Holden’s ZB Commodore to start at $33,690 BOCs
BY TIM NICHOLSON | 12th Dec 2017
The car-maker has ushered in new variant names for the Commodore – the first imported model to carry the nameplate since its introduction in 1978 – however it has retained the Calais moniker for the most luxuriously equipped versions.
As expected, Holden has dropped the SS badge that was linked to V8 variants in the past, with performance duties handled by the flagship VXR that is available in liftback guise only.
When it rolls into showrooms in late February, three body styles are on offer including the liftback, Sportwagon and jacked-up Tourer with three powertrains available – a 2.0-litre turbocharged front-drive petrol, a 2.0-litre turbocharged front-drive diesel and the all-wheel-drive V6.
For the first time in the Commodore’s history there is no manual gearbox available and it is also the first time the nameplate is available with a diesel engine, which commands a $3000 premium over the equivalent 2.0-litre petrol variants.
Holden’s pricing is similar to some other mid-size and large passenger car offerings, such as Volkswagen’s Passat that ranges in price from $35,490 to $59,990, the Mazda6 ($32,490-$49,540), the Subaru Liberty/Outback twins ($30,240-$48,740), and arch rival Ford’s Mondeo ($33,190-$49,840), while Toyota’s just launched new-gen Camry that is also offered with a V6 is cheaper ($27,690-$43,990).
The new base variant is the LT petrol liftback that starts the range at $33,690, rising to $36,690 for the diesel, both of which are available in Sportwagon guise for a $2200 premium over the liftback.
Standard gear in LT guise includes 17-inch alloy wheels, auto headlights, LED daytime running lights and tail-lights, keyless entry and start, remote start, rain-sensing wipers, cruise control, leather steering wheel, eight-way power driver seat, 60/40 split-fold rear seat, a spacesaver spare wheel, and Holden’s MyLink infotainment system with a 7.0-inch high-resolution colour touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as well as full iPod integration and Siri Eyes Free.
The LT is also offered with active safety and driver assist features including semi-automatic parking, front and rear parking sensors, a reversing camera and the Holden Eye forward facing camera that houses autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, following distance indicator and a forward collision alert with a head-up warning.
The RS is offered in 2.0-litre petrol liftback guise from $37,290, while the RS AWD V6 is priced at $40,790 and the Sportwagon again adding $2200 to the price for each RS variant.
Standard RS gear on top of that found in the LT includes 18-inch alloys, a sports bodykit, sports front seats, a rear lip spoiler, a hands-free power tailgate on the Sportwagon, leather sports steering wheel, a rear cross-traffic alert and blind spot alert.
The RS-V is offered solely with the V6 AWD powertrain and is priced from $46,990 for the liftback and $49,190 for the Sportwagon.
On top of the RS, it adds an adaptive all-wheel-drive system with an electric limited slip differential, HiPer strut suspension, a sportier look at the rear, wireless phone charging, ambient lighting, colour head-up display, leather-appointed and heated front seats, sports steering wheel with paddles, an 8.0-inch colour instrument cluster, and a larger 8.0-inch touchscreen that includes sat-nav and digital radio.
The Calais kicks off at $40,990 for the 2.0-litre petrol liftback – representing a $1550 price drop compared with the outgoing Calais – increasing to $43,990 for the diesel, while the Calais-V V6 AWD liftback is $51,990.
Buyers wanting a Calais wagon must choose the high-riding Tourer, which will only be offered in V6 AWD Calais and Calais-V guise from $45,990 and $53,990 respectively.
On top of the LT spec, the Calais adds 18-inch alloys, leather-appointed seats, heated front seats, wireless phone charging, the 8.0-inch MyLink screen, a 4.2-inch cluster screen, blind spot alert and rear cross-traffic alert, while the Tourer adds high-ride suspension and a hands-free tailgate.
The Calais-V gains 20-inch alloys, rear lip spoiler, adaptive LED Matrix headlights, the 8.0-inch colour cluster screen, colour head-up display, 360-degree cameras, Bose premium audio, driver seat power side bolsters, massage driver seat, ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, sports steering wheel with paddles, and an electric sunroof for the liftback, while the Tourer adds a panoramic sunroof.
The range-topping VXR is only offered in liftback V6 AWD guise at $55,990 and adds features on top of the RS-V, including 20-inch alloys, selectable mode Continuous Damping Control (CDC) suspension, front Brembo brakes, electric sunroof, VXR floor mats and sill plates, adaptive LED Matrix headlights, 360-degree cameras, adaptive cruise control, ‘performance’ leather sports seats, ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, driver and passenger seat power side bolsters, and a Bose premium audio system.
The four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine – also found in a different state of tune under the bonnet of the freshly launched Equinox SUV – delivers 191kW of power and 350Nm of torque and is matched with a new GM-developed nine-speed automatic transmission driving the front wheels.
Precise performance and fuel economy figures have not yet been provided, but Holden expects the four-cylinder petrol unit to cover 0-100km/h in about 7.0 seconds, while combined cycle fuel use is expected to be less than 8.0 litres per 100km.
The diesel is expected to be a 2.0-litre turbo unit, but Holden is keeping quiet on further details of this powertrain.
The VXR uses a 235kW/381Nm version of the brand’s naturally aspirated 3.6-litre V6, matched with the new nine-speed automatic transmission and advanced all-wheel-drive system with torque vectoring and twin-clutch differential.
It offers an extra 5kW/11Nm over other V6-powered ZB Commodore variants, and Holden says to expect a 0-100km/h figure in the low-6.0 second bracket.
Holden is offering some variants with driveaway pricing from launch.
| 2018 Holden Commodore pricing* | |
| Liftback | |
| LT 2.0-litre petrol (a) | $33,690 |
| LT 2.0-litre diesel (a) | $36,690 |
| RS 2.0-litre petrol (a) | $37,290 |
| RS V6 (a) | $40,790 |
| Calais 2.0-litre petrol (a) | $40,990 |
| Calais 2.0-litre diesel (a) | $43,990 |
| RS-V V6 (a) | $46,990 |
| Calais-V V6 (a) | $51,990 |
| VXR V6 (a) | $55,990 |
| Sportwagon | |
| LT 2.0-litre petrol (a) | $35,890 |
| LT 2.0-litre diesel (a) | $38,890 |
| RS 2.0-litre petrol | $39,490 |
| RS-V V6 (a) | $49,190 |
| Tourer | |
| Calais V6 (a) | $45,990 |
| Calais-V V6 (a) | $53,990 |
