Category: Holden

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HOLDEN COUNTRY COUSIN BECOMES STREET-WISE

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If I remember rightly, some years ago at its zenith, the Holden Jackaroo was voted the best performing off-roader on bitumen by an Australian motoring magazine. Somebody at HQ must have been going through the files because the Jackaroo’s slightly distant successor, the Colorado 7, has been upgraded to match its outstanding off-road capability on the street. In fact, the whole range of Colorado trucks and SUVs has been given the once-over taking it to a new level of comfort and convenience. Holden Director of Marketing, Bill Mott says the… Read more

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HOLDEN CAPTIVA 2006 – 2014

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Holden Captiva is a medium-large SUV that is imported from a General Motors factory in South Korea. It has a lot of Australian input in its body styling and mechanical components. Interestingly, the Captiva is offered in two different body styles, with the Maxx having a sporty look and five seats. The others are built as five or seven-seaters. The third row seats are larger than those in many of Captiva’s competitors but are still better suited to children than adults. It can carry adults in moderate comfort, though ideally… Read more

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HOLDEN’S STYLISH WAGON IS SUPREMELY COMFORTABLE

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Holden’s VF family is testament to what can be done with not very much. Setting aside arguments about government support, this last hurrah was put together with the kind of money BMW spends designing a single dashboard. Well, not really, but it’s not far off. The Calais V is the top of the tree for the ‘normal’ V6-propelled Commodore range. We snuck one out of Holden’s grasp and gave it the unenviable task of being the chase car on a photo shoot for a Lamborghini Huracan. VALUE Calais V is… Read more

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HOLDEN ASTRA COUPE INTRODUCED

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Though it’s still about 18 months before Holden shuts down its Australian assembly lines the company is already making major moves to ensure it remains a leading force in car sales. One of Holden’s biggest moves is the reimportation of Astra models designed and built by Opel in Europe. Though it’s a German company Opel has been controlled by General Motors for almost 90 years. Close design co-operation between Holden and Opel has worked well for Holden for decades, particularly in the Commodore field where the original models were virtually… Read more

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HOLDEN CASCADA TOPS OFF THE NEW ASTRA RANGE

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Holden Cascada is the convertible version of the Astra hatch and is the next generation of the model called Astra Twin Top which was imported to Australia until 2010. Cascada is built by Opel in Europe. Though it’s a German company, Opel has been controlled by General Motors for almost 90 years. There has been close co-operation between Germany and Australia for many years, particularly with the Commodore where the original models were virtually Opels with Holden engines and tougher suspensions. Holden Astras were discontinued in 2010, replaced by lower-cost… Read more

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HOLDEN SANDMAN RETURNS – WELL SORT OF…

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2015 Holden Sandman is offered as a ute or station wagon - sadly there’s no panel van

A blast from the past is about to return to Australian roads and beaches. The Holden Sandman is back – well sort of. The Holden Sandman was a panel van that became a legend in its own lifetime. Panel vans were all the rage in the 1960s and ‘70s. Like today’s dual-cab sports utes, panel vans began life as mundane working vehicles, then became ever more dressed until they became lifestyle machines – with plenty of room in the back for you know what. Initially the dressing up was done… Read more

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HOLDEN SUBURBAN 1998 – 2001

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Holden Suburban is a very large 4WD, good towing workhorse and spacious people mover. The Suburban can seat up to nine adults, though a more realistic use is seven adults and two children – nothing else comes close in this designed-for-the-USA giant. It can also carry their luggage, whereas other big 4WDs can seat eight people, but lose most of their luggage room when the rear seats are occupied. A rebadged Chevrolet, the Holden Suburban was only imported from February 1998 until January 2001, though the last of them weren’t… Read more

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HOLDEN GIVES CRUZE BIG FACELIFT

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These days only one small car is made in Australia, the Holden Cruze. Sadly even it will disappear from the factory floor in 2017 because the Cruze has been caught up in the chaos caused by the sudden loss of buyer interest in large cars. Though it’s a global design and built in many factories worldwide under a variety of names, there’s a lot of GM-Holden design in the cruze. Australians were involved in styling, engineering, suspension trials and many other smaller facets of the car. Not to give in,… Read more

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LAST OF THE LINE: HOLDEN’S EXCELLENT SV6 UTE

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Remember when utes were just that, utility vehicles? Cargo carriers with a sedan front end and a big tray behind into which lots of stuff could be stuffed. Some still do use their utes in the old fashioned way, to cart things, but many are now bought as large sportscars with extraordinary large boots. Utes, such as the Holden SV6 Ute that spent time in our driveway last week, are increasingly popular with ‘the boys’ and sometimes girls as well. The trouble with being a motoring journo is that neighbours,… Read more

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HOLDEN ASTRA 1996 – 2010

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2007 Holden Astra CDX three-door

Holden Astra is a small medium car that was popular in Australia for many years. Astras prior to 1996 were Australian-built and were closely related to Nissan Pulsars. From 1996 until 2010 Astra was imported from Europe where it was made by Opel, the German division of General Motors. In this review we will only look at the German-made cars as the Aussie ones are getting long in the tooth and possibly past their use-by date. Holden Astras were discontinued in 2010, but the nameplate was revived in September 2012,… Read more