By EWAN KENNEDY
24 July 2006

Holden has released prices for the new VE series Commodore. Despite the $1.23 billion investment, Holden has kept prices to figures that are almost identical to those of the outgoing VZ series in the day-to-day variants, and has aggressively reduced them on other models.

These lower than expected prices aren't just because Holden is feeling kindly in its corporate heart. They are chiefly aimed at dragging back buyers who have been swinging towards smaller cars due to high petrol costs.

The Commodore Omega is priced from just $34,490 – but, somewhat bizarrely, you don’t get air conditioning in that car. More realistically, Omega plus air costs $36,490.

A special edition Commodore Omega V Series will be on sale until the end of the year. It will be priced at $34,990 and include air conditioning and alloy wheels.

Price drops in the rest of the range are as great as $8400, with a VE Calais V6 now costing $45,490 compared to the outgoing model at $53,890.

On-road costs have to be factored in to all prices.

Holden is still playing it coy about on sale dates of the VE Commodore, simply saying in "August 2006" for most of the range, and "in September" for the special edition Commodore Omega V Series.

The complete VE Commodore/WM Statesman and Caprice range with prices (outgoing VZ/WL models in brackets):
Omega (without air conditioning): $34,490 ($33,990 - Executive)
Omega (with air conditioning): $36,490 ($36,240 - Executive)
Berlina V6: $39,990 ($43,890)
Berlina V8: $44,990 ($48,590)
SV6 manual: $39,990 ($39,990)
SV6 automatic: $40,990 ($39,990)
SS manual: $44,990 ($51,790)
SS automatic: $46,990 ($51,790)
SS V manual: $51,990 (no previous model)
SS V automatic: $53,990 (no previous model)
Calais V6: $45,490 ($53,890)
Calais V8: $50,490 ($58,590)
Calais V V6: $53,490 (no previous model)
Calais V V8: $58,490 (no previous model)
Statesman V6: $58,990 ($56,990)
Statesman V8: $62,990 ($61,690)
Caprice V6: $65,990 ($70,690)
Caprice V8: $69,990 ($75,390)

COMMODORE OMEGA

Exciting as the new VE Commodore SS V is visually, it’s the Commodore Omega that’s going to be the big seller. So lets take a close look at the newest Australian family car in more detail.

Omega's styling is significantly more restrained than that of the full-on sports model. It does retain the sporty touch of having large guards and even fender vents. These side vents not only give Commodore Omega more visual oomph, but also carry the side repeater lights for the turn signals. (However, they don’t actually vent any hot air…)

Inside, Omega's cabin is finished in good looking materials. We’ve spent a lot of time at Holden’s normally top-secret design facilities with, amongst other people, the Commodore's cabin designers. They have gone to considerable trouble to not only make the materials in the cabin look inviting and attractive, but also to ensure they survive the rigours of years of use in harsh Australian driving conditions.

The new VE Commodore is similar in size to the outgoing VZ model, being a few millimetres larger in some dimensions and smaller in others. On paper, there's marginally less head and shoulder room, but significantly increased legroom. Keep in mind that the VZ was far from being cramped and this new family sedan carries on that tradition.

The interior stylists have worked hard to give a visual perception of greater cabin spaciousness. Note the lower set dash and the way it curves in immediately in front of the driver and front passenger.

There are large bins on each of the doors that are capable of carrying decent sized drink bottles and the like. These fold away to increase interior room.

An interesting feature is what Holden calls an integrated handbrake. It occupies a smaller space than usual on the centre console. Though Holden says this radical handbrake has been designed to stop you trapping your fingers between it and the console, we have our doubts. Time will tell who is right.

Access to the rear seat is good thanks to wide openings based on that of the long-wheelbase Statesman/Caprice models. The seats feel comfortable and spacious, though we haven’t driven the car at this stage.

Boot volume is up by 31 litres to a handy 496 litres, and that despite the battery now being kept in the back of the Commodore to increase underbonnet space. Holden has joined the move to space-saving spare tyres, but still offers a full-sized spare as an option. The under-boot stowage area is built to accept the larger wheel/tyre combination.

The boot’s complete area can now be used as a new design keeps the hinges clear of the luggage.