– By Marc Sibbald –
If you don’t have one, buy one. If you don’t want to go that far, just rent one next time you’re on an interstate business trip – you won’t regret it.
I have a 2016 SV6 as my daily drive and I’ve been in love with it from day one. And then late last year I drove the SV6 Black edition, as a rental in Melbourne, with ‘heads up’ display and satellite navigation; it makes a good car better.
It’s probably because time is running out for the locally built Commodore that I’m feeling so sentimental. Maybe I love it because it’s packed with technology, has a powerful V6, and is such a pleasure to drive.
Things like keyless entry, lane change warnings and climate control aren’t new. But when combined with nice extras like remote start (pre-cooling the car in summer) and a blower fan that knows to turn down when the phone rings, it becomes a really nice package.
You only seem to miss rear wheel drive when you get back into one. It feels better. Manufacturers of front wheel drive cars will tell you different and I’ve been a long term fan of hot hatches like the Golf GTi that are fun to drive. It’s only after a long absence that you appreciate the difference.
And its not just the power coming from the rear wheels that makes this car great to drive. It handles well around town and on the freeway at speed it cruises effortlessly with a quiet cabin.
So when you combine the great drive with the family friendly interior space (three kids in the back seat are no problem), leather highlights in the trim and large boot, the Commodore works as a package for the fleet driver with kids.
The expensive Euro brands and high spec Japanese models come with heaps of technology and safety features like I described above. Though when you remember that the end of production has been forecast for a long time its great that the Commodores are still being upgraded and improved right until the very end.
After many year of taking it for granted I will miss the locally manufactured Holden Commodore. I’m just glad I get to drive one of the last, and probably best, models ever produced.
