Holden Adventra 2004 review

BIG Red is an Aussie outback icon. It's a giant sand dune just outside Birdsville on the edge of the Simpson Desert, and anyone who is serious about an Australian four-wheel-drive adventure needs to tick the Big Red box before they can say they've done it all.

Plenty of vehicles have been defeated by the Big Red challenge, which is why Holden's engineers decided they had to climb the sandy slope as part of the development program for their new all-wheel-drive hero car.

Their Adventra tamed Big Red, got a tick in the box, and is out to conquer showrooms across the country.

Based on early results, and the interest attracted by the Adventra, Holden has a winner. It drives well, will tackle big slopes and tough towing and is the start of a family of Cross Trac-equipped cars which will rumble out of the bush and into the high-performance world.

The HSV Coupe 4 is already set for action in 2004.

Holden will have a tougher time when Ford rolls its Territory into action, but that's a different style of vehicle and the red team is confident its Adventra and Cross 8 workhorse will still do the job.

The Adventra is based on a Berlina wagon, with high-rider suspension, a V8 automatic power pack and the Cross Trac system that's the key to its extra abilities.

Cross Trac cost Holden $125 million and four years to develop. It's a permanent all-wheel-drive system using three ¿open¿ differentials with high-tech electronics, and torque split 38:62 front-to-rear.

That's technical chat for a system that is just about transparent in normal driving, but uses the Adventra's anti-skid braking system &$150; working in reverse &$150; to maintain driving in tricky conditions.

It constantly measures the grip at each corner and applies the brakes to take torque away from any wheel which is starting to slip.

Holden claims the Adventra is the successor to truck-based four-wheel-drives, but it's not the first manufacturer to get the message.

Subaru was a long way down the road by the time Fishermens Bend got going, which explains why a lot of people think the Adventra looks like a big Subaru Outback.

It's one solution for people who want a weekend off-roader and a weekday commuter car in the same package, but it's not the only one.

Toyota has the new Camry-based Kluger and the Territory will be a threat.

But the Adventra pack is a good one, using the strengths of Holden's regular station wagon and its 235kW V8 engine.

It has a full 200mm of ground clearance, a front strut brace, sump guard and special Bridgestone Turanza tyres.

The Adventra isn't cheap, but $52,990 for the CX8 is competitive and the LX8 looks good at $60,990 against higher-priced European rivals.

On the road

WE wondered, at first, about the Adventra. Was it just a Holden rip-off from the Subaru Outback?

Was it just a patch-up job to give Holden some sort of four-wheel-drive contender? Was it too big and too heavy for off-road work?

Then we drove it. A lot. We spent most of our time in the CX8, but also lounged in the LX8 for a few days.

We commuted and found it was still comfortable and quiet, tackled big slopes and realised it could cope easily with typical four-wheel-drive challenges. And we went a bit feral at a private four-wheel-drive park on the outskirts of Melbourne and learned the Adventra could cope easily.

Then we watched the Holden highlights tape, which includes pulling a two-tonne boat out of a dam and up a loose gravel slope, and we were converted.

We still think the Adventra is too heavy, and far too thirsty, but most people who shop the car will find plenty to like. It will definitely become a tow-car icon.

Our only other disappointment is the car's transmission. It is the old four-speed auto that is still soldiering on across the Commodore family, but it shows its age with slow changes and no sign of the touch-change shift systems that are common in all of its rivals, including the Ford Falcon and Mitsubishi Magna.

The Adventra is a tough looking beast, but it is still a Commodore wagon at heart and that means a comfortable driving position, plenty of space for five adults, and a huge luggage area.

It has also picked up the classy luggage lock-down system used by Saab, which makes the tail end more versatile.

The Adventra weighs a little under two tonnes and you feel it, although Holden has changed the differential ratio to keep the car sprightly from stop lights.

It rocks and rolls more in corners, without the front-end precision of a basic Commodore sedan, but it is never a problem.

It is a little tougher to park, because vision out the back is restricted, but the decision to fit parking radar will compensate.

We enjoyed our four-wheel-drive time in the Adventra.

It will climb tough slopes, as well as descending without giving you a fright, and does it without the scrabbling feel or suspension thump that comes with a lot of old-fashioned off-roaders.

If you compare it with the Audi Allroad and Volvo XC70 wagon it has more grunt and impressive grip, and is far better value. And you'd be far more likely to risk a few scratches in the bush.

The Adventra isn't perfect, but it's an impressive first effort and we cannot wait to see where the Cross Trac system is headed. The Coupe 4 sounds as if it is going to be a star.