It's the stuff of perennial pub debates: which is better, Falcon or Commodore? To find out, we pitted two sporting sedan variants up against each other in a comparison.
There was just the one winner -- the Falcon XR6 -- but arriving at that verdict wasn't some simple exercise in logic and commonsense. Our two reviewers, Feann Torr and Stephen Ottley, didn't always share the same opinion of the Falcon or its rival, the Commodore SV6, and nor were their respective views completely objective. See what you think...
FT: Stepping into the Commodore SV6 is like catching up with an old mate. Everything feels familiar and though I still don't like the placement of the electric window and mirror controls -- behind the gearshifter -- it's not a deal breaker. The seats are great too, very welcoming...
SO: Yeah, the ergonomics in the Commodore are great but the Falcon's interior is much nicer. The quality of the design and materials (excluding the rather dodgy pattern on the cloth trim) gives it a big advantage over the Commodore; which is starting to date. In fact, the same can be said of the exterior styling. I don't know about you, but I think the Commodore is due for a makeover.
FT: Fair call. I'm not saying the SV6 has a more modern look or feel than the Falcon, but in terms of comfort it comes out on top, if you ask me. The seating position is better too -- it takes less time to find the sweet spot.
SO: There's no doubt the SV6 is a good car underneath the skin, but the same is true of the XR6. The changes to the MY10 Commodore were needed though, given the VE has been around for a few years now. The SIDI engines certainly sound good, a lot better than any other V6 Commodore.
FT: The new V6 does sound better, especially as the revs rise, but the mid-range punch of the Falcon delivers a more satisfying experience and makes the car easier to drive. Good gearbox too.
SO: Agreed, the ZF gearbox in the Falcon is much nicer. Perhaps that's one reason why the Ford did so well on fuel economy compared to the Holden. I don't know about you, but I was really surprised the two were tied on consumption at the end of the drive (12.5L/100km). So much for downsizing being more efficient!
FT: There's no question that Holden's direct injected 'SIDI' V6 is a more advanced unit, but I think you might have hit the nail on the head there. Were Holden to fit the ZF six-speed auto to its SV6, I think the economy result would have favoured the Commodore. But while the Commodore has the more advanced engine, the Ford's chassis is far more composed when push comes to shove.
SO: The Ford is certainly a much better sorted vehicle, dynamically speaking. The steering was good in both cars -- nice feedback and weighting -- but the Falcon felt more composed on the road; which in turn gave you more confidence to push on. Having said all that, neither car is what you would call a true 'Sports Sedan'. They are very much family cars with eye-catching bodykits and big wheels. In terms of price and specification though, they are evenly matched.
FT: I think you're wrong about the weighting being good in both cars. I thought the Falcon had it bang on, while the Commodore was a little too light and overly assisted. Since the VY hit the scene I've always been of the opinion that the steering was a touch light. They are matched in terms of price and spec, but when it comes to their design the Falcon wins -- but only by a whisker. It's a subjective issue, but in hindsight the VE Commodore is ageing very well and perhaps Holden was right not to give it a nip-and-tuck when the SIDI V6 engines arrived.
SO: Couldn't agree with you less on the Commodore's looks, mate. Holden's decision not to give the VE a cosmetic update to go along with the engines is a big mistake in my mind. To me I get the feeling it has more to do with a lack of money than any great desire to retain the current look of the car (the financial crisis strikes again!). I think it says something about the Commodore's looks that Holden has decided to keep the Pontiac G8 panels on the limited edition SS models around indefinitly; people obviously want something different after almost four years.
FT: It's a subjective issue. I like the Falcon design better, but I think the Commodore still stands up well when sitting side-by-side with its arch-rival. The Pontiac look for the SS models was as much to get rid of spare parts as it was to freshen the car's image. One thing is certain -- beauty is in the eye of the beholder. At the end of the day, the Falcon was the better car in almost every respect. But how will it fare against the next generation Commodore?
SO: That's an issue for the next generation Falcon; and another day. Looks aside, I think we both agree the Falcon was the winner in this comparison. It's a better car in most areas. Which only adds to the mystery; why do they lag so far behind Commodore in the sales race? I get the feeling Ford still has some way to go before it shakes off the damage done by the AU Falcon.
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