Holden Commodore SV6 Sportwagon 2013 Review

Price Guide (recommended price before statutory & delivery charges): $40,190
Options fitted to test car (not included in above price): Leather Appointed Upholstery $1500; Metallic Paint $550
Crash rating: Five-star ANCAP
Fuel: 95 RON PULP
Claimed fuel economy (L/100km): 9.3
CO2 emissions (g/km): 222
Also consider: Ford Mondeo Wagon (from $33,340); Mazda Mazda6 Wagon (from $34,760); Skoda Superb Wagon (from $38,990); Volkswagen Passat Wagon (from $40,990)

SUVs may be the flavour of the decade, but the humble wagon is still a versatile vehicle; case in point, the Commodore SV6 Sportwagon. It has got loads of cargo carrying capacity (895 litres), can easily accommodate five passengers, and their belongings, and will run rings around most SUVs on a winding road.

It also very predictable on dirt roads, and though it's not the most economical large car available, it can be driven relatively frugally.

Getting to know the Holden Commodore SV6 Sportwagon was an informative experience and one that got me thinking. Is it time to trade in my VX Berlina?

The Phantom (aka black) SV6 Sportwagon is priced at a smidge over $40K before on-road costs are tabulated, and represents good value for money.

Apart from the Commodore givens -- loads of interior space, good ride comfort, engaging dynamics -- the SV6 has some useful techno-wizardry. Similar to the entire VF-Series Commodore range you get a self-parking assistant, reversing camera, parking sensors and an electronic push-button park brake.

The SV6 Sportwagon also comes with a very good infotainment system dubbed MyLink, fitted with a couple of pre-loaded smart-phone music apps just for good measure. It provides easy to navigate menus on a high-resolution colour screen and the first thing I tried, pairing a Bluetooth phone was easy, about three button pushes all told.

Voice activated handsfree Bluetooth phone calls are generally fairly straightforward with decent voice recognition. Just hit the button on the steering wheel and say the name.

The Pandora and Stitcher smartphone music and news streaming apps continue to shine for Holden. The more I used them, the more I liked them.

It's necessary to download the free music streaming apps to your phone, but they're not big programs. Once installed, phone and car sync up and Pandora's quasi-random fuzzy logic was unexpectedly effective in presenting passengers with songs they wanted to hear. It basically learns what users like by initially selecting random songs, which you can then give thumbs up or thumbs down in order to teach Pandora your likes and dislikes.

However, all of the new technology in the Holden Commodore SV6 Sportwagon wasn't always flawless. I found the parking assistant to be a little hit and miss. The sensors weren't always happy (or able) to map out parallel car parks, but it worked more often than not and once engaged did provide an inch-perfect park.

The reversing camera was also handy when you little ones were running around, particularly as the rear window is quite high. The proximity sensors add another pair of eyes. Or ears.

That Holden has added a push-button park brake rids the SV6 wagon of the ungainly and sharp-edged manual hand brake of the VE, creating a greater sense of space in the console. I liked that it doesn't have to be deactivated either, just touch the accelerator pedal and it disengages. However, anything but the lightest of touches on the throttle will result in a grinding clunk as the system is protests against the pending force (a trait all VF-based models share).

In terms of comfort levels, the SV6 presented a solid case. The seats were large and comfortable, there's plenty of room to stretch out and the controls are where you'd expect them to be located.

Dual-zone climate control works well -- hit the 'auto' button and the car takes care of keeping cabin temperature regulated -- and automatic headlights are a nice touch. The cruise control works well and the six-speed automatic transmission rarely needed to be slotted into sport model, level alone manual override, such was its responsiveness.

The engine pumps out a respectable 210kW at 6700rpm and 350Nm at 2800rpm from its 3.6-litre dual cam V6 engine, enough power to hustle the car along very nicely, despite its burly 1776kg kerb mass.

It will only drink premium unleaded petrol (95-98 RON) when filling its 71-litre fuel tank, and claimed fuel consumption of 9.3L/100km is optimistic. Even after almost 1000km of driving, of which about two-thirds was open road cruising, I couldn't get the trip computer's average fuel consumption readout below 10.0L/100km. The final figure after a week was 10.7L/100km.

Even so, on a family holiday to Apollo Bay in southern Victoria the SV6 proved an amenable mode of transport. The large 895-litre boot swallowed a large suitcase, a stroller for the baby, a body board bag and various other bags filled with gear. Fold down the rear seats and the boot space expands to sizeable 2000 litres.

The baby seat went in easily enough, and there was still lots of room for another passenger in the back. The auto hitching tailgate is a very nice addition, closing the boot the last few millimetres in the event you don’t slam it hard enough.

The six-hour round trip from Melbourne to Apollo Bay was a lot more comfortable than the last family wagon we took down the coast, an Audi A4 Avant, largely thanks to the extra room. The ride quality was also very good, which made cruising along the Great Ocean Road a very pleasant experience.

Driving the Sportwagon was easy, both in commuter traffic and along winding coastal roads. The steering was engaging and I felt a better connection to the car than with the VE Sportwagon sampled last year. The engine was responsive and there was just enough firmness in the compliant suspension to ensure it corners well.

The refined suspension also gets for remaining planted, even in tighter corners, and during a spirited drive through the Otway Ranges it showed a clean pair of heels. The Commodore wagon was also predictable to drive on dirt roads too, and the blind spot alert function came in handy a few times when distractions crept in.

Visually, Holden has done a good job inside and out. The subtle sports body kit and LED daytime running lights combined well with 18-inch alloy wheels, giving the car a suitably athletic aesthetic.

The interior is similarly pretty, with elegant HVAC controls, an attractive touch-screen and a neat looking central control panel. I also really liked the simplified steering wheel controls and the stereo has crisp acoustics too.

Wagon rivals in the large car class are limited to the Skoda Superb, which is a very good car but can't match the Commodore's high levels of standard equipment. Traditional rivals such as the Toyota Aurion and Ford Falcon don't offer wagons anymore, so you either need to step up to a luxury car, such as an Audi A6 Estate, or drop down a category to the medium class for a Mazda6 or Ford Mondeo wagon.

By the end of the our test, the Holden Commodore SV6 Sportwagon had travelled almost 1000km and made a very positive impression. It's engaging to drive, comfortable, and practical, able to swallow loads of gear. The Sportwagon has a few drawbacks, but if you like driving -- as opposed to bussing -- it's a great alternative to an SUV.

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