Holden Reviews

After months of hype the new Holden Commodore is finally on the road. The first new model in seven years and the last homegrown Holden of all time arrives in showrooms next week with price cuts of up to $10,000.The starting price of $34,990 winds back the clock by more than a decade -- and reflects the prices people have really been paying for years. The more transparent price list is a gamble Holden hopes will bring more buyers back into showrooms to consider the Commodore one last time.Importantly, the new Commodore is not a bare bones proposition. In fact the contrary is true. To compete in the most over-crowded new-car market in the developed world Holden has loaded every model with self parking technology, a rear view camera, a touchscreen display that can reply to text messages at the press of a button -- or on voice command.The new Commodore is without a doubt the most hi-tech car designed, developed and engineered in Australia -- but in many ways it’s also the Commodore that Holden had to have.It might share its core -- the doors, roof and glass -- with the previous model but there are big changes under the skin that reduce weight, save fuel and improve safety, quietness and refinement.Holden confirmed earlier this year the VF Commodore is due to bow out in 2016. What we now know is that this will be about the same time its arch rival the Ford Falcon reaches the end of the line.But the difference, for now, is that Holden plans to replace the iconic Commodore with a globally-developed front-wheel-drive four-cylinder sedan that it says will wear a Commodore badge. Given that every mainstream Holden has been rear-wheel-drive since the first one in 1948, this VF Commodore really does mark the end of an era.Which is why Holden has used every resource available to it in the massive General Motors empire, including a new electrical system that has opened up a raft of technology to move the Commodore not only up with the times but ahead of the imported competition.This would be a good point to acknowledge the significant input of former Holden boss, Detroiter Mark Reuss, who is now the head of General Motors in North America, and his deputy Briton Alan Batey, who ran Holden after him. Both executives took their passion for and knowledge of Holden with them to their new assignments in the US and helped “sell” the Commodore to their hierarchy to revive it there as a Chevrolet.Without the small but significant US export revival of the Commodore, which starts later this year, the VF model would not have anywhere near the technology it has been given.Their successor, Holden boss Mike Devereux, the British-Canadian who spent most of his working life in Detroit before running GM operations in Dubai and now Australia, made sure the Commodore lived up to their expectations.If you think Devereux looks feisty in front of the TV cameras when he’s barracking for the Australian car industry, you can imagine what he’s like at motivating staff to build a better Commodore.Holden doesn’t like talking about it much, but build quality has been a concern for Commodore for years. I should know, I’ve owned four of them. Not one of them was fault free.To that end GM sent quality expert and chief engineer Greg Tyus from Detroit to Australia to make sure the bad habits of old have been kicked. Here’s hoping he and his colleagues at the factory have been successful.If we’re paying Australian car manufacturing workers five times more than those in Asia and 50 per cent more than those in Germany and the USA, they ought to be doing a world class job.Now all that’s left to know is what the new Commodore is like to drive. To paraphrase former Australian prime minister Ben Chifley, who launched the original Holden in 1948, “she’s a beauty”.By far the biggest improver is the base model Evoke, partly because the previous Omega was wallowy and underdone, but mainly because it shines a spotlight on all the Commodore’s massive gains.It’s quieter, more refined and nicer to drive than before. It handles corners well, just like Commodores used to. And it wants for nothing. It is so well equipped and so well presented you could be forgiven for thinking you were in a luxury model.But the highlight for me was the V8 SS sports sedan. Sure, power is unchanged from before, but it feels more lively and more responsive thanks to the retuned and better quality suspension and nicely weighted electric power steering (that doesn’t feel lifeless as other EPS systems do) that add the finishing touches to the Commodore.One job for the facelift, though. On the Series II VF Commodore no doubt due in a couple of years, please Holden can the SS get the bigger brakes from the US police car? They bolt right on, and you've already paid for the development of them. Now that would be a finishing touch.This reporter is on Twitter: @JoshuaDowling

If the VF is the very last Commodore then it's a great way to sign off. This is truly a Holden hero, with world-class sophistication and refinement.In many ways, the VF update is more like an all-new car than a mid-life update and facelift of the VE. Close to 70 per cents of the parts on the cars are new - and so is a pricing policy that tears a minimum of $5000, and as much as $9800, from the bottom line.You only have to drive the cars for a few minutes, as I did in a preview sweep from the new Evoke through to the Calais V, to see and feel and enjoy the changes that reflect the best of Australian engineering and the best of global sourcing.The VF is only a couple of ticks away from perfect. There is no hybrid, no four-cylinder fuel miser, and the centre part of the car is carried over - including the unloved exterior mirrors - and those are the only things that stop it scoring a five-star Carsguide rating.But the VF Commodore has booked and paid for a place at this year's Car the Year shootout and should easily reverse the nasty sales slide suffered by the VE over coming months.Is the VF package enough to save the Commodore? No, but it's more than good enough to put an old-fashioned Aussie six back on the shopping list.The extra value in the VF is not