• The Car

• Seat Plan & Seats

• Dash & Controls

• Wheels/Tyres & Luggage

• What's Changed

• Features

• Our Opinion

• Other Opinions

• Mechanical

• Safety

• Data

• Buy with Confidence

• Legal Disclaimer

The Car

The Car

What do you do when it comes time to changing a shape as highly regarded as the VT Commodore's? As little as possible, apparently. Holden chief designer Mike Simcoe and his team did not touch the core shape, but instead chose to differentiate the various models in the VX range more than in VT. The result is two new styles of headlamp, seven new bumper styles and two new panels between the tail-lights. The essence of the design remains - rounded, smooth and elegant. It's a car that's actually bigger than it appears.

Seat Plan & Seats

Seat Plan & Seats

Seat Plan

The Commodore's spacious interior was designed to have a "human theme", meaning soft, easy-to-use shapes and surfaces that wrap around passengers from the front through to the back. There are four main storage areas: glovebox, a compartment front and rear and a centre console bin with armrest lid. Three-point seatbelts are provided for all five passengers, however, headrests are fitted to the front seats only and are height adjustable. Excellent door grabhandles are provided for outboard passengers.

Seats

The Acclaim's front cloth seats with velour inserts are huge, highly supportive and positioned low. The driver's seat has power-operated height adjustment, while front and rear cushion tilt is manual. Fore and aft travel is up to 264mm. The driver's seat and passenger's seat in all models bar the Executive has adjustable lumbar support, and soft-feel trim and padded cloth armrests add to passenger comfort. Seats are sure-bonded, a process of bonding the fabrics to the foam rather than cut and sew, providing a high quality finish.

Dash & Controls

Dash & Controls

Dash

A trip computer is standard on Acclaim, the upper-spec Calais and Berlina gaining more functions. Trip computer functions include odometer, trip distance, audible and visual speed warnings, distance to empty, trip distance remaining and time remaining. The ignition is illuminated to assist with key insertion at night. A service reminder will appear 1000km before the next service is due.

Controls

Holden designed its controls to provide positive feedback, meaning there is some indication to confirm the chosen function has been activated. Cruise control is operated from the indicator stalk and can be fussy. Electric windows are standard and controls are located on the centre console. The steering column adjusts for reach as well as height. All sedan models have an electric boot release, located inside the glovebox. The wagons have a remote tailgate lock/unlock. All models have a remote fuel filler door release. The external mirrors are adjusted electronically from a panel on the driver's door.

Wheels/Tyres & Luggage

Wheels/Tyres & Luggage

Wheels/Tyres

Holden offers a variety of accessory wheels for the Acclaim, including 17x8.0-inch five and eight spoke alloy wheels fitted with 235/45 V-rated tyres and a 16x7.5-inch multi-spoke alloy mated to 225/50 V-rated tyres.

Luggage

A major flaw in the Commodore's interior package is that the rear seat does not split-fold - instead, the designers carved the world's biggest ski-port. Large hinges intrude into the boot space and can crush luggage unless care is taken. However, luggage volume is still excellent at 475 litres.There is no longer a key for the boot. A remote boot release is located on the key fob and in the glovebox. There is also an emergency release contained inside the boot.

What's Changed

What's Changed

The revised grille treatment, new wheel covers, new front and rear bumpers and head and tailamps stand out as the visual VX changes. Inside the cabin, seatbelt height adjustment has now become standard and there's new cloth seat trims. Mechanically, horsepower-happy dads can now option the supercharged V6 and anti-lock brakes are now standard across the range.

Features

Features

Stand Out Features

The VX Commodore is the only locally built car to offer side airbags. VX Series improves the design of what already was the most advanced Australian-made car in terms of its safety design. A more progressive (rather than stiffer) front end structure was built after extensive research into accidents and injury types on Australian roads. Commodore offers excellent levels of comfort for drivers and their passengers, with the supportive front 'armchairs' and easy-to-reach dash layout being highlights of the interior package.

Climate Control

The heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system is unchanged from the VT Commodore, which improved airflow by 15 per cent over VS. Larger diameter rear ducts improved airflow to rear seat occupants by 30 per cent over VS. A large fascia, buttons and display make for good ergonomics and visibility. Air-conditioning is optional on Executive, with a climate-control system standard on Berlina and Calais grades. A large capacity, variable stroke air-conditioning compressor was employed to remove temperature fluctuation.

