Ford Falcon vs Holden Commodore 2008 Review

Calling it a critical battle is an understatement, the survival of locally-sourced automotive manufacturing in Australia largely hinges on the success of these two vehicles.

The Holden VE Commodore range debuted with considerable fanfare in 2006. Holden's billion-dollar baby needed to make an impact on the marketplace ... and it has.

Ford's fortunes hadn't been favouring the brave, with the last of the BA incarnations falling to sales levels never seen for Falcons. The arrival of the vastly revamped FG Falcon has started the turnaround for the historic name plate.

To compare the new Falcon with Commodore, we've chosen the two mainstream models popular with private buyers, each costing about $40,000: the G6 Falcon and VE Berlina.

Both cars sit on 17-inch alloy wheels (with the $250 optional full-size spare) and have leather-wrapped steering wheels with audio controls, but Ford puts cruise there as well.

They each have front fog lamps, trip computer, climate control (the Berlina has dual-zone), ABS brakes, stability control, rear parking sensors, power windows and mirrors, power-adjustable driver's seat, but G6 has a 60/40 split-fold rear seat (the Berlina has only a ski hatch).

Both cars have headlights that are dusk-sensing automatic. The Berlina doesn't get the friendlier flip key.

The Ford's standard audio system is a single CD system (MP3 compatible with auxiliary input) with monochrome display and four speakers.

Our test car (a pre-production model) also had the iPod integration and Bluetooth option fitted, for an extra $450, but the Bluetooth option failed to team up with our phones (a crook module was blamed).

The Berlina ups the ante with a seven-speaker six-CD system with MP3 compatibility and auxiliary input. Where Ford asks for an extra $300, Holden includes dual front, side and curtain airbags in the purchase price. For those looking to lengthen the Ford's legs, the FG G6 can be had (as our test car was) with the optional $1500 ZF six-speed automatic.

To get a six-speed in the VE you'd have to go for the $45,290 V8.

We drove the Berlina and the G6 back-to-back over the same sections of roads with drivers swapping cars to make an instant comparison.

Over twisting roads, it was soon clear the Ford's balance and body control was better than the Berlina's, although the Holden's ride was a little more comfortable. A particular standout was the Ford's six-speed automatic transmission with a `performance' manual-shift mode. The Commodore's steering felt a little less direct, less meaty; mid-corner bumps are also more noticeable in the Holden, as is the engine and transmission noise when accelerating from low speeds.

The Berlina is let down by its elderly four-speed auto. Put it in third gear on a twisty hill road and sometimes it will leap back to second gear with a flare of engine revs.

On the open road, the G6 in sixth gear needs a whisker under 1750rpm at 110km/h while the Berlina is ticking over 2000rpm.

Also, for overtaking or on a slight rise, the Ford has a subtle shift back to fifth or fourth, but the ratio gap in the Berlina is wider. A one gear kickdown at 110km/h goes from 2000rpm to almost 3000rpm. This is reflected in the fuel consumption on our back-to-back twin test of 10 litres per 100km for the Ford G6 and 11 litres per 100km for the Holden Berlina, despite the Ford's bigger and more powerful engine.

Further driving of the cars separately ended with averages of 10.6 litres/100km for the Ford and 11.3 litres per 100km for the Berlina.

The Holden and its Bridgestone Turanza tyres transmit more road noise than does the Ford wearing Goodyear Excellence rubber.

Overall, the Ford G6 is the more refined car, albeit with a firmer feel for the road.

Boot space is big in both cars as is the other hallmark of the big Aussie family six-cylinder — rear seat width.

The middle rear passenger has to deal with a large transmission hump on the floor of each car but other rear passengers get plenty of foot room. Rear-seat passengers in the Commodore get a little more leg room thanks to the cut-out front seat backrest. Each car has a generous glove box but we preferred the dashboard layout of the Ford, which also has more intuitive cruise control switches on the steering wheel than the stalk controls on the Holden.

However, while both cars have height and telescopic adjustment of the steering wheel, both of us (one short, the other tall) preferred the Ford wheel to sit higher.

On dirt roads, the stability control and ABS works well in each car, certainly better calibrated for loose dirt and gravel than many fancy European models.

Both locally-made large cars are worthy contenders for a family's cash, but the new kid on the block has learned from its main foe.

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FORD FG FALCON G6

Price: from $39,990

Engine: 4L/6-cylinder 195kW/391Nm

Transmission: 5-speed automatic (optional 6-speed automatic)

Economy: 10.5L/100km (6-speed 10.2L/100km), on test 10L/100km

HOLDEN VE BERLINA

Price: from $40,290

Engine: 3.6L/V6 180kW/330Nm

Transmission: 4-speed automatic

Economy: 10.8L/100km claimed, 11L/100km test