Carsales Staff•16 May 2013
NEWS
Holden Ute pricing announced
Light commercial vehicle range gains more equipment at a lower pricePrice slashing discounts are usually offered on a new car near the end of the model life – not the beginning.
But as for the other models in Holden's VF Commodore range, the Ute will enter the market priced significantly lower than its VE predecessor. According to Holden, the entry-level model is now priced at $32,990 – a drop of $2500 – while prices have come down by as much as $5500 for other variants.
The manufacturer hasn't removed equipment to make the books balance either. New features for the Ute are shared with its sedan and wagon stablemates, and include Auto Park Assist, Trailer Sway Control, parking sensors front and rear, and a reversing camera for each variant. In addition, automatic models feature remote vehicle starting.
VE model owners (and motoring journalists) will be pleased to note the unloved handbrake of the earlier model is ditched, in favour of an electronic parking brake that will automatically release and also hold the vehicle on hills. Other extras-now-standard include the MyLink infotainment system with eight-inch touchscreen, voice recognition and iPod connectivity (with Siri EyesFree app). Apps available through MyLink are Pandor and Stitcher SmartRadio.
“VF offers the sort of world-class user technology that will redefine what it means to drive a ‘tool of trade’ vehicle. The Ute is so much more than its humble beginnings – it’s become an incredible vehicle by any definition,” said Holden's Executive Director Sales and Marketing, Philip Brook, in a press release.
“For performance lovers the Ute has become Holden’s ultimate two-door sports machine with half of our Ute customers choosing a V8 model. VF Ute offers more of what people want – great performance, luxury features and the latest safety technology – and red hot prices across the range.”
Holden has dropped the 'Omega' title from the name for the entry-level variant, now known merely as the Ute. Powered by the standard 3.6-litre V6 coupled to six-speed automatic transmission, the base-grade model's price of $32,990 is $2500 less than the VE Omega in the same grade and with the same drivetrain.
Safety features remain largely as they were for the VE model – six airbags and stability/traction control. Like the VF sedan and wagon, the Ute adopts electrically-assisted power steering. Standard features at entry-level, in addition to those already mentioned above, include dual-zone climate control, monochrome multi-function display and MP3-compatible CD audio system with AUX input jack, Bluetooth connectivity and audio streaming.
Priced $5500 lower than the same variant in the VE range is the VF SV6. At $32,990 it's the same price as the entry-level Ute, but with a manual (six-speed) transmission rather than the automatic of the base model. Additional features in the SV6 comprise Blind Spot Alert, Reverse Traffic Alert, FE2 uprated Sports Suspension, 18-inch alloy wheels, chrome exhaust tip, limited-slip differential (manual only), exterior sports styling cues, sports seats, projector-beam headlights, LED Day Running Lights and soft tonneau.
Trimmed to the same level, but priced at $38,990, the SS Ute features the 6.0-litre V8 and standard six-speed manual transmission. At its new price the SS is $3500 below the same variant in the VE series. Sitting above the SS is the SS V-Series at $42,490 – a $5000 price reduction. The $3500 difference from the SS accounts for 19-inch alloy wheels, leather upholstery, satellite navigation, colour multi-function display and keyless entry/start in the V-Series variant.
Topping the range is the SS V Redline, which is $1500 lower than the VE equivalent, and is now priced at $48,490. Features additional to the V-Series spec list are: Forward Collision Alert, Lane Departure Warning, Head-up Display, FE3 suspension, Brembo brakes and forged 19-inch alloy wheels.
Automatic transmission as an option (other than for the base model), adds $2200. Options for the entry-level Ute are priced as follows: Prestige paint ($500), Blind Spot Alert and Reverse Traffic Alert bundled ($350), satellite navigation ($750) and soft tonneau cover ($490). Leather trim is also an option for the SV6, at $1000. Satellite Navigation is also optional for the SV6 and SS, at the same price of $750.
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Written byCarsales Staff
Our team of independent expert car reviewers and journalists
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Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
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