just on the bottom line. Yes, the new Evoke starter car is priced from $34,990 and that makes it $5000 cheaper than the outdoing base model and the cheapest Commodore in more than a decade.The price cuts - and that's what they are, although Holden is painting it as a benefit from the Australian dollar - slash as deeply as $9800 for the Calais V with V6 engine and headlining SS-V manual.But there is so much extra equipment in the car, particularly on the technology front, that the benefit to buyers is even bigger.Compared with the old Omega, the Evoke gets things like auto park assist and an eight-inch colour touch screen to control the infotainment system.As you move up the line the deals get even better, which helps to position the Commodore as a genuine import fighter and not just an old-fashioned Aussie six.It's much more likely to be shopped against a Nissan Maxima or Honda Accord now, while the wagons make a better case against the fully-loaded SUVs that are so popular for school runs and shopping.But there are still some buts. No-one knows how the impending end of the Commodore line in 2016 - despite Holden's claims that it will continue the Commodore badge on the car's foreign-spawned successor - will affect resale values. And that's a very big deal, both for private buyers spending big and for the fleets who have traditionally provided the backbone for Australian car sales.Changes to the VF run all the way down to the basic body structure, including a new firewall to cut noise intrusion and new foot pedals for the driver.The bonnet and bootlid are now stamped from aluminium to cut weight, as the VF drops around 100 kilograms from the VE in the search for better efficiency.The Evoke package includes auto park assist - for both parallel and right-angle parking - as well as all-round radar and a rear-view camera. Holden claims improved voice recognition, full Bluetooth with iPod integration, Apps including Pandora and SmartRadio, as well as the giant eight-inch touch screen in the dash.Things get predictably better as you move up the range, with the Calais getting blind-spot warning and the Calais V also has forward collision alert and a coloured heads-up dashboard display.The changes to the VF bodywork are not huge, but more than enough to mark it out as a new Commodore.The crew at Fishermans Bend worked hard to make the car look more aggressive but also more grown-up, even smoothing the rear-end look and insetting the rear glass slightly. The new nose is significantly different and works well both on the luxury and sporty SS models.Things really get good inside, from the new dash to seats which are both more supportive and set lower for a better driving position.The layout is a huge change and so is the presentation work, including the mix-and-match approach to surfaces and materials. You won't find a boring slab of black plastic in the VF, which has all sorts of contrasting design work from the new door skins - which hold the electric window switches on the drivers' side, up from the console - through to the impressive new centre stack.The VF is, not surprisingly at all, a five-star winner with ANCAP. But … Americans will get their VF, tizzied and badged as the Commodore SS, with knee airbags for both front seats. Holden says they are not needed here, and that American crash testing usually includes results for un-belted passengers, but you still have to wonder.On the other side, the Evoke package includes all that parking help, as well as an electric parking brake, hill-start asset and vehicle-sway control, and further up the line the active electronics will make a real difference with the forward collision and lane departure alerts.And, in a country where far too many people spend their time focused on the speedometer and not looking ahead for potential hazards, the heads-up display is a big advance.The bottom line on the VF Commodore is impressive. The car is a great drive, from the Evoke right through to the Calais V.What's most impressive is the refinement and composure. The new Holden hero is easily the best Australian car I have driven, wipes rivals like the Honda Accord, and is more like an Audi or BMW in the way it covers ground with comfort and finesse.It's not perfect, although even the clunky old V6 engine is now far quieter than in the past. I just wish Holden had been able to junk the undersized rear-view mirrors, as it has even managed to improve visibility by slimming the oversized A-pillars that blighted the VE.My advance drive of the VF happens at Holden's Lang Lang proving ground, on roads I know well and respect immensely. It might be a closed course but it has the sort of surfaces and corners that show up even the tiniest flaws.First up, I notice the extra comfort and support in the seat and the lack of engine noise. Even the pedals seem more isolated than before.The performance is not noticeably better, despite Holden work and the slightly better economy, but I'm not as busy over bumps and the cornering grip is good without throwing me around. The six-speed auto shifts smoothly, although the manual is still a bit of a beast.At highway speeds the car is really noticeably quieter, and there is plenty to play with in the cabin. I'm past the Gen-Y gadget age, and it's really a job for a full-scale test, but the infotainment package is a clear step up on anything else made here.And then there are the little things, like cleaning the console by moving the switches to the door - and outside the spill zone alongside the upholders - and adding an electric parking brake.My bottom line on the VF Commodore is simple: four stars. That's a great result at a time when big Aussie sixes are, like the dinosaurs, heading towards extinction. The score would have been better if Holden had a hybrid or a four-cylinder greenmobile - like Ford's EcoBoost Falcon - and if those mirrors were bigger.Holden has done a great job on the VF, which thoroughly deserves the tag as Australia's best car.It's just sad that the goalposts have shifted and Australia's best is not good enough, or satisfying enough shoppers, to resist the rising tide of imports.

