Holden Commodore – What you need to know

The name is the same but not the car. Holden's first imported Commodore is an Opel, as was the design template for the original VB Commodore back in 1978.

An all-new liftback and wagon, (in Sport and raised Tourer body) is offered in seven trim levels, with a choice of three engines, two transmissions and with front- or all-wheel drive.

Let's delve deep into the features and personalise a Commodore to suit your needs and budget.

At $33,690 (plus on-road costs) the entry-level 2.0-litre turbo petrol LT Commodore liftback has the following standard features:

• 17-inch alloy wheels
• Auto headlights
• LED tail lights and daylights
• Semi-automatic parking
• Seven-inch infotainment touch-screen
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Lane keep assist
• Lane departure warning

Premium paint makes up six of the eight colours and is a $550 additional cost.

Safety features in all models include six airbags, anti-lock brakes and stability control. Each also comes with lane keep assist, autonomous emergency braking, hill start assist, lane departure warning, following distance indicator, front and rear park assist, semi-automatic parking, forward collision alert with a head up warning and a rear view camera.

Side blind zone and rear cross traffic alerts make life easier and are yours by moving up to the liftback Calais or the RS in either liftback or wagon body styles.

Do you like the peace of mind that comes with adaptive cruise control and autonomous emergency braking at all speeds? Take another step up the ladder to the liftback Calais V or VXR. But if you want them in a wagon forget it, they're not available.

Read our 2018 comparison review: Holden Commmodore v Mazda6 v Toyota Camry

Standard in the LT and RS models, a seven-inch touch screen operates Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, pairs your phone and streams music.

If satellite navigation is a must-have, the inexpensive way to get it is opt for a Calais liftback or RS-V in either body style. Doing so brings with it wireless charging for some devices and DAB+ digital radio. But to enjoy the Bose eight-speaker system with subwoofer, dig deeper in your pocket for a liftback Calais V or VXR.

Leather trim always adds a dash of class to any interior and you only have to tick the Calais box to get it.

If you miss driving a manual, select the RS-V for its shift paddles.

Keen on sports seats with four-way lumbar support and a heating function, plus a leather-wrapped steering wheel? Then step up to the RS. This also gets you ambient interior lighting, 'Sport' mode for a firmer ride and the handiness of rear seat pockets.

But if luxury is your thing, the Calais rewards you with heated front seats, four-way lumbar support and a six-way manually adjustable passenger seat. For those in the rear, there are centre armrest and rear seat pockets, which are also standard in the RS liftback. Folding exterior mirrors are handy and the both the Calais and RS have them. But just the Calais comes with a 4.2-inch multi information display in the instrument cluster.

Ever thought of a massage while driving? The least expensive way to do that is to head to the Calais V and its eight-way powered, ventilated driver's seat with massage function and power side bolsters for less lateral movement. The passenger seat is also power adjustable eight ways and comes with a four-way lumbar support and the rear seat is heated.

Auto-dimming rear-view mirrors take the pain out of night driving, so stick with the Calais V, which also comes with LED matrix headlamps, adaptive forward lighting and auto high beam.

Are snug-fitting seats what you like? The range-topping VXR has them plus a massage function for the front passenger seat and only the VXR has FlexRide adaptive suspension and 'Performance' mode for a sportier feel.

Brighten it with bling by slipping past the LT and Calais with their 17- and 18-inch alloy wheels and go for a Calais V or for another four grand a VXR. Both ride on guard-filling 20-inch alloy wheels with the VXR featuring Brembo front brakes. The drawback for the biggest tyres is there is no spare. All other models feature a spare wheel, albeit a space-saver. Instead, with the VXR and Calais V you get a tyre inflator kit, so consider where you drive before you buy.

Does a sunroof take your fancy? It's a Calais V or VXR for you then, as no other models offer it.

Privacy glass? Oddly, just the RS-V wagon offers that one.

Adding a touch of spice is a rear lip spoiler, which can be had inexpensively by ordering the RS liftback. The VXR has its own design.

Available engines are a 191kW/350Nm petrol 2.0-litre turbo four cylinder engine, a turbo-diesel of the same capacity producing 125kW and 400Nm, and a 3.6-litre V6 with 235kW and 381 Nm on tap.

Only the V6 models offer adaptive all-wheel drive. The two-litre engines only drive the front wheels. Petrol engines are coupled to a nine-speed automatic with the diesel scoring an eight-speed auto.

Liftback
LT 2.0-litre turbo-petrol auto FWD – $33,690
LT 2.0-litre turbo-diesel auto FWD – $36,690

Calais 2.0-litre turbo-petrol auto FWD – $40,990
Calais 2.0-litre turbo-diesel auto FWD – $43,990
Calais-V 3.6-litre V6 auto AWD – $51,990
RS 2.0-litre turbo-petrol auto FWD – $37,290
RS 3.6-litre V6 auto AWD – $40,790
RS-V 3.6-litre V6 auto AWD – $46,990
VXR 3.6-litre V6 auto AWD – $55,990

Sportwagon
LT 2.0-litre turbo-petrol auto FWD – $35,890
LT 2.0-litre turbo-diesel auto FWD – $35,890
RS 2.0-litre turbo auto FWD – $39,490
RS-V 3.6-litre V6 auto AWD – $49,190

Tourer (high-ride)
Calais 3.6-litre V6 auto AWD – $45,990
Calais-V 3.6-litre V6 auto AWD – $53,990

Verdict
If I were doing a lot of country miles I'd lob my money at the Calais diesel. Depending how you drive you can achieve good fuel efficiency, it is comfortable and there are plenty of features to entertain you.

As an all-rounder it would be the V6 RS-V in wagon trim for its power, adaptive all-wheel drive and decent level of kit for under fifty grand.