, miss out big time.

Imagine how the boys and girls in California would head to town over an SS Ute. And imagine how the Statesman, in long, black colours, would go down among limo drivers.

For the Holden Statesman is one of those machines which would suit customers from LAX to JFK — a big and simple rear drive machine with road presence, V8 available, big boot and some of the world's best back seat leg-room.

It is a nice piece of work from front to back, a tribute to Holden engineers who build a mix of machines on different variations of the Commodore platform. The Statesman, and richer Caprice, share the longer wheelbase version of that platform which dates back to the 1997 VT Commodore.

This time the WL Statesman picks up LED tail lights with quicker brake response times, a new grille, new alloy wheels plus leather trim as standard gear.

The rest is much as before.

A smooth V8 with improved four-speed automatic allows the Statesman to move in and around the traffic with ease. The powertrain's easy delivery, now through electronic throttle control, helps mask the size of the big Holden, as does the well-tuned chassis and steering.

The five-metre Statesman is not the first choice for a sporting drive but it can be driven with verve. For a big car it is supple and swift. There is plenty of grip and plenty of punch and on long hauls the Statesman offers serenity from either front or back seat.

Standard gear includes ABS brakes, traction control plus front and side airbags. There's dual zone, climate control airconditioning, six-disc CD, eight-way electrically adjustable front seats and plenty of cupholders and compartment.

The Holden Statesman is a comforting machine from driving dynamics to cabin luxury. It would be just as welcome on an LA freeway as a cross-country run to Mount Isa.

The Yanks don't know what they'll be missing.