Holden’s Commodore was the bestselling car in Australia for many years, though it has slipped recently due to many buyers switching from large cars to compact SUVs. There are hundreds of used Commodores on sale at any one time, so smart buyers can find exactly the model / price / quality they want.Commodore is very well suited to Australian driving conditions, and also has the driving feel many keen Aussie drivers demand. This is a genuine five-seater, though the traveller in the centre-rear seat may find foot space compromised by the bulky transmission tunnel.Boot space is good in the sedan and excellent in the wagon due to the latter’s longer wheelbase. Note that the wagons in the VE range, sold from September 2009, have the same wheelbase as the VE sedan, meaning they miss out on the huge load volume that was a feature of previous Commodore wagons. The latter had a stretched wheelbase platform under the wagons.Ride comfort is excellent, even on rough bush roads. Commodores can be divided into two distinct areas in the models being examined here. In August 1997 the VT series was introduced to critical acclaim.Commodore VT received a minor facelift and mechanical changes to become the VT Series II in June 1999. Commodore VX of August 2000 saw another facelift of the VT. The VX Series II arrived just 12 months later.There weren’t a lot of appearance changes in the VX II, but there were big changes to the suspension, especially at the rear. These gave the Commodore a real sporting feel. Holden introduced the VY Commodore in October 2002.This time around there were substantial styling changes. The VY Commodore was facelifted, this time to become the VY II in August 2003. Finally, the last of this long line of Commodores, the VZ series arrived in September 2004.The introduction of the virtually all-new VE series Commodore sedans in August 2006 saw a touch of European class in the styling and real enhancements to the ride and handling qualities. VE Series II was introduced in September 2010 and had minor external changes.Inside it was a different story, the GM i-Q multimedia system saw an entirely new look for the centre stack with the new touch screen. The system controls full Bluetooth, USB, iPod and MP3 player integration.Powertrains didn’t always coincide with the major body changes. Most Commodores prior to the VZ range have a pushrod V6 engine of 3.8 litres. There's also a supercharged variant of this 3.8-litre, but it was never a real success as buyers of performance Holdens almost invariably preferred V8s. So the supercharged six was discontinued in 2004.The big news with the introduction of the VZ was an all-new six-cylinder engine. A forerunner to the unit fitted to the VE Commodore, it was a twin-cam V6 of 3.6 litres. This powerplant was sold in two formats, one with variable valve and intake timing for a greater spread of torque and improved power, the other a more basic unit.As fitted to the VZ, this new V6 is not as smooth or quiet as it should be. There were some improvements in feel when the engine was installed in the VE, but the engine still disappoints in this area despite several attempts to sort it out over the years.A smaller V6, this time of 3.0 litres and aimed at lower fuel consumption and emissions, was introduced in September 2009. It hasn’t proven all that popular but is a sophisticated unit and well worth considering. There were two V8s in the pre-VZ Commodores; one an old Australian design of 5.0 litres, the other a Chevrolet unit adapted to Holden specifications with 5.7 litres.This Generation III Chev V8 is much better than the old Holden, so much so that resale value of the Holden 5.0-litre suffers in comparison. The Gen III with ‘only’ 5.7 litres was replaced by a Gen IV with 6.0 litres in January 2006, again as a teaser to the upcoming VE Series.Some later Commodore engines are designed to run on a petrol/ethanol mix of up to 85 per cent ethanol. Check with your Holden dealer or get onto Holden’s website to see which engines can take this mix. Prior to the VE series, almost all Commodores came with four-speed automatic transmissions. Five-speed manual gearboxes from this era are on the crude side and not many were sold. Six-speed manuals were offered in the SS range and are understandably more common than the five-speed manual units used in the day-to-day Commodores of the time. The VE transmission lineup was a big improvement; with six-speed automatic transmissions and six-speed manuals. An exception was the dual-fuel petrol/LPG, later pure-LPG powered Commodores that stuck with the old four-speed auto until 2012 when they too got a six-speed.On the sporting side are the Commodore S and SS with firmer suspension, tauter steering, revamped seats and body kits. Not as hot as the HSV Commodores, these Holden models do provide more driving pleasure and come at a pretty moderate price.Strictly speaking the most expensive model in the range isn’t called a Commodore, but the Holden Calais. Calais were usually bought by private buyers, while many lower cost variants will have begun their lives as company cars - perhaps being driven by a careful person, perhaps not…Holden frequently does runs of special editions, the best value of these are arguably the oft-recurring Equipe and Lumina series. Commodores are easy cars to work on with plenty of access to most mechanical components.The good amateur mechanic can do most of their own repairs although it’s best to leave safety related items to professional mechanics. There are numerous electronic components that also require specialist knowledge and/or diagnostic equipment.Spare parts prices are generally reasonably priced and we hear very few complaints about availability from Holden’s widespread dealer network.A network that’s as prevalent in the bush as in the ‘burbs. Insurance is very reasonable for a car of this