Holden Caprice Reviews

Ewan Kennedy reviews the VS, WH, WK, WL, WM and WN Holden Statesman and Caprice from 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 as a used buy.

Korea's Genesis, a new face in the airport limo car park, takes on Holden's flagship. Joshua Dowling adjudicates.

Holden Caprice V offers astonishing value for money. At $59,990 the big long-wheelbase Australian limousine costs about a quarter of the price of similar models from the big name German brands.

Holden is looking to turn around the downward trend in Commodore sales with the VF – mounting a three-pronged attack based around significant price cuts, a big range of additional equipment and a renewed export drive.Annual sales of the Commodore have been in steady decline since their peak of nearly 95,000 in 1998 with the 2012 tally of around 30,500 being the lowest ever. While the car’s age undoubtedly contributed to this number the overriding reason has the trend away from large passenger cars towards both medium SUVs and smaller cars.The VF Commodore is the fifteenth model since it launched with the VB in 1978. It’s been a long time coming as the VE series it has been on sale since 2006. The big delay largely due to the near bankruptcy of GM as a result of the GFC.As we’ve reported previously, the VF Commodore gets price cuts ranging from $5000 from the VE Omega to the Evoke up to $10,000 on the two Caprice models.With such dramatic price reductions coupled with leading-edge technology we wouldn’t be at all surprised if many buyers who have been swept to the SUV trend will be having second thoughts.There are many external styling changes to the VF to distinguish it from its predecessor, with a new front and rear that give it a stockier look partly because the bonnet has been raised to incorporate new pedestrian safety features.The changes to the interior give the new Commodore a fresher, more contemporary look. The centrepiece is the 8-inch colour touchscreen with large, well-spaced buttons and knobs that displays the vast array of features available through the Holden MyLink infotainment system. We will take a closer look at this, along with a plethora of other new features designed to make motoring not only safer but also more entertaining, in a separate story.VF Commodore model names have been tweaked with both the previous entry level Omega and the second tier Berlina both gone – the latter after nearly 30 years in the range – and replaced by a single model called Evoke designed to bridge the gap between fleet and private buyers and to generate a more upmarket image.Evoke uses a 3.0-litre SIDI V6 engine. To reduce fuel use and exhaust emissions power is marginally down (from 190 to 185 kW compared to the VE series). This is more than counteracted by an overall weigh reduction of almost 40 kg in the Commodore, mainly through an aluminium bonnet and boot lid. Performance isn’t affected while fuel consumption is just 8.3 litres per hundred kilometres, down from the 8.9 litres in the equivalent 2012 VE Series II.Other model names are unchanged, with the SV6, Calais, and Calais V each having the 3.6-litre SIDI V6. The SS, SS V, SS V Redline all use the 6.0-litre Gen IV V8, which is optional on the Calais V. All models offer the choice between sedan and Sportwagon.The long wheelbase Caprice sedan, now designated WN, comes with either a 3.6-litre LPG-fuelled engine in the standard model or 6.0-litre petrol V8 in the Caprice V. Transmission options are unchanged with six-speed automatic in all models and six-speed manuals in the sportier variants.Although it’s built on the same platform as the outgoing VE, around 60 per cent of chassis components have been either modified or replaced.The two-day launch of the VF Commodore included a 500-kilometre drive program from Canberra south to the Snowy Mountains and back.It’s hardly surprising given the length of time that the Commodore has been around, but there’s something just right about settling into these big Aussie cars. Something that will really be missed if they were to disappear from the scene forever...Manoeuvring the new VF out of the congested underground car park the first thing you notice is the new electric power steering (EPS) that gives a noticeable improvement in sharpness.Out onto the open road the interior is noticeably quieter than before and there’s a real feeling of luxury unlike any you have felt car in this price range. The route chosen for the drive program was dominated by long straights designed to let the VF stretch its legs as we rotated through the different models.Climbing into the foothills of the Snowys we came away most impressed. It’s well-balanced and courtesy of the weight loss and lighter steering felt anything like a large family car.

