HSV Maloo R8 2015 Review

Is the Maloo now too special to be a tradie’s work hack?

That’s the question I asked myself as I approached the new-for-2015 Jungle Green HSV Maloo R8, now updated with a mighty 340kW/570Nm engine tune for the 6.2-litre petrol V8 engine.

This is essentially the engine previously provided the $4995 ‘SV Enhanced’ pack, and its housed in a beefy, body-kitted exterior that wouldn’t take too kindly to climbing a kerb onto the building site.

A further look at the hardware suggests the HSV Maloo R8 is more sports car than load hauler, and is priced and specified accordingly.

The six-speed manual variant is now priced at a not-insignificant $69,990 (plus on-road costs); $1700 more than the MY2014 GEN-F it replaces. Optioning the six-speed self-shifter, now with shift paddles, adds an additional $2500 to the mix, bringing the auto starting price to $72,490 (plus ORCs); a $2000 premium over the previous auto, but still cheaper than the $76,890 asked for the E Series Maloo R8.

Interestingly, it does fall only $800 off a ClubSport R8 manual sedan...

Like all HSVs, the Maloo R8 falls under the capped-price servicing program, which maxes at $220 per service for the first four services. There’s an initial inspection at 3000km or three months (whichever occurs first), followed by the first full service at 15,000km or nine months.

The recent upgrades to the MY15 HSV model line are detailed here.

Beyond the obvious engine and auto transmission upgrade, highlights for the Maloo R8 include the new electrically-operated actuator for the bi-modal exhaust, Tornado Grey inserts for the standard 20-inch alloy wheels and pitch black bumper inserts and mirror scalps.

The 8.0-inch central touchscreen remains impressive and continues with the potentially distracting – but cool for passengers – Enhanced Driver Interface (EDI) data display, as well as an easy-to-use sat-nav system. The reversing camera has also been enhanced with the addition of guidelines to aid reversing. As it turns out, they are perhaps the most beneficial upgrade of all…

Filled with the signature large, adjustable, heated HSV sports seats, the Maloo R8 interior feels cramped in comparison to its relatively airy sedan siblings, and that’s partly to do with the thickness of the B-pillars, which encroach on the cockpit’s ambience. As a result, head checks have to be triple-tested in conjunction with the lane departure warning systems to ensure safe lane changing.

Further adding to the lack of all-round vision is the raised humps of the electrically-operated, hard tonneau cover, which restrict rearward vision, and the high tray section which restricts natural reversing sight lines, making you overly reliant on the reversing camera.

Once you’ve reversed your way out of a tight car-park, slotting the Maloo R8 into drive can bring the newly-fitted paddles into play. They are made of a material that feels less than premium, but their positioning in contrast to the well-sized but again plainly-presented steering wheel is good.

In comparison to the similarly-engined, six-speed manual ClubSport R8 recently sampled, the combination of six-speed torque converter auto and 340kW engine tune does a finer job through the lower reaches of the rev range, responding crisply to the throttle, while providing similar fun when 4000rpm is breached and the bi-modal exhaust opens to reveal the Maloo’s wild side.

Although you still have the option of sequentially shifting via the ‘floor shift’ (it remains appropriately gated, too, with a pull to engage a higher gear and push to down-shift) the MY15’s party piece is the way the upgraded engine works with the paddle shift. In manual mode, thankfully, the Maloo R8 will hold gears and not kick-down inappropriately, either. It’s all about control, and with two hands on the wheel at all times, you’ve never felt more in control of a grunty V8 utility.

Of course, the HSV suspension tune, massive 20-inch alloys with Continental rubber and AP four-piston braking system all contribute to a drive that is far more refined when you want it to be, and provides surprising traction and braking capability when you have an opportunity to use the Maloo R8’s performance.

Lacking the adjustable damping of the flagship GTS sedan, the Maloo R8 nevertheless rides reasonably well, again considering the vehicle on which it is based was designed primarily to carry tray loads. The HSV ute’s payload capacity is limited to 500kg (compared to the Holden Commodore SS Utility’s 665kg), thanks to its lowered, stiffened rear suspension system, but the easy button access, textured plastic tray lining and accessible tie-down points make the space useful enough, if not exactly ideal for a couple of armfuls of slippery grocery bags.

You can forgive the slight reduction in payload in return for the step-up in performance and dynamics, but will you pay for the privilege at the pump? Over mostly highway kilometres, with some stop-start commuting thrown in, the Maloo R8 recorded 17.1L/100km during our test.

The week also answered what was posed at the beginning of this road test. The Maloo is definitely more sports car than load-lugger… and there’s little this side of a supercar that has similar aural and visual road presence.