size and performance, though there can be a significant extra slug for the sportier models, especially if they have supercharged or V8 engines.WHAT TO LOOK FORCheck for brake fade on models before the VE Commodore by doing a succession of hard stops and feeling for a pedal that gradually has more and more travel – don’t forget to check that rear-vision mirror first…Look for oil leaks at the rear of the engine sump and check the dipstick level as some early units had high oil consumption problems.Automatic transmissions are generally OK, but one that is slow to go into gear and/or noisy and harsh in its operation should be treated with caution.Rust is seldom a problem in later model Commodores. But look at the lower areas of the body, doors, tailgate and rear windscreen surround to be sure. Rust is more likely to be caused by poor quality panel repairs than any other reason.Check for previous body repairs by running your eye over the panels, looking for a slightly uneven finish. Watch for paint that doesn't match exactly from one panel to another. Another sign is minute spots of paint on areas that are normally unpainted.Be wary of a Commodore that has been a taxi, though this isn’t nearly as common as in Falcons: look for an engine running on LPG and for spots where signs and meters have been removed.Severe wear in the cabin and boot is another indication of an ex-taxi; though it could also mean the car has been a hard-working commercial car, or even that it has been destroyed by bogan kids.CAR BUYING TIPChecking the condition of the boot can give valuable clues to how the car has been used.

SUVs march unrelentingly through the suburbs at a pace that has left rival vehicle types in the shade.Two questions: Do you need all that space? And aren't SUVs becoming a bit passe?The answer may be the humble wagon. Now freed of the additive "station'' -- implying expansive grazing lands and lazy windmills -- the wagon has matured to cleverly blend leisure with some family duties. Even better, thanks to their popularity in Europe, they are stylish and many share the enthusiastic engines of their sedan counterparts.Wagons are on an equal footing with their sedan sisters in equipment, safety and performance. The Skoda Octavia wagon here, for example, has the same high-output turbo-petrol engine as its sports-oriented RS sedan model -- itself a reskinned Volkswagen Golf GTI. Wagons also share the handling, agility and performance acumen of their sedan equivalents.But the wagon has a more flexible load area and the ability to haul a range of awkward-sized cargo thanks to split and fold-down rear seats. In comparison to an SUV, the wagon also retains the less cumbersome style of the sedan, in effect offering the best of both worlds.Find a good sedan and if there's a wagon equivalent, then generally it will share any of the sedan's advantages and disadvantages. These three examples are very different in origins and execution. All are current models -- though the Holden and Skoda are poised for replacement -- and will have relatively low mileage.The Skoda is the sports model and is more expensive than its rivals, though has more equipment and has a turbocharged petrol engine with a dual-clutch automatic transmission -- all quite expensive stuff.Resale values are strong for the Hyundai (50 per cent retained after three years) and Skoda (49 per cent) but weak for the Holden (41 per cent), indicating that seeking a near-new used model can be more advantageous for the Holden buyer. TOP TIPSWagons are made for work -- but check to see if it hasn't been abused. You may save big fuel money by choosing a smaller engine. A cargo net or barrier is a wise investment2012 Skoda Octavia RS 147TSI Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo petrolTransmission: 6-speed dual-clutch autoThirst: 7.9L/100CARSGUIDE SAYS"These wagons boast an incredible amount of storage space -- there's even an extra cubby hole beneath the boot floor. Skoda makes durable cars and though the Octavia is rather plain in appearance, it has a lot of features and is well built. The RS version adds sporty equipment and gets the upmarket 147kW engine and DSG transmission. There are paddle shifters for manual-mode gearchanges, 18-inch alloy wheels, satnav, sports seats and daylight running LEDs. The car has all the safety equipment including six airbags and electronic stability and traction2011 Hyundai i40 PREMIUMEngine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl petrolTransmission: 6-speed automaticThirst: 7.7L/100kmCARSGUIDE SAYS"Hyundai has confirmed the i40 range will continue after it drops the similar i45 models, ensuring the i40 has a strong future. This is a 2.0-litre petrol-engined model -- there is also a 1.7-litre turbo diesel which is better suited to shorter duties such as in the city and suburbs. The Premium model gets a big list of standard equipment including 18-inch alloy wheels, satnav and Bluetooth, cruise control, sunroof and leather seats. There are split-fold rear seats though the available cargo space isn't as generous as the Skoda. Hyundai has a capped-price service schedule and a five-year warranty, which is reassuring for used-car buyers.2012 Holden Commodore SV6Engine: 3.6-litre V6 petrolTransmission: 6-speed automaticThirst: 9.8L/100kmCARSGUIDE SAYS"The Australian is a strong workhorse with plenty of style and ability. It's also a reliable and easy-to-fix wagon. The SV6 version is a more upmarket model that retains the 3.6-litre V6 petrol engine and six-speed automatic transmission but adds 18-inch alloy wheels, sports suspension and a sports body kit. Standard equipment includes six airbags, electronic stability and traction control, a reverse camera, airconditioning and cruise control. It also has a capped-price service schedule and buyers have a portion of the three-year warranty still intact. 