We turn the spotlight on the car world's newest and brightest stars as we ask the questions to which you want the answers. But there's only one question that really needs answering -- would you buy one?What is it?This is Holden's hire car special, the long wheelbase V6 Caprice on gas. There's petrol V6 and V8 as well. Caprice is the only long wheelbase Holden these days following the demise of Statesman. Boohoo.How much?The gas car sits in the middle of the Caprice price range at $64,490 plus on roads. That makes it about five grand under petrol V8 and a couple up on the petrol V6. But there's a $2000 rebate from the government when you buy one. It makes the LPG car hard to pass up especially with LPG running at around 65 cents a litre. Who cares if it drinks the stuff...still much cheaper to run than either petrol model.What are competitors?None. At the money, Caprice has the extra rear seat legroom turf all to itself. Maybe the Skoda Superb as a dark horse. Falcon is only in short wheelbase while the others are way more expensive.What's under the bonnet?It gets a 3.6-litre, twin cam V6 with vapour LPG injection good for 180kW/320Nm. Transmission is a six speed conventional automatic with active select (sequential shift) on the selector stick.How does it go?Much better than expected. Past experience with vapour LPG Commodores wasn't favourable — they were doughy. Holden has done something tricky here because the big, weighty LPG Caprice actually gets up when you want it too. It is close to the petrol in accleration feel and roll-on from higher speeds. The sound is a bit strangled because it's on gas and there's only one exhaust outlet.Is it economical?Not at an average of 14.2-litres/100km but when you are paying less than half the price of petrol for gas, it means you are theoretically looking at a (petrol) Caprice sipping 7.0-litres/100km — pretty darn good.Is it green?Marginally better than petrol.Is it safe?Gets the same five star crash rating as Commodore. ESP, multi air bags and the like.Is it comfortable?The ride is supple but controlled and it doesn't make much noise but there was a rumble at speed in the drivetrain we have heard before in Holden products and the seats make you arch your back in a slouch after a short time even with maximum lumbar adjustment. Bluetooth phone and audio, leather, excellent SUNA satnav, auto wipers and headlights, multi function wheel, fiddly touch screen. Overall, pretty good though.What's it like to drive?We had a somewhat jaundiced opinion before we drove the LPG Caprice — reluctant actually but that attitude changed pretty soon. It's good to drive, will even hunt with conviction around moderately fast corners but the brakes are a limiting factor.Is it value for money?Yes, nothing similar comes close.Would we buy one?No, still too young for one of these. Boot compromised with full size spare. Would be on the short list If we were in the hire car business. 

Sergeant Steve Lentz is dressed for action. The Arizona policeman is in full battle gear, right down to a bulletproof kevlar vest that includes spare magazines for his pistol and extra ammunition for a police-issue assault rifle. He is on a mission and taking things deadly seriously. Lentz has come to Firebird Raceway, on the outskirts of Phoenix, to assess the latest suspect in the search for a new-age American cop car.The three contenders are the Ford Taurus, the Dodge Charger and the Chevrolet Caprice, with all three brands pushing hard to take the place of the classic Ford Crown Victoria that's been the front-line battlewagon - and starred in countless television shows - for more than 15 years. Lentz is one of 40-plus police people who are running through an intensive one-day program with Chevrolet that includes a 90-minute briefing and two driving sessions intended to show what the Caprice can do."I'm ready. This is serious. I've even got the vest on so I can see what it will really be like to drive this car on patrol," Lentz tells Carsguide. We are here because the Caprice is not just another American car with bright lights on the roof and a fittings for a police computer and shotgun. The Caprice PPV - Police Patrol Vehicle - is Australia's newest pitch for export business with the homegrown Holden Commodore.A big deal could mean more than 10,000 sales a year. GM Holden did well in the USA with a Commodore that was tweaked into the hot Pontiac G8 but, when General Motors closed the brand as part of its bankruptcy proceedings, the deal died too. Sadly, the G8 was only just starting to fire when it was killed. Now Holden has targeted the massive police car business in the USA and believes it has the right package in a tweaked Caprice that should tick all the boxes for patrol car work across America."I like that car. We like our big cars here," says the bus driver who drops us at Firebird.It's a similar story among the police teams - front-line officers, driver trainers, purchasing staff and workshop crews - who assemble for the Caprice PPV program. Lentz is typical as he prepares for action."I have high hopes but low expectations," he says.It takes less than half a day to run through the program, which is winding down through a 20-city roadshow over the past three months. Host Michael Lord talks hard and fast about the Caprice and program manager Dana Hammer is ready to answer any questions.The biggest concern for most of the police is how their computers will transfer into a car with a tee-bar shifter in the centre of the car. They seem impressed by the design, the space and claims of class leading performance from the 6.0-litre V8 engine."I will make the case for the vehicle today. But at the end you're the judge, you're the jury, you will make the verdict," says Lord.The officers listen intently but the smiles come as they head to the track to drive. It takes less than a minute for the sound of tortured rubber and hard working V8s to echo around Firebird. Many have already driven the rival cars and are not impressed by the cabin of the Charger or the front-wheel drive in the Taurus.They see the real rival to the Caprice as the Chevrolet Tahoe, a mid-sized SUV, although it is also more costly. At the end of the program, the Caprice PPV has won fans but it's time to crunch the numbers. The car is not cheap - definitely not the cheapest - and the next step for many police forces will be to take one or two cars for an on-the-job evaluation to check the running costs and the in-service abilities of the Caprice.But the Aussie contender has made an impression and it's mostly positive. "I like the car. As a car and as a police tool," Sergeant Johnny John tells Carsguide. "It's gonna keep you alive."The PPV package on the Caprice is not just some lights and stickers. The shifter is moved out of the console on the patrol vehicle, there are steel wheels and special Goodyear tyres, a tweaked engine-management computer, better brakes, coolers for the engine-gearbox-differential package, and even upgraded front suspension so the car can cope with driving up over gutters on a daily basis."What we have here is a fundamentally different patrol sedan. This one is for you," Michael Lord tells his police audience.There are two PPV models, the 9C1 patrol car and the 9C3 detective vehicle, and the package was developed after intensive testing by the Michigan State Police and the Los Angeles Country's sheriff's department.The car is priced from $30,995, although large orders could trim the bottom line and police departments face extra costs for everything from paintwork to the potential transfer of equipment from Crown Victorias. Lord says the Caprice leads police contenders in most categories, from cabin and boot space to acceleration and top speed.The PPV will sprint to 100km/h in 6.4 seconds. Just as importantly, it has survived the toughest brake torture test in the USA and running costs are said to be the lowest of the police car contenders.DRIVINGThe Caprice PPV doesn't look, or feel, much different from the Holden sold in Australia. At first. Sliding behind the steering wheel at Firebird, even if it's on the wrong side, brings no surprises. But the sledgehammer thump from a standing start, the killer brakes and the tuning of the transmission has lifted the American contender to a new level.It's a serious performance car, and way different from the easygoing luxury feel of the Caprice in Australia. Driving is done in unmarked PC3s and the police are having a great time, howling through corners and thumping down the straights. Sometimes the brakes smoke a bit, but there is no fade or failure.The high-speed course is fun but it's a tight little track with maximum acceleration and emergency braking that highlights the car's real abilities. The PPV runs and runs at the limit with no sign of failure.Sliding into the PC1 shows how the car will really be used, from the switches for the lights and siren to the police computer and the protective barrier between the officers and offenders. It's a little like a movie scene, except this is real.

