THE Holden SS Ute has been one of Holden’s hero cars since the launch of the VU in December 2000. Many buyers see a sports ute as more of a ‘muscle car’ than its sedan counterpart. This theme was taken further with the arrival of the VE range in 2006, at which point the SS was trumped by the SS-V, which edged Holden even closer to HSV territory. In standard form, the SS Ute combines its 260kW 6.0-litre V8 engine with a six-speed manual gearbox to deliver a formidable blend of performance and economy. The optional six-speed auto adds extra smoothness and refinement to the driving experience, serving as a reminder of the enormous advances made to Australian utes in the past decade. The biggest downside is poor all-round vision.
Holden Commodore Ute SS
Released: September 2007
Ended: Spetember 2010
Family Tree: Commodore uteHOLDEN had less scope for upgrading the SS Ute from its 2006 predecessor because, unlike some other Commodores, the six-speed automatic was on offer from the start with similar economy to the six-speed manual version. The introduction of Active Fuel Management (AFM) on V8 automatic Commodores in 2009 was a big advance and E85 compatibility with the Series II was another. The 2006 SS Ute was one of the standout VEs with heaps of style and great driving appeal. With the introduction of side curtain airbags late in 2009 it earned five stars in ANCAP testing.
Road Test
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