Toyota Corolla Ascent and Holden Cruze Equipe 1.8 go head-to-head in this comparative review.

Twenty years from now, the carscape will be vastly different. Electric cars will be commonplace, hybrids will be universal and the Aussie V8 muscle car will be a page in history.But a handful of 2013 cars will have survived the turmoil to attain classic status just as the Ford Falcon GTHO from the 1960s is considered even more desirable today than it was when it first hit the road. Classic cars are not necessarily about horsepower or price.We know a collector who loves the humble, bumbling Morris 1100 in his multi-car garage. The first Toyota Prius is a car to keep because of its place in history. The original Mazda MX-5 from 1989 is just as “classic'' as certain Porsche 911s. The key to classic status is simple: Emotion.A car does a job in the same way as a fridge but it's much more than a machine, from the shape of its bodywork to the touch-and-feel pieces in the cabin and the way it makes you feel when you're driving. The attachment could take the form of the love you feel for a first car, even a humble '50s Beetle, or the satisfaction of finally parking a dream machine -- even a Leyland P76 -- in the garage.Classic cars don't have to be affordable on day one, because depreciation hits everything. Not enough, perhaps, to make the LaFerrari more than a dream but it could help with a Porsche 911 or an Audi R8 that's definitely desirable despite the showroom sticker.Which current cars will achieve classic status? If we really knew, the Carsguide crew would be putting them up on blocks today as investments for the future. But here are some likely suspects:Abarth 695 TributoPrice: from $69,990Engine: 1.4-litre 4-cylinder, 132kW/230NmTransmission: 5-speed sequential auto, FWDThirst: 6.5L/100Km, CO2 151g/kmThe Italian baby is outrageously expensive but this humble Fiat 500 has been touched with the Ferrari wand, which makes it special. It looks wicked and is a hoot to drive. Just plain fun.Holden Commodore SS-VPrice: about $50,000Engine: 6.0-litre 8-cylinder, 270kW/ 530NmTransmission: 6-speed manual or auto, RWDThirst: 12.2L/100Km, CO2 288g/kmThe last in the long line of truly home grown Holdens will soon be one to enjoy, thanks to improved efficiency and an Audi-style luxury cabin. The SS-V and HSV's coming F Series cars will be historic and performance icons.Range Rover EvoquePrice: from $51,495Engine: 2.2-litre 4-cylinder, 110kW/380NmTransmission: 6-speed manual or auto, FWD or 4WDThirst: 4.9L/100Km, CO2 129g/kmThis one is a fashion item, not an SUV. The Evoque is all about the looks, a lot like a Mini, but it is also a great drive and we know the all-paw drive examples will go almost anywhere.Nissan GT-RPrice: from $172,000Engine: 3.8-litre 6-cylinder, 404kW/628NmTransmission: 6-speed auto, 4WDThirst: 11.7L/100Km, CO2 278g/kmGodzilla is already a collector's car, thanks to earlier models tied to the GT-R that won the Bathurst 1000. The new model is a better car, and still great value, but collectors will need to find one that hasn't been battered and abused.Volkswagen Golf GTIPrice: from $40,490Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder, 155kW/280NmTransmission: 6-speed manual or auto, FWDThirst: 7.7L/100Km, CO2 180g/kmThe German pocket rocket is a top drive and the coming model, using the Golf Mk7 body, promises to be even better. The GTI has been a cult car since the '70s and truly great since the 2005 Mark 5.Subaru BRZ/Toyota 86Price: from $37,150/$29,990Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder, 147kW/205NmTransmission: 6-speed manual or auto, RWDThirst: 7.8L/100Km, CO2 181g/kmPeople who love cars have fallen for the Twins, the sports cars that won Carsguide's 2012 Car of the Year. There is a waiting list for both and the keen are paying more than the showroom sticker, because they deliver exactly what they promise at a great price. Pushed, we'd go for the BRZ in Subaru's signature blue.

