Get the best price on a new Holden Calais
HOLDEN CALAIS REVIEW
Vehicle style: Large luxury family sedan
Price: $61,990 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 6.0 litre V8 Petrol with Active Fuel Management
Outputs: 260kW @ 5700rpm / 517Nm @ 4400rpm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic with Active Select manual
Official fuel efficiency: 12.3 l/100km
On test fuel efficiency: 13.1 l/100km
CO2 emissions: 292g/km
OVERVIEW
The Calais V is the top-shelf model in the Commodore range. The VE Series II Calais V, updated with the release of the Series II range last year, gains a number of styling and comfort changes, inside and out.
Both the 3.0 litre SIDI V6 and 6.0 litre AFM V8 engines are flex-fuel capable, allowing for the use of bio-ethanol (E85), E10, unleaded and premium unleaded petrol fuels.
INTERIOR 
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Quality: Material quality and fit remains largely unchanged in the stylish new interior - good, but not excellent. Besides the sumptuous leather seats and leather-wrapped wheel, the interior does not have the feel of a range-topping model.
Some finish is lacking: the handbrake and centre handhold plastic is cheap and sharp-edged, for example.
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Comfort: The strong suit of the Commodore family’s interior is its comfort, and the Calais V is no exception.
It offers ample leg, shoulder and headroom, while all seats are wide and offer excellent support.
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Equipment: The 2011 Calais V gets Holden’s exceptional new IQ system, featuring a 6.5-inch touchscreen with GPS, iPod connectivity and CD player with internal music storage.
Auto-on headlamps, trip computer, dual-zone climate, cruise control, Bluetooth and power windows/mirrors are also standard.
- Storage: Generous 496 litres of boot space, however only the centre seatback can be folded forward.
ON THE ROAD
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Driveability: The V8 Calais V offers ample power; the sport and tiptronic modes of the automatic give it real hustle on the highway.
While it is a quick and powerful car, its tight turning circle and easy operation also make it a comfortable commuter.
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Refinement: The Commodore’s ability to iron out corrugations and broken tarmac on secondary roads is one reason for its reputation for durability among country drivers.
The Calais V is quiet and composed on all but the worst surfaces, offering a measurably better ride than the more firmly-sprung German competition.
- Suspension: MacPherson struts up front and a multi-link arrangement at the rear. Set up for luxurious cruising with softer suspension settings, the Calais is nevertheless quite capable through corners.
- Braking: Ventilated discs front and rear bring the 1800kg Calais V to a quick halt, although the soft pedal lacks feel.
SAFETY
- ANCAP rating: 5 Star
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Safety features: Six airbags (front, front side and full-length curtain), three-point seatbelts, ABS, EBD, stability control and traction control are all standard.
A reversing camera is also standard, along with front/rear sensors and on-screen guidance.
WARRANTY AND SERVICING
- Warranty: Three years/100,000km.
- Service costs: Complimentary inspection at 3000km / three months with service intervals every 15,000km/12 months. Holden does not provide dealer servicing cost guidelines; speak to your dealer about scheduled servicing costs.
HOW IT COMPARES | VALUE FOR MONEY
- Ford G6E Turbo ($59,447) - With a nicer interior, 60/40 split-folding rear seats, 5 Star ANCAP rating, a superb and seamlessly powerful engine, lower fuel consumption and a slightly lower price, the Ford is arguably the better buy. (See G6E Turbo reviews)
TMR VERDICT | OVERALL 
It’s very quick, very spacious, very comfortable and, for a big sedan not tuned specifically as a sports model, a very good handler. If these are your priorities, the V8 Calais V is a good buy.
While buyers are not spoiled for choice in this very specific price/trim/power niche, the Ford G6E Turbo is all of these things and more. Enjoying a small price advantage, it’s our pick in this two-car battle.
If you lean to the Holden however, consider the Calais V Redline Edition ($2500 premium) for better suspension and big Brembo brakes.
Get the best price on a new Holden Calais
Filed under: Featured, review, Holden, reviews, petrol, holden commodore, holden calais, rwd, sedan, performance, family, large, holden calais afm, large sedan, 4door, 8cyl
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1 year ago
1 year ago
1 year ago
1 year ago
1 year ago
You talk about passive safety and buy a FWD car. Clearly you don't think much about anything.
BTW, most of the VE models favoured by private buyers have better 3 year residuals than your new Mazda 6. e.g. Mazda6 models have a Red Book residual of 60% to 63%, where SS models range from 61% to 69%, so you are not necessarily getting a better deal on your Mazda, I'm afraid. You really need to do your own research and Wheels publishes Red Book 3 year residuals for all new cars every month.
1 year ago
1 year ago
Would you care to name your last two cars which had large A pillars? I'm sure the VE Commodore is not the only culprit in this regard; however its thick A pillars in conjunction with a high rear window and small side mirrors do lead to problems with visibility. I'm a big fan of the Commodore, but I'm not stating anything new here as this has been well-documented by many motoring journalists since its release.
RWD versus FWD? I'm well aware of the pros and cons of both. Not going to debate this here, suffice to say I don't drive like a rally driver and I don't need a peformance car like an SS Commodore. Just because I enjoy more sedate driving doesn't mean I don't enjoy driving at all or that my driving experiences aren't as valid as yours or that I don't think at all about these matters. If I had bought another Commodore it would have been either a Berlina or Calais because I'm just not interested in the SS variants. That doesn't mean I have no semblance of knowledge when it comes to differentiating the characteristics of cars and that I don't think about their often wildly different onroad dynamics, safety features etc.
Interesting points you make on resale value, but overall Aussie cars fare worse in this regard than many established Japanese and European cars. I have certainly done my research via RedBook and a 2010 Mazda6 Luxury Sedan, for example, will fetch more than a 2010 VE Calais Sedan. Ditto in regards to 2008 variants of these models.
1 year ago
My current car is an Alfa Romeo Brera and my previous one was an Astra Coupe, both of which have way higher waist lines and smaller rear windows than a Commodore, yet I have managed not to reverse into anything over the last 4 years. TBH, I was concerned about the Astra so I got rear parking sensors, but they turned out to be a complete waste of money as it only took me a month or two to get used to the size of the car and anticipate when the sensors would start beeping. The Brera's standard equipment sensors are much better, they warn of obstructions off-centre too, but I still know I could get by without them. What I found more restrictive in the Astra were the rear headrests, so I removed them. It was very easy for a motor-cyclist to be completely obscured by them. The Brera's are useless, low-profile jobbies so they don't get in the way. But a lot of cars have 3 full-size rear head restraints that block up to half the view out the rear window, yet I have never read any criticism of that in reviews.
I wasn't talking about the driving advantages of RWD, simply that a better balanced RWD chassis, like that in a Commodore, provides far greater passive safety than a nose-heavy FWD car ever could. e.g. In an emergency lane change situation where you need to swerve to avoid an accident. It was you who suggested that a Mazda6 had better passive safety than a Commodore, I was simply pointing out why you were wrong.
I believe resale value is an irrelevant misdirection. By and large, low resale value is tied to the degree of discount you can get on the car when it is new. e.g. An SV6 has a 3 year residual of 57%, but that is based on an RRP of around $43,000. However, Holden have been selling them for 6 or 7 grand less than that for 18 months or more, which means at the end of 3 years, someone who paid $37,000 for their SV6 can expect to get around $24,500 for it, which is actually around 66% of what they paid. i.e. What you lose with lower resale, you gain on lower purchase price.
My Brera is another example - it has the lowest 3 year residual of any car on the market at 41%. Again, that is based on full retail of $72,600 drive-away, so I expect it to be worth around 30 grand when it is 3 years old. But I only paid $49,990 drive-away for mine, so the reality is that I should get around 60% of my actual purchase price back (not that I have any plans to sell it). If you do the sums for any car, based on the actual price paid, I think you'll find they all work out similarly. For that reason I never take any notice of resale values, except as a guide to how big a discount to expect.
1 year ago
Everyone is entitled to their opinion (informed or not) and if someone genuinely knows better and can correct them, they would be wise to do so in a diplomatic manner and avoid making acerbic comments and derogatory remarks. Remember, other people have feelings and words can hurt. Online discussions are often fraught with difficulties in this regard and what is often meant as an earnest reply can be misconstrued as bullying and even harrassment, so be careful and keep this in mind.
Perhaps the good people at TMR could post some guildelines on their website?
Thank you for sharinng the info about your experiences with the Alfa and Astra. Just as you were concerned with the Astra I was concerned with the VE Commodore. After driving a VT Commodore there's a stark difference between its overalll visibility and that of the VE. I don't see how you can negate my observations and experiences in such a dogmatic way. This is not about being right or wrong, it's about sharing my perceptions on the issue in the spirit of a participatory discussion. As I said before, motoring journalists have criticised the VE's A-pillars ad nauseum. Granted, thick A-pillars in the Golf and Kizashi gain nary a mention in motoring reviews. For some people they're an issue, for others lthey're not. So be it.
No, I was not suggesting a Mazda6 had better passive safety than a Commodore. Now that you mention it though, I did read an article in Wheels Magazine a year or so ago in which they compared a range of vehicles in terms of their responses in an emergengy situation. It was their opinion the Mazda6 was the best vehicle of the group in which to manuver and avoid another car in a potential collision. I was surprised by this myself as I would share your opiinion that a RWD car would be more adept at a safey manuver than a FWD car. Apparently, the Commodore did not fare well in this regard, but it was the pick of the bunch in an actual collision for occupant protection.
By the way, I'm not suggesting the Mazda6 is superior to the Commodore. They both suit a different market and they both have their strengths and weaknesses. The Mazda6 suits my needs better and that decsion was not made lightly at all. I spent a lot of time researching and road testing numerous vehicles before settling on the Mazda6. Unlike your brutal dismissal of my opinions, many people have commented on my being an articulate, informed and savvy new car buyer.
Yes, I do agree that resale values are an indication only in terms of what one might expect at time of resale. (Thanks for the detailed example). There would certainly be a range of factors, that come into play here eg. kilometers travelled, condition of the vehicle, model variant, market demand etc. In general, it is a proven fact that the owner of an Australian car can expect less at resale time than an owner of a an imported car from an established marquee.
I previoulsy forgot to mention that one other reason I chose a Japanese car over an Australian or European brand was their reputation for reliability and the quality of service. Of course, all manufacturers can have their share of faults (and lemons), but on the whole Japanese brands like Mazda, Honda and Subaru share an exemplary record for reliability and after sales support. So far, I can attest to this from my own experiences as well as those of family, friends and work colleagues. I'm sure there are many reliable Commodores out there , but because of the sheer numbers sold, we tend to hear more about their problems and in ways that skew the public's perception of them.
At this point, I think it would be best to leave this discussion alone and respectfully agree to disagree on some of the points raised here.
All the best with your motoring adventures MotorMouth.
1 year ago
It was also 2nd behind the Corolla as having the shortest braking distance from 100km/h IIRC. The Commodore and Falcon XR6 were around the middle of the field for mostly all but the overtaking tests. Their conclusion was that for all the top 20 selling cars, the Mazda6 was the pick of the bunch for having the dynamics/handling to avoid an accident in the first place. Funnily enough a couple of years later the same test was won by the Mazda3 Neo!
Just as a side note WRT practicality, whilst the Mazda6 sedan may not have as much space in the back seat as a Commodore, it does have a larger boot and split fold rear seats! Not everyone has three 6ft teenagers to lug around in the back seat...
1 year ago
Yes, I'm pleasantly surprised by the boot space in my Mazda6. The engineers really maximised the space in this vehicle. Ditto to Subaru with the new Liberty and its interior dimensions.
1 year ago
1 year ago
1 year ago
As for Motormouth v Dragoljub, both have very persuasive points. When upgrading from my VT Commodore, like you Dragoljub, i also found the VE Pillars intrusive, but i must admit they did not overly hinder my driving experience, the car just felt more closed in and the location of the A pillars is not one which detracts from the overall driving experience, like some cars with the 'fastback' style C pillars have with no visibility.
Moving to the VE Commodore v Japanese cars. The Holden gives you more space, more power, arguably better dynamics and the Japanese cars have arguably better fuel consumption and build quality, despite often some outdated touches (how long until the Accord adopted ESC and to my knowledge it still runs a 5 speed automatic).
The Active v Passive safety is a point that doesn't get enough airtime imo, Airbags are important in a car like a Nissan Micra because it does not have the power to merge or accelerate, and i feel the same way about most of the FWD Japanese larger cars, especially the Camry, those are so underpowered it is just a chore to do basic tasks. Assuming you mean a 4 cylinder Mazda 6 the same can be said for those, how they are even considered in the same class as a 210kw sv6 is beyond me.
Also European cars and Japanese cars do in the real world (ignoring redbook) tend to have rather hideous resale, look how much you can pick up a few year old Accord Euro for, compared to a 06 SV6. They are nothing alike.
At the end of the day, the Commodores structural elements, powerful engine, its raft of safety features, RWD dynamics and not least but its pure size, put it at the top of overall safety, and the resale is a moot point, so its up to whether you want to sacrifice all of that for perceived Japanese build quality, because they certainly have no technological advantage.
1 year ago
Being a Commodore fanatic, I just could not imagine myself in another vehicle and when I road tested the VE those A-pillars, the restricted rear vision and the small side mirrors made me feel much more enclosed from the VT and even disconnected from the road. I went so far as to rent one, just to be sure I could live with it on a daily basis. Inner city driving and parking proved more cumbersome than in the VT. Of course, one should move one's head, but in the case of roundabouts and twisty mountain roads, those VE A-pillars really do produce some unexpected momentary blind spots. Could I have learnt to live them? Probably, but I had other considerations too. The sheer size and urban fuel consuption, prompted me to look further than the big Aussie six. Gotta say though, that on the open road the VE Commodore is a glorious car to drive. In addition, the way it soaks up the worst our roads can dish up puts many imported cars to shame. The VE Commodore is also much better than the Mazda6 in terms of tyre roar and road noise.
Forgive me for harping on about overall visibility, but the Mazda6 Hatch also suffers in this regard with atrocious rear vision (the C pillars you mention Mitchtj) which contrasts greatly with the Mazda6 sedan. So, it's not just the VE I'm pointing fingers at here.
SIDI 3.6Litre engine is a pearler mate! It was certainly a tall order for me to drop down to a large four. I must say though that between mid-sizers like the Kizashi, Euro, 6 and Liberty, it's the Mazda6 that has the most willing unit. It's perky and like to rev although doesn't have that much to rev with, but is adequate for most needs. Fuel consumption is better than a big six, but I think it could be better still.
It's the way the overall package comes together Mitchtj. It's a different design philosophy and driving experience. The Mazda6 certainly doesn't have the outright grunt and RWD chassis balance of an SV6, but its a very characteful car to drive - just the right steering feel, suspension tune, chassis control to give it a a pseudo-sporty bent. The lack of body roll (until you hit its limits) is also pleasing. Overall, the Mazda6 is nimble and atheltic, if that makes sense. Coupled with decent all round visibility, it's easier for me to drive in the city. Does the job on the highway too. To this day I'm suprised by the results of Wheels WASP 09, but I can see where they're coming from.
Regarding, resale value, let's just say the minute you drive out the showroom you can bet you've lost at least $10,000 off most new mainstream cars. Whatever you can get afterwards is a bonus.
Mitchtj, Í'm with you on the VE Commodore's structural elements because that is one mighty strong bodyshell. Build quality has certainly improved in Aussie cars, but the Japs are just that bit more polished. No technological advantage? Do you specifically mean they lack DI engines? If so, you're right. But the sum of a car is all its parts. So, it's what its like to drive overall that's the litmus test for me.
1 year ago
And im not criticising the 6 at all, they are wonderful wonderful cars. For city use the power is perfectly fine, well built, nice interiors, thoroughly engineered etc. I agree what you said about the VE for the open roads.
Personally i went a path i never thought id go down and bought a WRX, i worked out that the Commodore is much too large and a pain to drive in the city and park, and i rarely drive with more than 2 people in car, the 2006 WRX which i bought used will hardly depreciated compared to the VE SV6 i was also looking at, and despite lacking electronical stability control, has its safety in its AWD chassis and driving dynamics.The interior isn't that flash but i find it comfortable, and it just felt overall a much much better car to me. And after having a VT supercharged 6 the WRX feels like an absolute bullet when you want it too, and returns 4 cylinder economy when you don't.... Im glad i looked outside 'my box' because stereotypes aside, they are amazing cars, as is every Subaru.
Holdens still have a special place in my heart, but id just like all their qualities in something of a BMW 3 series size, not a 7 series as they currently are.
1 year ago
Technologically, the VE Commodore is now up there with the best volume cars in the world. No doubt about it.
Mate, feel free to criticise the Mazda6 - for every feature and characteristic that delights me, I'm actually quite a fierce critic of it! I'm already getting impatient with Mazda and wondering when they're going to update it.
WRX? Whoa - that's a beauty! I really liked the AWD in the Liberty I drove and the WRX would be a rocket ship on wheels. Not for me though, but I can certainly appreciate its unique virtues.
Mate, I hope to see Holden flourish for many years to come and Ford for that matter. The VE Commodore is a big car and maybe one day when they downsize it back to VT size with improved visibility, I might come back to the brand.
I'm concerned with the negative reports pertaining to the Falcon. Not sure what Ford are trying to pull here as this constant talk of its move to a global FWD car is doing them no favours. The bean counters rule though and we might have to bid farewell to a RWD Falcon. It'll be a sad day, for sure.