Holden Ute Review Australia | Features, Specification, Price

• Car Reviews,
• Sep 08, 2020

The name Commodore is associated with high performing sedans, with big V8 engines and comfortable rides. Being locally produced, the Holden Commodore range has been equally competing with some of the biggest giants in the market. The cars have been a popular sight on the roads in Australia, while many have been exported around the world.

 

The Holden Ute is based on the Commodore series, carrying in the same engines and drive. The Commodore sedan range is tried and tested for years, which makes the Holden Commodore Ute very much reliable. It performs extremely well; the drive is easy, and you can load everything from large dogs to mountain bikes and anything in between on the back.

While there have been plenty of Holden Utes available till date, we will be looking in detail at the SS model, from 2017.

 

For those of you who have been living under a rock for the last century, Holden is actually a subsidiary of General Motors. The Holden Ute is basically a coupe utility vehicle that has been around since 2000. The range saw many generations and trim levels, including a four-door utility vehicle called the Holden Crewman and the cab chassis version called the Holden One Tonner.

 

The Holden Commodore Ute is available in only one body style. That is a classic two-door cabin with a loading tray in the back. Classified as a light commercial vehicle, the Holden Ute offers rear-wheel drive.

Where the Holden Ute offers plenty of advantages, there is only one thing that might bug you. Friends will most certainly be nagging you to help them move house.

 

Background:

Before 2000, Holden had been producing their Commodore bases utility vehicles under the Holden Utility VG, VP, VR and VS names. The name Holden Ute was also applied to those cars, which had been produced from 1951 to 1984. Here is a brief background of the classic Holden Utes.

 

FJ Holden Ute:

The FJ Holden Ute was part of the range that was produced by the company from 1953 to 1956. It was the second generation of vehicles that was produced by Holden, the first being the FX Holden. The new generation followed closely on the construction of the FX, with some changes. It received a bolder front grille and some decoration upgrades. It came equipped with a six-cylinder engine producing 48 kW of power.

 

EH Holden Ute:

The Holden EH Ute was part of the range that was produced from 1963 to 1965. The series came as a replacement to the EJ Holden series. The vehicle incorporated an all-new ‘Red’ engine with a seven main bearing crankshaft. More than 250,000 EH Holdens were sold which included the Utes as well. It was finally replaced by the HD Holden range in 1965.

 

Engine Variants:

The basic engine that you can get in the Holden Ute is the V6 petrol engine. The engine has been carried as it is from the Commodore sedan, which makes it a proven robust engine. This is also the cheapest and fuel-efficient from all the other variants. But if you are looking to use it for frequent trips where you need to tow heavy loads, then you will find that the vehicle struggles, especially when going uphill. The V6 engine uses a six-speed automatic transmission as standard.

 

Then comes the Holden SV6 Ute. In our opinion, this is the most optimized engine and the most civilized. It may not be as powerful as the V6, but it still offers enough grunt to beat the V6. And for just some extra cash, you step away visually from the work-truck look. It comes with a standard six-speed automatic, or you can go for the optional six-speed manual layout.

 

Finally comes the V8 engine, which is available in the SS, SS-V, and the SS-V Redline. This is a 6.2-liter V8 engine that will take you almost anywhere, with enormous towing capacity. If you can afford the fuel and are a keener driver, then the V8 is the perfect choice for you.

 

Key Features:

The Holden Ute is loaded with tons of features.

 

These include: 

✓ Adaptive Cruise control

✓ Steering wheel controls for the info systems and audio

✓ Rear camera

✓ 8-inch infotainment system with Bluetooth connectivity

✓ Automatic headlights

✓ Dual zone climate control

✓ Park assist and parking sensors

✓ Six airbags

✓ Electronic stability control

✓ Three year/ 100,000 km warranty

 

Interior:

While it is just a two-seater, it seems simply like a Commodore SS vehicle from both of the seats. There are various sorts and styles of materials around the lodge. To lift the vibe, remembering counterfeit softened leather for the scramble and entryway panels and a leather steering wheel.

 

There is a lot of change for the driver seat and the wide, agreeable seats (with electric lumbar help on the driver's side). That makes it easier to get to the ideal seating position simple for all shapes and sizes.

 

The glove box is a sensible size, similar to the middle seat. While entryway pockets give extra room, enough for drink bottles and other little things. Both front seats can flip forward to get to the space behind them. Behind the back, there are two compartments sufficiently large to store things like PCs and administrative work.

 

Our Verdict:

Holden has been known to produce some extremely popular and handy vehicles. The Holden Ute has been the backbone of workstations for generations. It is a pity that the production ceased for the locally manufactured vehicles. It is true that the Ute is not a four-wheel drive and can only seat two, it still offers plenty of benefits. It can carry a reasonable payload and easily one of the most comfortable Utes that you can drive.

 

If your views are cleared by reading this review, you can also get instant details about the car's previous driving experience. Plus, you can get accidental and theft history, too. Visit our website Quick Revs and get all the details you need.