Sound System

The radio is designed to match the dashboard surfaces. All radios from Executive to Calais are double the industry meauring standard for superior ergonomics - large, clear buttons with a clean, logical layout. All models have an AM/FM radio/cassette with electronic tune, separate bass and treble control plus automatic program search. A single CD in-dash compact disc player is standard on Acclaim, replacing the cassette player. All Commodores now have steering wheel stereo controls, which include mode, volume, search and mute. The Calais' premium 10-disc, twin-amp, 10-speaker, 260-watt system can be optioned on other models. Models below Calais have four speakers. An electric aerial is standard.

Satellite Navigation

Holden has offered the Philips CARiN satellite navigation system across all Commodore models since March 1999. The system covers all mainland capitals and close to 100,000km of bitumen. Holden Special Vehicles has offered the system since November 1998. Holden will offer an optional telematics communication system for Commodore from around March 2001. The system is being developed in conjunction with NRMA and RACV. It will offer one button access to roadside assistance, emergency services, vehicle unlock, vehicle tracking and vehicle immobilisation. Holden is promising greater capabilities in the future.

Security

All models have remote central deadlocking activated via the remote key. When the car is locked, the in-car boot release button is automatically disabled. A rolling code engine immobiliser and remote central locking are standard. An alarm is available as an option on models below Berlina and Calais.

Our Opinion

Our Opinion

We Like:

Impressive looks, suspension competence, interior space

We Don't Like:

Unrefined feel to V6 engine, no split-fold rear seat

You would have to be living under a rock somewhere way Outback not to be familiar with the VT Commodore. It has been a huge sales success for Holden with more than 300,000 sold since launch in September, 1997, making it the second biggest selling Holden ever, behind the legendary HQ. Naturally, it has dominated the sales charts as well, vanquishing the once mighty Ford Falcon to a seemingly permanent spot on the second step of the rostrum. Holden rode on its sales strength to claim 1999 market leadership and went close again in 2000. Internationally, VT was the basis of a successful export program to the Middle East and South America. It has formed the backbone of Holden's product expansion too; the WH long wheelbase range has already been spun successfully from it, there was a new ute late last year, the coupe this year and a four-wheel drive based on the Commodore wagon is expected in 2003. Phew!

But nothing lasts forever, particularly in the fast-paced world of automobile marketing. Hence the need for Holden to bid a fond adieu to VT and VTII, and introduce VX. Understandably, Holden has proceeded gingerly with its model makeover. Model differentiation has been increased, the exterior styling refreshed, equipment levels beefed up and some mechanical issues addressed. But it is generally mild rather than wild stuff, reflecting the fact that so much of Holden's good fortunes ride on Commodore.

Take the Acclaim we are testing here as an example. The car retains that basic, rounded and attractive shape which refuses to date, no matter how often Ford executives tell you it has. The changes are minor - teardrop headlamps with clear lenses, bigger nostrils in the grille, a three-port lower bumper, body colour décor panel (between the tail-lights) at the rear, new seven-spoke plastic wheel trims, new badging and six new colour choices. The effects are minor, the shape's integrity remains unbroken. Whether the more expensive Calais and Berlina can claim the same success with their revised front-end styling treatments seems more debatable.

Inside, Acclaim has a new, darker cloth and velour trim, which gives it a darker, more cave-like feel than its VTII predecessor. But the basics, again, remain unchanged. This is a true five-seater with ample knee, leg, elbow and head room for front and rear seat passengers, while the seats are armchair like in their comfort. Overall, the interior appointments have a homogenous feel to them that many cars lack. Each of the components in the centre console, for instance, looks like it belongs and that it has not simply been pulled from the nearest GM parts bin. The flimsy cruise control stalk is one of the few unfortunate exceptions - straight from VS via VT. The real interior improvements come from an upgraded equipment level. Like all Commodores, Acclaim gets an upgraded stereo system which includes a single slot in-dash CD player (the cassette player is deleted), steering wheel controls and a power aerial. Power windows are an important new standard feature while also added to the list are front seatbelt height adjustment and a vanity mirror with cover for the driver.

