Holden’s AWD-only Commodore Tourer revealed

HOLDEN has unveiled its rugged Commodore Tourer high-rider that is set to arrive early next year alongside its liftback sedan and Sportwagon siblings with the Australian-exclusive 230kW/370Nm 3.6-litre V6 powerplant, all-wheel drive (AWD) and, likely, a nine-speed automatic transmission.

A spiritual successor to the early-2000s Adventra – which was essentially a jacked-up all-paw Commodore – the Tourer will also leverage a number of new technologies found on the incoming rebadged Insignia range, including an advanced twin-clutch torque vectoring system and switchable drive modes with a Sport and off-road optimised option.

To distinguish the three, the Tourer will sport 20mm more ground clearance and is longer than its Commodore Sportwagon brethren by 20mm.

Despite the increased length, the Tourer will feature the same interior volume as the Commodore Sportwagon, which can swallow up to 1640 litres with the 40/20/40 split rear seats tucked away.

The Commodore Tourer will also wear unique off-road body cladding that is denoted by a revised lower front fascia, black-coloured wheel arch protectors and rugged rear diffuser treatment, as well as sharing the Sportwagon’s design flourishes of a roof-mounted spoiler and subtle roof rails.

Also shared with the Sportwagon, the Tourer will arrive with a power tailgate, heated seats front and rear, cooled front seats and active noise cancellation, along with a suite of safety features such as autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, forward collision alert and rear cross-traffic alert.

Holden product communications manager Mark Flintoft confirmed to GoAuto that the Tourer would only feature one engine, saying “for now, it’s a V6 only”, meaning the high-riding wagon will miss out on the turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol and diesel powertrains available in the Commodore sedan and wagon.

Mr Flintoft also said the Tourer will eschew a front-wheel-drive option, at least for now.

“For the moment, its all-wheel drive,” he said. “It’s obviously kind of a country offering so, I guess almost an SUV alternative, so yes, it’s all-wheel drive at the moment.”Mr Flintoft also confirmed the Tourer will launch locally in the first quarter next year, side-by-side with the liftback and wagon Commodores, where it will be pitched against other rugged AWD mid-sized wagons including the Subaru Outback, Volkswagen Passat Alltrack and Skoda Octavia Scout, as well as a the more premium Audi A4 Allroad.