For years, the Australian Police has used Holden Commodore's as their marked and unmarked police cars. It's the same across the ditch in New Zealand as well. They're fantastic cars, and are reliable over the course of their lives.
Anyone looking at novated leasing will have most likely considered the humble Holden Commodore, but why is it such a great option? For one thing, it looks slick. It has aggressive styling without being too upfront, and the engine development over recent years is on par with some of the bigger European marques. It's also jam-packed with features, so there's hardly anything that you'll be left wanting when you sit behind the wheel of this great Australian car.
A car swathed in history
The Holden Commodore was first introduced to Australian shores in 1978 with a stately beast. Just 10 years later, the VN model was released which featured the Commodore SS – a fast car for enthusiasts everywhere.
Nine years later, the VT model brought sleeker lines and a more European approach to the game. In 2006, one of the coolest looking cars in history was released in the form of the VE, which featured larger wheels, a remodelled front end and a gorgeous engine note.
The VF is set to be the last Commodore, and is a heavily upgraded version of the VE, including lightweight panels, a focus on the interior and every feature you could ever think of.
So far, there have been 3.13 million Commodores produced, and they're all a testament to their manufacturer.
But what's so great about the latest one?
Packing a stylish punch
There are three engine options with the latest iteration of the Holden Commodore: a 3.0-litre V6, a 3.6-litre V6 SIDI and finally the monster 6.2-litre V8.
No matter which one you opt for, you'll be blown away by something. The smaller V6 engine has great torque for the fuel economy it achieves, while the other six-cylinder has a very impressive 210 kilowatts of power. Car leasing means you will have this sitting in your garage for you every morning!
For the V8, however, you'll hear it before you see it. A seriously jaw-dropping 304 kilowatts of power and 570 Nm of torque will throw this car around Australian roads with so much force that you can't help but have fun. This is the most powerful engine Holden has ever produced, and coming in either a manual or automatic, it's perfect for anyone after a bit of extra oomph.
A swan-song for the ages
This is reportedly going to be the last Commodore that is designed and built in Australia, with Holden factories closing across the nation in 2017. From then, any new models on the roads will be rebadged Opels, and won't have the same characteristic aggression that the VE and VF models brought with them.
For this reason, the engineers at Holden have put together a Mechanical Sound Enhancer (MSE) that works to balance the rumble of the engine with the best possible sound that can erupt from the bimodal exhaust at the rear. When the engine is on, you'll know. And so will your neighbours, although it'll be music to anyone's ears!
The exhaust will sparkle alongside every other exterior feature of this car, including the long, sweeping curves, the lowered body with low-slung bumper lights sports tyres to really give it a racing feel.
You'll also experience the new technology from Holden, which includes a digital heads-up display on the windscreen, a Bluetooth-enabled infotainment system and safety for the whole family in the form of lane departure warnings and blind spot alerts.
This is one fine car, and you'll love it as soon as you sit in the driver's seat. Alliance Leasing will get you there, and vehicle leasing makes your dream Commodore affordable.