As the Acclaim is the family man's Commodore, it continues the trend of being high on safety equipment with standard traction control, dual front and side airbags and anti-lock brakes, the latter now standard across the Commodore range. Automatic four-speed transmission and air-conditioning are standard equipment. You still can't option the fire-breathing 5.7-litre Gen III V8, but the 171kW supercharged Ecotec V6 is now available. No doubt, most buyers will still go for the trusty pushrod, two valves per cylinder, 3.8-litre Ecotec engine. And the good news is that this engine and other parts of the drivetrain have undergone some much needed refinement work. 

For a start, the engine has been boosted 5kW and one 1Nm to produce 152kW and 305Nm respectively thanks to a powertrain control module that has greater memory and is more powerful, a larger idle air control and a new die-cast inlet manifold. Holden is also claiming minor fuel consumption improvements and better cold-start performance. But more significant is the instalation of a dual damper propshaft with rubber couplings and a recalibrated auto transmission. The result is significantly quieter and smoother running from a drivetrain which previously stood out like a sore thumb for its harshness and vibration when revved hard. At the same time the transmission is shifting with far greater alacrity and precision than previously.

That's not to say the Ecotec has become a smooth piece of work. It remains the least impressive of the big locally built engines in terms of sophistication. At lower revs it is quiet and smooth enough, but push it along and you're still aware that it is not enjoying itself - it's just not so intrusive. The reduction in noise and vibration into the cabin is aided by the placement of heat-expandable foam in the A, B and C-pillars, and the fitment of a seatbelt silencer, noise deflector board and foam blocks underneath the parcel shelf. The other significant mechanical improvements are made to the front suspension with the aim of improving steering - an area which along with noise suppression and auto transmission shift quality has been a Commodore criticism since the launch of VT. The changes sound quite minor: the lower control arm pivot is raised by 4mm to build in more understeer and reduce the steering's directness just off centre, while the stabiliser to strut link is changed to a ball joint to make the vehicle easier to manoeuvre. But the result is dramatic. The nervouseness and lack of feel that previously bedevilled the Commodore has largely been erased. The steering is heavier but has much more feel and decisiveness than previously. Combine that with a high level of grip, a ride already as good as anything in its class, good brakes and a quiet cabin - and the Acclaim is a strong, sound and comfortable car in which to travel.

All is not perfect, of course. The relatively crude semi-trailling arm rear suspension is just not sophisticated enough to cope with the amount of power being passed through the rear wheels. There's a tendency for wheelspin and rear-end slides, particularly on slippery surfaces and tight corners. The traction control is a pre-requisite rather than handy in those sorts of situations. Pity it has nowhere near the unobtrusiveness of Mitsubishi's TCL system. You are never left in doubt that power is being cut in the Commodore - the effect is about as subtle as a sledgehammer. And even though the auto transmission is improved, there is no doubt its shift quality and feel is not up to the excellent adaptive systems used in the Mitsubishi Magna/Verada and the Toyota Camry/Avalon. It's still too keen to leap back into fourth gear when you lift the throttle, but when you press on again it is far too eager to jump down in search of more revs. Other items that fail to impress are the lack of a split-fold rear seat. Instead, Holden has tried to suffice with the world's biggest ski-port which also doubles as an arm-rest with inbuilt cupholders. Falcon scores points here. The front-only door pockets also need to be deeper and wider to handle the likes of street directories, while the front cupholders remain too small to cope with a medium-sized soft drink bottle.

In total, Holden has invested $70 million in the VX program, split equally between engineering and investment. It has been money well spent, refining a car that has already stamped itself as one of the most successful ever sold in Australia. Looks like VX is set to add another chapter to the history.

Other Opinions

Other Opinions

The Age: "The VX Commodore is a well-executed improvement over the VT"

The Australia: "Life just got tougher for Falcon, Avalon and Magna. Australia's best selling large car delivers the goods"

Herald Sun: "The VX update is nothing radical, but with the Commodore sales steamroller showing little sign of slowing down, it is probably enough"

Mechanical

Mechanical

Plan Views

The Commodore offers a classic Australian family car layout - front-engined rear-wheel drive.

