2010 Holden Statesman AFM And SIDI Road Test Review

2010 Holden Statesman AFM and SIDI Road Test Review

WITH A STRENGTHENING TREND among new car buyers to downsize, it is no bed of roses in the large car segment.

Sure, some larger luxury brands, notably Audi and BMW, would seem to have been insulated from the move to smaller thriftier cars. But others have not fared so well - Holden's WM Statesman and Caprice had a tough year in 2009.

According to VFACTS figures, the Caprice was down 11.3 percent in 2009 compared to 2008, while the Statesman was down a hefty 67.6 percent. That will have alarmed Holden's bean counters, particularly with a resiliently high Aussie dollar compounding things.

But it's not yet time to ring the bells on Holden's luxury warriors. The Statesman is a big car, sure, but it is also stylish, serenly comfortable and - as we discovered with both SIDI and AFM models -  commendably fuel-efficient.

Like the rest of Holden's VE/WM range, the Statesman has recently had a mechanical revamp designed to boost fuel economy and, in the case of the base V6, power and torque.

The updates include two 'firsts' for Holden - the first application of cylinder deactivation technology in a V8 engine, and the first use of direct-injection in a locally-built product.

The V6 model also benefits from a newer, more efficient transmission. Of course, in a tough and getting tougher market segment, the Statesman has to match it with the best from overseas.

So, how good is it and how much has it benefited from its under-the-skin makeover?

Styling

The big changes with both the AFM and SIDI models occur under the skin, and as such there’s nothing new to report style-wise.

That’s both good and bad: good because the WM Statesman always did a nice job of projecting an image of businesslike authority, and not so good because the shape is perhaps, by now, a little too familiar.

BMW’s 7 Series, Benz’s S-Class and Lexus’s LS have all either been recently facelifted or completely revamped, and although they occupy a much higher price bracket than the Statesman, it makes the Holden one of the older designs in the large luxury segment.

But while it may be starting to sport a few crow’s feet and grey hairs, the Statesman still looks every bit as dignified as it did when it launched in 2006.

The large headlamp clusters, big rectangular grille, prominent Statesman ‘wreath’ emblem and a chrome bezel on the lower air intake are hallmarks of the model.

Its close cousin the Caprice incorporates similar elements, however it does away with the Statesman’s three horizontal chrome slats within the grille and flaunts a sportier front bumper.

The foglight lenses are ringed in chrome, and more brightwork is applied to the beltline moulding and over the tops of the door frames. A band of chrome runs parallel to the lower edges of the doors and rear bumper, while a thick chrome strip spans the gap between each tail light.

There’s little flamboyance or styling excess in the Statesman’s lines, but it stands out in traffic thanks to its sheer bulk and dignified presence. The Statesman is enormous; its side profile the best view from which to appreciate its dimensions.

Although based on the VE’s platform, there’s little carry over. The front doors and windscreen are shared with the VE, with everything rearward of the B-pillar elongated.

The rear doors are lengthened to ease entry and exit, and the boot space is longer and larger. Ten-spoke 17-inch alloy wheels are standard, although wheels up to 20 inches in diameter can be had for a little extra outlay.

Interior

While the exterior is unique to the WM, the interior styling is familiar.

The centre console, front door cards, steering wheel and lower dash plastics are the same shape as those used by the Calais, however the dashboard, instrument binnacle, instrument cluster and centre-stack are unique to the WM.

The front seat cushions are broad and soft, although don’t expect much in the way of lateral support. The leather is pleasing to touch, but the seatback seems to be unnaturally firm just below the shoulders.

The driver’s seating position is good though, with an eight-way electrically adjusting seat (four-way on the passenger seat) and a steering wheel that adjusts for both reach and rake. Visibility is hindered by the WM’s thickish A-pillar, but otherwise outward visibility is decent.

Although the front of the cabin may seem like familiar territory, the rear most definitely shares little with the Commodore range. ‘Abundant’ doesn’t even begin to describe the amount of legroom that is on offer to back seat passengers, and a wide cabin means there’s plenty of room to accommodate three adults across the rear bench.