Pricing for Holden’s first post-Australian made Commodore have been announced ahead of the car’s on-sale date in late February 2018. The now-German 2018 Holden Commodore now starts at $33,690 plus on-road costs – $1,800 less than the car’s predecessor, the VF Evoke.
Holden has also announced the specifications for the important new model, with liftback and wagon bodystyles with three engine options offered in five specification levels – entry LT, sporty RS, mid-spec Calais, sporty mid-spec RS-V and performance VXR. Holden has also brought back the high-riding all-wheel drive wagon in the form of the Commodore Tourer – a bodystyle not seen since the VZ Adventra.
“The next-generation 2018 Holden Commodore is a stunning vehicle that’s already getting rave reviews in Europe in twin Opel Insignia guise,” said Holden’s Executive Director – Marketing, Mark Harland.
“It looks sleek and sporty on the outside, while inside it’s refined and sophisticated with intelligent use of premium materials and a long list of user-friendly high-tech features like Adaptive Cruise Control, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and wireless phone charging.
“As well as being able to access the range from just $35,990 on-the-road, customers are given peace of mind to test the car in their own time and see how well it fits in their daily lives with our Take Your Time test Drive” said Mr. Harland.
As with the VF Holden Commodore, the new generation ZB model offers a wide range of engines and specifications for buyers to choose from. For the first time, both a 2.0-litre turbo petrol and 2.0-litre turbo diesel will be offered, as well as an all-wheel drive drivetrain for models featuring the 3.6-litre petrol V6. The traditional wagon bodystyle will be offered, but for the first time in the model’s history, the Commodore sedan isn’t a sedan like the Volkswagen Passat, but a five-door liftback like the Skoda Superb and Ford Mondeo – its main competitors in Europe, where it is badged as the Opel Insignia.
Pricing for the 2018 Holden Commodore starts from $33,690 plus on-road costs for the entry-level LT. The LT is well equipped, with 17-inch alloy wheels, automatic headlights with LED daytime running lights and LED tailights, rain-sensing wipers, keyless entry and start, remote start, semi-automatic parking, a reversing camera with front and rear parking sensors, cruise control, a leather steering wheel, an eight-way electric driver’s seat, a 7.0-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone projection, as well as the Holden Eye forward camera with autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, following distance alert and forward collision alert with a head-up warning.
Unlike the previous base model Commodore Evoke, the LT is available with a 2.0-litre turbo petrol or a 2.0-litre turbo diesel, though Holden is yet to disclose outputs for both engines. In Europe, the petrol produces 191kW/400Nm, and the diesel 125kW/400Nm – those outputs may change for Australia. Holden has confirmed that the 2.0-litre turbo petrol and higher-end 3.6-litre V6 will both have a nine-speed automatic, whilst the diesel gets an eight-speed unit. The 2.0-litre units are front-wheel drive, and the V6 is exclusively all-wheel drive.
Sitting above the LT is the RS (from $37,290), which is 2.0-litre petrol and 3.6-litre V6 all-wheel drive only – the wagon is 2.0-litre only. It is equipped with larger 18-inch alloy wheels, an electric tailgate on the Sportwagon, blind-spot monitoring and rear traffic alert, as well as a number of sports-designed items, including a bodykit, sports front seats, a leather sports steering wheel and a rear lip spoiler.
The Calais sits at the same level as the RS, which is only offered in liftback ($40,990) or Tourer all-wheel drive wagon ($43,990). Like the RS, it adds more equipment over the LT but goes for a more luxurious feel than the RS. It adds the same blind-spot monitoring and rear traffic alert, but different 18-inch alloy wheels, leather seat trim with heated front seats, wireless phone charging, a larger 8-inch infotainment system with integrated satellite navigation and DAB+ digital radio, a 4.2-inch driver’s colour screen and for the Tourer, a 3.6-litre V6 engine with an adaptive all-wheel drive system, high-riding suspension and an electric hands-free tailgate.
Above the RS sits the $46,990 RS-V, which adds wireless phone charging, interior ambient lighting, the larger infotainment system, a sportier rear bumper, hi per strut suspension, an 8-inch driver’s information screen, a colour heads-up display, leather seats with heated front seats, a sports steering wheel with paddle shifters and alloy pedals.
Choosing a Calais-V ($51,990 liftback, $53,990 Tourer) adds 20-inch alloy wheels, a rear lip spoiler, adaptive Matrix LED headlights, an electric sunroof (liftback)/panoramic sunroof (Tourer), a 360-degree parking camera, a Bose sound system, ventilated front seats with a messaging driver’s seat with powered side bolsters, heated rear seats and a sports steering wheel with paddle shifters.
Sitting atop the local 2018 Holden Commodore lineup for now is the VXR, which is liftback V6 only and priced from $55,990 plus on-road costs. Equipment for the VXR includes 20-inch alloy wheels, adaptive dampers, Brembo front brakes, VXR floor mates and sill plates, adaptive Matrix LED headlights, a 360-degree parking camera, radar cruise control, performance leather seating with ventilated front seats and heated rear seats with powered driver and passenger side bolsters, a Bose sound system and an electric sunroof.
The VXR features no more power than the lesser V6 models, though it is positioned as the performance Commodore for now with adaptive dampers, hi per strut suspension, performance seats, Brembo front brakes and a sports steering wheel with paddle shifters.
The 2018 Holden Commodore is being offered at special drive away introductory pricing, starting from $35,990 drive away for the entry LT – $3,935 less than the previous VF Commodore Evoke, according to Holden. The RS will be offered at $38,990 drive away, the RS V6 AWD at $42,490 and the Tourer Calais V6 AWD at $47,990 drive away.
2018 Holden Commodore pricing (plus on-road costs):
Liftback:
LT 2.0-litre turbo petrol: $33,690
LT 2.0-litre turbo diesel: $36,690
RS 2.0-litre turbo petrol: $37,290
RS V6 AWD: $40,790
Calais 2.0-litre turbo petrol: $40,990
Calais 2.0-litre turbo diesel: $43,990
RS-V V6 AWD: $46,990
Calais-V V6 AWD: $51,990
VXR V6 AWD: $55,990
Sportwagon:
LT 2.0-litre turbo petrol: $35,890
LT 2.0-litre turbo diesel: $38,890
RS 2.0-litre turbo petrol: $39,490
RS-V V6 AWD: $49,190
Tourer:
Calais Tourer V6 AWD: $45,990
Calais-V Tourer V6 AWD: $53,990
The 2018 Holden Commodore will be launching into dealerships at the end of February 2018. Stay tuned to Chasing Cars for news regarding the new Holden Commodore.