Engine

Holden's ageing 3.8-litre, two-valves-per-cylinder pushrod V6 benefits from some upgrades in VX guise so that power is boosted from 147kW to 152kW at 5200rpm, while torque is up just one Newton-metre to 305Nm at 3600rpm. Drag-strip performance is lineball with the other big Aussie sixes, good for low eight seconds in the 0-100km/h dash. Ditto for fuel consumption, with independent figures of around 11L/100km. Holden claims a three to four per cent improvement in official figures. The 171kW supercharged V6, which is now optional on Acclaim, is unchanged from VTII to VX.

Suspension

The Commodore's suspension design has MacPherson struts up front and independent semi-trailing arms at the rear. The rear suspension remained unchanged for VX but up front the lower control arm pivot was raised 4mm to build in more understeer and reduce directness off-centre. The stabiliser to strut link is changed to a ball joint, which Holden claims makes the vehicle easier to control in sudden manoeuvres.

Electronic System

Being the safety-oriented Commodore, the Acclaim comes standard with anti-lock braking and traction control, both features made possible by the advances in electronics in recent years. A multiplex communications system improves diagnostic and wiring issues, as well as features such as airbag deployment and automatic headlamp operation. A battery saver function automatically shuts down interior or boot lights after 60 minutes of inactivity when the ignition is turned off.

Transmission

Acclaim comes only with a four-speed automatic transmission, which has had its shift patterns recalibrated for VX to improve acceleration responsiveness and refine driveability. The automatic features a two-piece casing with full circle bell housing for reduced noise, vibration and harshness.

Brakes

The braking system for Commodore incorporates large brake rotors (296x28mm front, 286x16mm rear) and aluminium twin-piston sliding pin front calipers. The brake booster and master cylinder were revised to increase vacuum assist and reduce pedal travel, while the park brake system has reduced lever effort and travel. Anti-lock brakes are now standard across the VX Commodore range, joining traction control as standard fare for Acclaim.

Steering

VX steering feel is changed compared with VT, thanks to front suspension changes. VT itself brought several improvements to the Commodore's power-assisted rack and pinion steering system compared to its predecessor, the VSII. The variable ratio steering gear was revised to incorporate more rack travel in order to maintain a turning circle of 11 metres, despite the longer wheelbase. The use of a longer steering arm and decreased rack ratio has improved the steering's on-centre feel, while the power steering rack was recalibrated to enhance changes to the suspension.

Safety

Safety

A driver's airbag is standard across the range, as are anti-lock brakes. Executive and S are the only models to miss out on a passenger airbag. Side-impact airbags are standard on Acclaim, Berlina and Calais, and optional on the rest of the range. VX has a new B-pillar design to direct impact velocity away from the head, neck and chest. Pyrotechnic buckle pretensioners hold the front seat passengers firmly in place in an accident. Lap/sash seatbelts are fitted to all seats, including the centre rear seat. The front seat belt buckles are mounted on the seats, which improves the fit of the seatbelt.

Data

Data

Engine:

• 3.791-litre, fuel-injected V6 with pushrod operated overhead valves

• Power: 152kW at 5200rpm

• Torque: 305Nm at 4400rpm

• Bore/stroke: 97mm/86mm

• Compression ratio: 9.4:1
  

Transmission:

• Four-speed automatic
  

Suspension:

• Front: Independent, MacPherson struts, stabiliser bar

• Rear: Semi-trailing arms, coil springs and stabiliser bar

Steering:

• Variable ratio power assisted rack and pinion

• Turning circle: 11.0 metres

• Turns lock to lock: 2.75
  

Dimensions:

• Length: 4891mm

• Width: 1842mm

• Track F: 1569mm

• Track R: 1587mm

• Height: 1450mm

• Wheelbase: 2788mm

• Kerb weight: 1556kg
  

Standard Equipment:

• Dual front and side airbags

• Anti-lock brakes

• Traction control

• Air-conditioning

• Remote central locking

• Power windows and mirrors

• Power steering

• Four-speaker radio/cassette with single in-dash CD player

• Cruise control

• Steering wheel stereo controls

• Power driver's seat height adjustment

• Trip computer

• Cloth and velour trim

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