A vehicle that is so radically different to the everyday petrol powered mid-size town car has no right to be so easy to live with, or so good looking to boot. But that’s the case with the Holden Volt electric car.There is little difference, apart from super fuel efficiency and, for the most part, absence of engine noise, to a conventional car.VALUEOn sale for $59,990, Volt is covered by a three-year/100,000 kilometre warranty on the vehicle, while an eight-year/160,000 kilometre transferable warranty covers battery and Voltec components, including all 161 battery components, charging and thermal-management systems and electric drive system components.Capped price servicing of $185 is offered on Volt’s first four standard scheduled log book services for the first three years or 60,000km, whichever comes first. The infotainment system has two 7-inch colour LCD screens for satellite navigation, Bluetooth, USB with iPod connectivity, a 30GB disk drive and DVD player, many of which can be operated through voice recognition.There is an extra level of interaction via a moving ball efficiency gauge that if kept in the centre of the scale shows the vehicle is being driven to optimal efficiency. But don’t become to distracted by this – or optimal safety suffers...The touch screen above the centre console displays instant information on energy use and power flow. It also gives feedback based on driving style, climate settings and energy usage.TECHNOLOGYThe latest in lithium-ion batteries allows an electric motor alone to drive the car up to 87 kilometres and a petrol generator that can produce electricity to keep the vehicle moving for up to 600 kilometres on a single charge and a full tank (35.2 litres) of premium (95 RON) fuel.The latter, a 1.4-litre petrol motor, extends the range by maintaining a charge in the battery to power the wheels until the battery can be externally charged. Different to most electric cars, Volt can be recharged from a regular household outlet via a six metre charging cord, stowed in the cargo area, for as little as $2.50, or through charging stations (charge spots) being set up around Australia by Better Place.Research has shown around 80 per cent of Australians living in major capital cities commute fewer than 80 kilometres daily and, therefore, could travel petrol-free. The lithium-ion battery can also gain charge from regenerative braking in which energy lost while the brakes are applied or when the car is running downhill is converted to electricity stored in the battery.Real freedom could come for the Volt and its follow-up vehicles with the take-up of induction charging; wireless connectivity between an electromagnetic source buried underground and the vehicle on top.These stations could be placed at strategic points such as loading docks for delivery vans, taxi ranks, or supermarket parking spots where electric vehicles spend short periods of time not in use.SAFETYThe Volt can call on a wide range of hi-tech safety systems to take care of people both inside and outside the vehicle. Occupants are protected in the event of a crash by high-strength steel body crush zones and eight airbags.Electronic stability and traction control look to preventing these events together with the latest technology such as lane departure warnings which alert the driver to wandering out of a lane without signalling. Front sensors can be set to one of three distances from a vehicle ahead. If the Volt edges too close, an alarm will sound. There is also a driver activated alert that warns pedestrians of the almost-silent car approaching at low speed.DESIGNVolt is built by Chevrolet in the United States and based on the Chevrolet / Holden Cruze platform. Fit and finish are very good. It features 17-inch alloy wheels, projector headlamps, LED daytime running lights and an integrated rear spoiler.A striking interior is lined with lightweight plastic, while Bose Energy Efficient Series speakers use 50 per cent less energy than comparable Bose systems, yet sound remains crystal clear. That’s clever. Occupants can settle into four leather upholstered seats (heated at the front) with contrasting-colour panels and double stitching and benefit from electric air-conditioning. There is no centre rear seat due to the space taken up by the batteries under the car and the rear seats have pretty restricted legroom unless those in the front are willing to give up space.Centre stack functions are easily operated by touch, while the screen directly in front of the driver is used to display info on speed, battery and fuel levels, tyre pressure and trip computers.DRIVINGDrivers can take advantage of three driving modes – Normal, Sport and Hold – at the press of a steering wheel-mounted button. Sport enhances Normal mode to give a more positive driving experience through faster response times and heightened feedback.‘Hold’ conserves battery power, drawing an electric charge from the petrol generator to drive the wheels. Electric propulsion delivered to the front wheels, gives the Volt instant maximum torque off the mark in immediate reaction to accelerator pedal pressure.Steering produces a positive feel at normal driving speed but is on the light side at low speeds and when parking. The suspension delivers a comfortable ride and handling stability in day-to-day usage. With a discharged battery and the petrol engine running at maximum need, the Volt test car, in a 70 kilometre-plus run in a mix of rush hour city traffic and motorway cruising, signalled frugal fuel consumption of 4.1 litres per 100 kilometres.In use, with the whole drive system in action there’s little noise, though the air-conditioning system sounds pretty noisy under those conditions.VERDICTVolt would best suit an owner with an ordered life; someone who has regular blocks of downtime for the car to be plugged in to power to keep the battery fully charged. While this is happening the car is going nowhere. More haphazard usage could present charging problems.Holden Volt 5-door hatchPrice: From $59,990Engine: 1.4-litre-4-cyl, 63kW/370NmTrans: Automatic, FWDThirst: 1.2/100km, 27g/km CO2

Stuart Martin road tests and reviews the Holden Colorado 7 LTZ with specs, fuel economy and verdict.

