Money back guarantee for midsize Holden

Holden has unveiled its secret weapon to target the midsize market. And while it first showed the new Epica sedan at the Brisbane Motor Show in February, its ace in the hole is not the car's driving dynamics, nor its midsized-plus interior space. It's not the car's competitive equipment levels or $30K-something pricing for the top-of-the-range model... No, the secret weapon is now out in the open -- a money back guarantee.

Private buyers who purchase the new Epica sedan before December 31, 2007 will have 30 days or 1500km to decide on whether they want to keep the car. If they are not happy with it, they will be able to return the car to their Holden dealer and receive a full refund of their purchases costs -- on-road costs included.

The Epica Money Back Offer was revealed at the car's media launch this week in Melbourne. According to Holden staffers, the offer is not the focus of the car's launch to market, however, they say, it will be an important tool to tempt private buyers to move to Holden and try the all-new nameplate.

The offer is far from unconditional, however. In fact, to obtain the refund the ex-Epica owners must provide proof of purchase of another new vehicle of equal or greater value within the 30-day period. The ability or willingness of private buyers to fund the purchase of two new vehicles in the same 30 days arguably makes the guarantee a rather cynical marketing exercise.

Our advice to prospective purchasers is (as always) to read the fine print.

This is more the pity, as on first impressions the Epica seems good enough to fight the big-selling Toyota Camry (the car's main target) on its merits. Aggressively priced, the two-model, two-powertrain Epica range (more here) features good levels of equipment and a decent level of refinement.

Holden is also making much ado of the fact the car has benefited from significant tuning of ride and handling for local conditions and its conduct on the albeit 'vanilla' drive route seemed to add weight to this claim. We'll reserve judgement until we can drive the Epica on something other than freeways and major rural routes, but it's not disgraced itself so far.

Fuel economy from the Epica's unique transverse inline six looks also to be comparable with its four-cylinder rivals. During Friday's drive program the 2.5-litre CDXi models return between 6.1-8.7lt/100km according to there trip computers.

We can also vouch for the spaciousness of the car -- four-up at least. In terms of interior room it's at least a match for the Toyota and the fit and finish seems a step-up on the likes of the Viva and Barina.

Holden is aiming the Epica four-square at Camry buyers and says the design brief behind the car was "robust, safe and substantial on the road".

It says it doesn't not expect its new midsizer to grow the of-late moribund medium car market but rather steal sales from other brands. It says it is unashamedly aimed "at the value end of the ultra competitive medium car segment."

Look out for our launch review of the Holden Epica soon.

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