A new Commodore is arriving in showrooms – the fifth generation model derived from the German-built Opel Insignia but with a unique Australian suspension, steering and electronic stability
control tune. A relatively young team of Holden engineers can be very proud of how they’ve fine-tuned this car for the local market. Last week I drove the Opel Insignia Liftback as produced for the
European market and then the locally honed Commodore variant and they were like chalk and cheese. This was the entry 2.0-litre turbo front-wheel drive LT Commodore , 35,990 drive-away with
nine-speed automatic and the electric steering tune, suspension refinement and stability of this base model car was impressive indeed. On varying surfaces at Holden’s Lang Lang Proving Ground I literally drove the pants off this car in an effort to find its limit. I came away just so impressed with its on-road feel. Few imported models are as well tuned for the local market. Step up to the all-wheel- drive 3.6- litre V6 variants with adaptive all-wheel- drive with torque vectoring and three-setting adaptive Flexiride suspension with three settings Tour, Sport and Performance and you have a car or Sportwagon with outstanding on-road qualities. However, whilst the fully imported Commodore is perhaps the finest driver’s car in the model’s 40-year history Holden know they have a hard sell to match the previous local models sales numbers. The marketplace has become infatuated with SUV’s and the traditional sedan however good has fallen from favour. I’m David Berthon

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