MOTORNETNEWS  ROAD  TEST  -  AUGUST  2008    

HOLDEN  BERLINA  SEDAN

Although the VE Commodore has been around since August 2006 the car still looks modern and amongst the best looking big sedans worldwide. The pumped out guards, high boot line and bold grille give it a masculine, no-nonsense appearance. If anything, the styling actually makes the car looks smaller than it really is for this is a big sedan.

The Commodore's V6 engine isn't the best around by a long shot but it has plenty of power even if it is a bit too thirsty and noisy. The interior is exceptionally roomy, the boot is huge and the ride and handling leave many far more expensive imports for dead!

OUTSIDE:

As stated above, the Commodore Berlina is a good looking car but it is probably in need of a freshening facelift now that Ford has the new FG Series Falcons on the road.  For a car that is just one class above the standard entry level model, the Berlina gets quite a bit of standard equipment although the exterior doesn't have much differentiation except for the multi spoke 17" alloy wheels, driving lights and body coloured mirrors and door handles.

At the rear there are standard parking sensors - needed because the high rear window line hampers rear vision. The deep front and rear bumpers offer very good panel and lights protection and the tail lights are visible from the side. Under the insulated bonnet that opens easily on gas struts, the engine layout is very neat and tidy and there is excellent access to the various maintenance points.

INSIDE:

The cloth upholstery looks very smart and durable but the all-black trim makes the interior a bit sombre. The dashboard is plain and unexciting and the interior trim is a shade too plain for this class of car. Everything fits well and the quality of the materials is fine but is does have a bit of a 'low rent' feel.

The front bucket seats are are top class with excellent lateral support and adjustment. The height is electrically adjusted on the driver's side. Head and leg room in the front are very generous as is width. In the back, the seats are very flat and the passengers sit quite low in the car. The back rests slope too much rearward and the result is quite tiring on a long journey. Children will find that it is quite hard to see out of the car. Head and leg room and seat width are very good although the centre seat is not as comfortable as the exterior ones.

The dash has silver highlights and simple, easy to use controls for audio and air-conditioning. The instruments are well shrouded in a deep hood although why manufacturers persist in fitting a large rev counter in automatic cars is still a mystery. The trip computer is excellent and easy to use and read and there is a large information LCD screen in the dash. The cruise control is controlled by a separate stalk and there are remote controls on the fully adjustable (rake & reach) steering wheel for audio and trip computer. 

Both sunvisors have covered vanity mirrors but there are only a few storage areas around the cabin to take care of odds and ends. The door pockets are good as they can also take a bottle in each one. The front arm rest in the centre has a deep lidded bin and there is a well-designed rear armrest.

LUGGAGE AREA:

The interior  release for the boot lid is in the lockable glove box - this is an excellent feature that has been with Commodores since day one. The boot capacity is huge even with the optional full alloy wheel and spare tyre under the solid floor. This is a real family-sized boot, however, the underside of the lid is not trimmed so car must betaken when there is a full load of suitcases - make sure they have  some covering so the bare metal doesn't rub against them.

The biggest surprise when the VE was released was that Holden continued with the small ski port rather than make the rear seats split fold. This lack does limit the load capacity if long items are to be carried. 

ON THE ROAD;

Holden has been improving the standard V6 engine for many years and they have just about got it right. It is still a bit noisy and doesn't have the low-down torque to make is really smooth but, coupled to the 4-speed automatic is does its job without fuss.  It is thirsty around town averaging around 14.5 - 15.0 litres per 100km but is quite economical on the highway where the consumption drops rapidly to around 7.5 to 8.0. 

The Commodore models are all renowned for their excellent handling, brakes and steering and the Berlina is no exception. It does, however, have a much better ride than the more expensive models. It is another of those mysteries of product planning that  many manufacturers seem to think that the more you pay for a car, the stiffer the suspension should be! I have always subscribed to the opinion that the direct opposite is true.

PRICE:                $40,290 (Auto only) plus on-road costs.

STANDARD:      Dual front, side and head airbags; ABS brakes with Brake Assist and Electronic Brake Distribution; Climate control Air-conditioning; Alarm System; 17" Alloy Wheels; Cruise Control; 6-stack CD; Central Remote Locking; Cloth trim; Electronic Stability Control; Driving Lights; Engine Immobiliser; Leather Steering Wheel; Mobile Phone; Parking Distance Sensors; Power Driver's Seat; Power mirrors, steering & windows; 7-Speaker Audio System; Seat Belt Pre-tensioners; Traction Control and Trip Computer.

OPTIONS:            DVD Player $1,290; Heavy Duty Suspension $330; Limited Slip Differential $360; Leather Upholstery $2,500; Metallic Paint $400; Power Sun Roof $1,990; Satellite Navigation $1,290:\; Sports Suspension $330.

 THE ROAD: