Spend a week in the Sportwagon, and the strength of the package is irresistible. [...] Quite simply, at $46,290 for the SS V8 manual (rising to $53,790 for the SSV manual), it’s far and away the best wagon of the moment.
Show me someone who does not respond to the bellow of a V8 under the whip, and I will show you a corpse – an ex-parrot, dead as a maggot.
It is one of the polarising sounds of the post-Kyoto age. To some, a V8 on song is akin to sin: its sound is the devil at work, the screech of the Nazgul, the wail of the Banshee, a harkening to a darker – and best forgotten – primal past.
Others, young blokes and ‘tradies’ mostly, love it. They’ll turn and take an eye-full; to them, it’s as irresistible as breathing.
Will it disappear? Will the pressure on scant resources and the race to reduce emissions eventually hammer the final nail into the coffin of the beast, and banish the V8 to the mists of motoring history?
These are scary days for the hopeless petrol-head. It’s the kind of thing that keeps rabbits like me – and, I suspect, rabbits like you – awake at night.
Of course, there is a perfectly sensible reason why Holden and Ford still offer a thumping V8 as part of the Commodore and Falcon model line-up. It’s because people want them. Some – in fact, many of us - are prepared to pay the price; to suffer a little additional pain at the pump for the singular joy of sliding behind the wheel with a V8 under the toe.
One part of the price to pay may mean driving a little less. It may mean using the car the way Europeans do… as part of a chosen lifestyle: a premium to be enjoyed. It may mean thinking a little more before jumping behind the wheel.
And if that’s the price…?
So, what then of the superlative, rock-solid and sinfully quick SS Sportwagon?
Did I say superlative? Ah yes, superlative indeed.
But before we talk about the drive, let’s spend a moment or two to talk about the car. Because this car, the Sportwagon, represents a u-turn for Holden. The style of that back is Euro to the core. It turns long-accepted notions of the Aussie ‘station wagon’ on its head.
Since the VT, and earlier in the Kingswood, the Commodore wagon has ridden on the extended wheelbase of the Statesman. And had the shape and style of a wine barrel. You could put a football team in there and still find room to hang a chandelier. Commercial and fleet buyers loved it.
That was the old wagon. With this one, the VE Sportwagon, the extended wheelbase, raised roof and bulbous lines disappear. They’re gone - and also gone is the cavernous space.
Instead, in the Sportwagon, it is replaced by ingenious (smaller) space, and arresting Euro-style. It makes an emphatic statement. In our care, it turned heads everywhere.
2009 BMW 335i Sedan 
2010 BMW 120d Hatch manual (E87) 
2009 Holden Commodore SS Sportwagon 
2009 Aston Martin V8 Vantage 
2009 Ford Mondeo MB (Titanium)
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I think that this car is a risky move by Holden. It wins on style but I wonder how many people will put that ahead of the greater practicality offered by the many SUV’s out there?
Still love it though. Can’t wait to see the HSV versions!
Suffering suckatash a SsportZ wagoon.
Although I haven’t driven one, I’ve heard the old Tremec gearbox is agricultural and easy to miss a gear.
When petrol hits $3 a litre the Large 4×4 market will shrink faster than an eskimos appendage and those who currently own a 4×4 -such as a Landcruiser or Prado [same thing] will look for something smaller more paractical/versatile.
The Sportwagon will fit the bill perfectly particularly given the easier access to the cargo area when in tight spaces
Mind you they’d be lucky to get $15-20K for a trade in on their 3 year old Toorak Tractor
Haha, if we’re talking purely fuel prices, I’m not sure going from an SUV to a V8 sportwagon is going to be much of a difference. But if we’re just talking about the regular models, sure I’d agree with that.
I drove one yesterday actually, the the same spec as the one reviewed. The gearbox is a real bloody chore!
Just a nitpick - what’s a Chrysler 380?
Yup… that’d be a typo… (bloody elves, won’t pay attention).
Or it could be the Chrysler 360 V8… an easy 380hp with a few Mopar mods. (We’re clutching at straws here Mookers… don’t really want to thrash the elves again, they’re doing their best.)
The Insider
Thing is wheelnut that a 2tonne plus Prado or Pajero turbo diesel will use much less fuel than the Sss’sportZ waghoon. Hold their value particularly well to. you can step into a prado for 55 and walk out in 3 years for 43. that’s brilliant if you ask me.
You just cant get a Prado/Pajero doona cover or PJ’s
I think the elves need to check your comments too… a 360, ha ha
It’s okay. Good review anyhow!
I reckon the wagon finally looks fan-bloody-tastic, and its always “needed” a V8. I’d buy one over a SUV, but then I’ve never been a fan of the segment as I don’t off-road nor do I want to look like I do.
I’ve also been a fan of hot wagons, mostly due to the release of the Volvo V70R and the Audi RS4. Even Nissan’s gotten in on the act before, with the Autech Stagea 260RS. For a practical performance car driver, it’s hard to argue with a wagon that has a GT-R drivetrain fitted to it.
Practicality, performance and (to my eye) looks. What more could you want?
Looks ok but not very practical really. My mate looked at one the other day but when he saw the small luggage space he didnt bother. Not much more than a sedan with a bit bigger boot realy and doesnt have that high stance that alot of people love about their SUV’s. Not even limited off road ability is also a negative against an SUV. No good for a load carrying vehicle for a tradesman or travelling saleman because its load space is so limited. I like it but will stick with my Territory as it is a great all round vehicle.
I must say that, as a Ford person, I’ve jealously looked at the photos of the new Commodore (Sport)wagon. However having now seen a couple on the road, I must say I was a little dissapointed with the way they looked, as a first impression.
Also I think that Holden are trying to hoodwink the public on the “Sport” bit, claiming that the lost space is as a result of being based on the sedans short wheelbase, when a look at the numbers show that it’s really only a style thing.
Changes VZ to VE:
150mm shorter overall, 23mm shorter wheelbase (remember VE wheelbase grew somewhat over VZ), but 52mm wider overall.
The styling works, the advertising works, but in typical Family 6 cyl form it’s slower, thirstier, can tow and carry less than an “old” BF Falcon.
On an overall aspect then how much better (if any) is this than the Falcon?
You forgot to mention the Mitsubishi Legnum VR-4… like a Stagea, but for people who like to drive something that doesn’t look like a brick
Think you have something there Bret. take Gm’s Vectra wagon, this uses a lengthened saloon floor pan. Could have Holden not done this to the commie?
Still a nice car either way.
Also, concerning the V8 bit I reckon ten years will kill gas guzzlers, certainly in Euroland its happening with Merc and BMW looking hard into small capacity blown engines a la VW’s 1.4 TSi thingy. Should the Govm’t down under start the same emissions charges that the UK do then that will be the nail for the V8’s as we see them.
I wasn’t really into the Legnum as much. I quite liked the last of the Galant VR4s, but for some reason the Legnum left me cold.
I may have been swayed against Mitsubishi by the 3000GT (sold in Australia as the GTO) - a car that was far heavier and far softer than it should have been.
CS,
Holden already have the longer whellbase for the Statesman. The previous models were based on this longer version. I suspect that basing the wagon on the new (lenghtened) “short” wheelbase may be more about production arrangements and cost than producing a more compact wagon.
As always it’s the V8 being sampled as the the Alloytech would be even worse under the weight. (yes I’m biased but anyways ;-)) Hard call when it has no advantage in carry space if you do as most do and load to the window sills.
Could the reason it was built on the short platform be because LWB may be going to Chinese construction??? (just pondering the reasons)
After riding in, admiring and photographing the car, I must say It did grow on me. I am no wagon loving soccor mum but I do like how this car looks, I personally would rather drive this around than the sedan equivalent