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Matt Brogan16 Jul 2013
REVIEW

Holden Commodore SS V Redline 2013: Road Test

As the performance hero of the Holden range, the SS V Redline's bang-for-buck quotient is beyond doubt

Holden Commodore SS V Redline
Road Test

Price Guide (recommended price before statutory & delivery charges): $51,490
Options fitted to test car (not included in above price): Metallic Paint $550; Rear Wing Spoiler $500
Crash rating: Five-star ANCAP
Fuel: 91 RON ULP
Claimed fuel economy (L/100km): 12.3
CO2 emissions (g/km): 292
Also consider: FPV Falcon GS (from $52,990)

When animals face extinction we clamber to have our photo taken with them, set up charities to try and save them, and even form protest groups to voice our objections at their demise.

Driving the Commodore SS V Redline this week I had a sense of impending doom. As Australia’s last naturally-aspirated rear-wheel drive V8 sedan, the Holden is another animal that is the last of its kind. And thanks to the demise of Ford’s Australian operations from 2016, the Commodore too is now well and truly on the endangered list.

Yet there doesn’t seem to be a sudden surge of interest. No one is clamouring to have their photo taken, there are no charities phoning me at dinner time to ask for cash. And as far as I know, there has yet to be a riot at Holden HQ.

It’s a shame. The VF Series Commodore is by far the best full-size Holden we’ve yet driven. And as the performance hero of the Holden range, the SS V Redline’s bang-for-your-buck quotient is beyond doubt.

The SS V’s 6.0-litre V8 develops 270kW at 5600rpm (100rpm lower than before) and 530Nm in manual guise (six-speed automatic variants are detuned to 260kW and 517Nm). It’s married to a six-speed gearbox with a neat, short-throw shifter, and drives the rear wheels via a limited slip differential. The clutch has a bit of ‘meat’ to it, and some may find it a little heavy. But there’s a lot of feel to be had, which makes for smooth starts, and clean shifts.

And clean shifts are the key to maximising the SS V Redline’s considerable mumbo. It can get a little tail happy if you’re too aggressive. But treat it nicely and you’re rewarded with a quick getaway -- 0-100km/h is dealt with in a claimed 4.8 seconds, Holden says. We managed 5.5.

And it’s not just straight-line performance that makes this Redline edition of the SS V so desirable. The big Brembo stoppers (355mm, front only) are fade free and the Ultra Sport (FE3-coded) suspension -- offered only on Redline models -- is firm, but forgiving in conjunction with chrome-plated 19-inch alloys and 275/35 Bridgestone tyres.

Holden’s new electrically-assisted steering is, for the most part, a balanced and appropriately weighted arrangement. It can, however, feel a little vague on-centre and, for our liking, is a little long in ratio for the SS V Redline’s performance orientation.

Holden says the SS V Redline will achieve a combined average fuel consumption figure of 12.3L/100km, with an around town tally of 17.4L/100km and an extra urban figure of 9.3L/100km. Given we spent about 50 per cent of our time trickling along the freeway, and the other 50 per cent in stop-start traffic, the average of 15.5L/100km we achieved seems about right.

And if like me you like a little profligacy with your performance, the SS V part of the equation provides in spades. Leather and suede upholstery stretched over some of the comfiest seats in the biz, BOSE speakers and Holden’s flash new MyLink touchscreen infotainment system, head-up telemetry (yep, not just speed), and a comprehensive suite of electronic driver aids.

Just a shame there were no bum warmers (as the Calais V gets), and that auto-start isn’t offered with the manual version. Oh, and you can’t adjust the seatbelt shoulder height either.

Given how capable the SS V Redline is when you’re at the wheel we’re sure these minor shortcomings will be overlooked. At $51,490 the SS V Redline isn’t much dearer than a lot of pint-sized hot hatches, and is very nearly as capable in the twisties. Perhaps even more so when you consider you can fit life-sized adults in the backseat, and carry enough in the boot to actually enjoy a weekend away.

So do your bit, and save this beloved Aussie animal from extinction. It’s a ripper thing to drive, makes all the right noises and offers something raw and wholesome its force-fed friend over the fence at Ford just can’t seem to equal.

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Written byMatt Brogan
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