Nobody can accuse GM Holden of relaxing on the Cruze. Indeed, the Aussie auto maker has set a new benchmark with its 2014 version of the small sedan and hatchback. (American companies traditionally release their new models eight months before the start of the year, hence the MY14 designation that may appear odd to Australians.)With 31 models selling for less than $30,000, the new Cruze which goes on sale in April, faces a congested small-car market where competition is red hot.The entry-level Cruze CD has been cut out of the range, being replaced by the Equipe. Starting at $19,490, which is $2000 less than the model it replaces, it offers excellent value. Added features include foglamps, sports grille, 17-inch alloy wheels and rear park assist as standard.Cruze CDX (starting from $24,190) gains premium features including keyless entry with push button start and a reversing camera. The last is also added to the range-topping SRi-V (from $26,490), while the SRi sport model (from $22,490) gets rear park assist as standard.New Holden Cruze sees for the first time in a locally built car the introduction of MyLink, a new infotainment program that’s standard across the range.In addition to being able to call up stored songs from a phone or MP3 player and FM/AM stations via the car radio, when a mobile device with 3G data connection is hooked up to the MyLink system, the driver will also be able to streamed digital content from applications including Pandora music radio and Stitcher on-demand radio.Drivers can access Pandora through the MyLink touch-screen, streaming favourite radio stations as well as using the ‘thumb up’ and ‘thumb down’ buttons to tune station preferences or select music genres. They can also pick out the next track via a steering wheel button or the touch-screen controls.Musical tastes cover hundreds of styles offering more than a million tracks representing the music of more than 100,000 artists. Holden even has its own dedicated driving music channels.Via the Stitcher embedded app, drivers can choose from more than 15,000 news, comedy, sports and talk radio shows and podcasts from global broadcasters including NPR, CNN, Fox and the BBC.Cruze benefits from capped price servicing – petrol $185, diesel $335 – for up to four standard scheduled services for the first three years or 60,000 kilometres, whichever comes first.Those familiar with the Aussie made Holden Cruzes will recognise three engines from the Series II range – the 1.4-litre iTi and 1.8-litre petrol engines, and 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel. Now the MY14 Cruze introduces an additional engine, a 1.6-litre turbo-petrol unit which is standard in the SRi and SRi-V sport models.A sound insulated, lit luggage space provides 445 litres of storage in the sedan and 413 litres in the hatch with the rear seat backs up. (I once had a car salesman mate who used to illustrate boot space of a vehicle to potential buyers by climbing inside). He would have loved the Cruze; a huge 1254-litre selling point out back to curl up in with the seats folded and tyre inflator kit in place.With safety never far from car makers’ minds, later this year Holden Cruze MyLink will take up Siri Eyes Free Integration which means owners with a compatible iPhone running iOS 6 can direct the system to perform tasks by voice.Eyes Free integration stops the screen from lighting up, ensuring drivers are not tempted to look at their phone screen. Owners simply connect their iPhone to the MyLink radio via Bluetooth and use the steering wheel voice activation button to begin and end sessions.Drivers can make voice-activated, handsfree calls to contacts on their iPhone, and compose and send an iMessage or text message to a phone number, or anyone in their saved contacts, and access their calendar and add appointments.Occupants can settle in a range of supportive seats and are protected by active and passive safety systems such as electronic stability control, antilock braking, electronic brakeforce distribution, traction control and brake assist.Six airbags - driver, front passenger, front side and curtain – and collapsible pedal release system, together with a sturdy passenger shell, have helped earn the MY14 Holden Cruze the top five-star ANCAP crash rating.Launched in Tasmania, it was a Vivaldi sort of day – four seasons in one – from winter fog to spring rain to summer sunshine to autumn hues and back, as the Cruze convoy snaked out of Hobart.Over the next 24 hours or so and more than 500 kilometres the motoring media were introduced to a range of MY14 models on some of the best and most testing roads in the country.While the 1.4, 1.8 petrol and 2.0-litre diesel engines hooked up to a mix of manual or automatic transmissions had the Cruze skipping along the narrow twisty roads at full tilt, it was the sporty 1.6 petrol turbo six-speed manual that offered the most driving satisfaction.All the 230 Nm of torque was put to good use running down slower traffic, even on steep inclines. Merely dropping back to fifth gear was enough to clear the slow coach convoys.

