The 2018 Holden Commodore is a car that carries enormous expectation, and it arrives as an entirely different vehicle to its predecessor. No longer Australian-made, the new Commodore is based on the Opel Insignia and built in Germany. It is smaller than the outgoing model, there is no V8 option, no rear-wheel-drive variant, and no sedan body style.
The Calais V reviewed here has the 3.6-litre V6 petrol producing 235 kW and 381 Nm of torque. A 2-litre turbo petrol is also available with 191 kW and 350 Nm, and a diesel serves buyers who prioritise economy. All engines drive through a nine-speed automatic.
Jenny asks the question that many Australian buyers were asking at the time: is it right for Holden to continue using the Commodore name on a vehicle so different from everything that came before? The 2018 Commodore is a capable and refined car on its own terms, but whether it deserves to carry the Commodore badge is a debate that followed it through its entire production run.
The full review is on the CarTell.tv YouTube channel above.
