For NFM issue 4, Matt Wood gets behind the wheel of the Holden Commodore SV6 ute for a drive in the country.
The good old Aussie ute may be under threat but that hasn’t stopped Holden releasing the Commodore SV6, perhaps their best ever ute.
Holden has made no bones about the company’s aggressive new approach to marketing vehicles in this country recently. Since the release of the VF Commodore earlier this year the car and light commercial manufacturer has fired up the “Think Holden” campaign which has slashed prices on new models while at the same time loading them up with standard equipment.
The Holden ute has a lot of heritage in Australia but the influx of more practical dual cab 4×4 and 4×2 utes from overseas has seen demand for the old school ute decline over recent years. The versatility and extra seating capacity of these vehicles has forced the two-seater ute more into the role of a lifestyle vehicle rather than a fair dinkum workhorse.
The Commodore SV6 ute has had its list price slashed to $32,990 for the 6-speed manual version. The standard kit for this includes 18-inch alloy wheels, dual zone climate control, auto lights, reversing camera, parking sensors front and rear, drilled pedals, sports seats, FE2 suspension, Limited slip differential, auto park assist and Holden’s excellent MyLink infotainment system.
Under the bonnet, the 3.6 litre V6 powerplant has undergone a few tweaks with power up to 210kW and torque up to 350Nm. Paradoxically fuel consumption has been improved with Holden now claiming 9.0 l/100km, we saw highway figures as low as 8.4l/100km on country roads. Payload capacity is 700kg while towing capacity is 1,600kg braked.
NFM recently spent a few days behind the wheel of the VF Commodore SV6 ute to see how this most uniquely Australian of vehicles shapes up in what is fast becoming an SUV dominated world.
We took our lairy Fantale Orange machine for a 800 kilometre round trip from Melbourne to the NSW Riverina village of Conargo to get a feel for how the Cowboy’s Hot-rod performs and handles out on the open roads of rural Victoria and NSW.
The SV6 handles Australian roads like it was made for them, and it is. The chassis and suspension tuning of the locally developed Commodore handle our average country roads both black top and dirt with poise. Is it a practical, functional workhorse? Hell no. Is it a lot of fun to drive? Hell yes.
For more on our drive of the Commodore SV6 ute, look for the November issue of NewFarmMachinery magazine, on-sale November 25. To never miss a future issue, subscribe to the magazine.