This one comes to us courtesy of Opel, the German division of General Motors. But we will see it in Australia first as the Holden Trax later this year, and then as the Opel Mokka early next year.It’s all part of General Motors becoming one big, happy, global family. Although the Opel Mokka and Holden Trax are made in Korea in a former Daewoo factory, the twins were designed and engineered in Germany, with some Australian testing thrown in for good measure.The starting price of these vehicles will likely be close to $25,000 -- but we won’t know for sure until closer to their respective on-sale dates.This car will put Opel and Holden in head-to-head competition for the first time. They currently compete in the small-car class with the Holden Cruze and Opel Astra -- which are the same cars underneath but have different bodies.The Opel Mokka and Holden Trax, however, are mostly identical but for the design of the grille and the dashboard. This is why Opel and Holden sales and marketing teams are currently in a huddle to find out how to make these cars seem different in customers’ eyes.For both companies this new compact soft-roader can’t come soon enough. Holden just recorded its lowest sales in 19 years and Opel is trying to gain a foothold in Australia, having set up in the world’s most competitive new-car market late last year.An affordable contender in the booming SUV class is crucial to the success of both brands. The trouble is, this car is going gangbusters overseas so Australia’s initial allocations will be limited. That sigh you can hear is from Holden and Opel dealers.The Opel Mokka is named after a coffee, because evidently it packs a lot in a small package. For all its bold and brash presence, would you believe that there is a Holden Barina underneath? But don’t dismiss it on that basis alone.For starters, the latest Holden Barina is a more capable car than it is given credit for, especially since the post-GFC upgrades. Inside, the Mokka has Opel’s audio and air-conditioning controls, which aren’t as intuitive as they are on some other cars.But other practicalities make up for it. There are three storage levels in the doors alone, and a decent sized console and glovebox. In total there are 19 storage cubbies. You’ll never find your phone again. The dash material is soft to the touch, the seats are comfortable, and visibility all around is pretty good (despite the tapering window line).However, both Opel and Holden would be wise to make a rear view camera as standard on all models. Hyundai and Toyota have cameras on $23,990 hatchbacks; it would be a sin of omission to not have such an essential safety feature on this family-sized car.Cargo space is average, and it depends on whether you have a space-saver spare or an inflator kit in the boot. The figures of 356 litres with the seats up and 1372 litres with the seats down (the maximum volume when an inflator kit is installed, there’s even less room when a space saver is used) give it a smaller boot capacity than a Nissan Dualis, and not much more than a Volkswagen Golf and most other small cars.In Europe, the Opel Mokka has lane-keeping technology and a tiny camera that can read speed limit signs. Sadly those systems are not confirmed for Australia, partly because of cost and partly because our street signs are so cluttered by advertising billboards which confuse the cameras.Six airbags and stability control are standard and in Europe it earns a five-star safety rating. Also standard across the range are hill-descent control and hill-hold assistance, to help get moving on steep hills.Top-line models come with a forward collision alert system (although not with automatic braking), auto-dipping high beam and xenon headlights that following the direction of the steering.First, the good news. Opel ships Continental tyres from a factory in Portugal to Korea so that its Mokkas are fitted with quality European tyres. Here’s hoping Opel Australia gets the same deal.Holden’s Trax, meanwhile, is likely to take the Kumho Solus tyre (if most of its other Korean-sourced cars are a guide), which is adequate in the dry but has below average grip in the wet.It was academic during our first drive in Germany, however. Our Opel Mokka was equipped with Pirelli winter tyres. They gripped well but it was unclear whether they were responsible for the suspension feeling slightly busy over bumps, or whether that was a trait of the car. We’ll pass on any further judgment until we test it on local roads.We drove a 1.4 turbo petrol model, which has a satisfactory amount of urge -- not class leading but not class worst. The engine was smooth, as was the six-speed manual shifter. The six-speed auto comes on line in September, in time for the Australian release.As with many new cars the Opel Mokka has idle stop-start technology. As with most drivers of most cars with idle stop-start technology, I found the off switch to leave the engine running all the time.One thing that did stand out: the Opel Mokka felt like it had a broad turning circle. But the information sheet says it has a 10.8 metre turning radius, which is a bit more than a small car and average for a soft-roader of this size.