No, it doesn't mean a luxury version for the models they are based on are more than luxurious already. The L means long, or more correctly long-wheelbase.

GM's latest big V8 – a six-litre job called the L76 – gives more power and torque, the latter at more accessible engine speeds than the previous 5.7-litre Gen III V8.But in this 1772kg, 5.2m saloon where it's matched to an aged four-speed automatic, it does like a drink of petrol. And it prefers premium unleaded fuel, further adding to the cost. Perhaps buyers of this sort of car are well used to fuel bills, or they have an arrangement where the bills are paid by someone else. But there is growing concern about the environment and not everyone feels guilt-free in a six-litre V8 of considerable size.I drove the new V8 Caprice very gently, rarely going above 2000rpm, yet over more than 400km in a mix of conditions, including very gentle country cruising, averaged 12.5 litres/100km. Use more of the power more often and it will be higher than this. The 100km stint of suburban and city driving used 16.2 litres.But on the few times the right foot was pressed down harder, the call was answered: 260kW of power at 5600rpm and 510Nm of torque at 4400rpm compares with the 245kW and 465Nm of the previous V8.The old four-speed automatic now changes with good subtlety and we settled into 110km/h at approaching 1900rpm at whisper-quiet running save for a bit of tyre slap, depending on the road surface. Holden Caprice V8, now at $75,390, is very well equipped in luxury gear (see Small Torque) but beaten by the Europeans in airbag protection.Features include very generous rear-seat leg room, comfort, a luxury car being able to take on Australian rough conditions, a large boot and plenty of dealer support. The test car, in deep blue, tasteful touches of chrome and a beige leather interior, looked a picture, too.Holden puts much into the Caprice: DVD player with twin screens and headsets in the rear, six-stack CD, 12-speaker 430W sound system, leather trim, eight-way power adjustable front seats, driver's seat memory (for three drivers), dual-zone climate control, comprehensive trip computer, 17in diameter alloy wheels, front fog lamps plus cornering lamps, tyre pressure monitor, and front and rear parking sensors.V8 fans would disagree but I'd go for the Caprice 3.6-litre V6, for $4700 less at $70,690. It has all the above features but has a five-speed automatic with Active-select paddleshift and is tuned for regular unleaded. It has ESP whereas the V8 gets only traction control. The V6 gives 190kW and 335Nm, and needs service every 15,000km to the V8's every 10,000km.GM Holden says its new V8 will run on regular unleaded (it has knock sensors) but gives its best with fuel of the premium unleaded variety.

A replacement for the 5.7-litre Gen 3 the newcomer boasts more of everything V8 lovers love - power, torque, sound, response, feel, towability, bragging rights.Ford's DOHC, 5.4-litre V8 pales against the sheer volume of the Holden donk. But there's a leveller - the Gen 4 Holden L76, 6.0-litre uses an old fashioned pushrod valve system and has only two valves a cylinder - not the most efficient layout in an era of ever improving engine technology striving for peak efficiency.Holden reckons it gets by with this mechanically low-tech approach using sophisticated electronics and says a cylinder deactivation system was unnecessary to deliver reasonable fuel economy.That's all very good but more and more V8 makers are moving towards these systems waiting for a breakthrough to cut fuel consumption in large capacity engines. What that will be is anyone's guess.L76 was introduced to comply with the new AS79/01 emissions laws, Australia's version of Euro 3 regulations. Gen 3 V8 doesn't pass.No doubt, Holden would have preferred to introduce the L76 to coincide with the new VE Commodore series but that's months away.We got hold of the range-topping Caprice V8 fitted with the new V8 and it's difficult not to be impressed, even at $75,390.The engine has a definite edge over the older donk offering more response, more mid-range and more top end while the fuel economy seems pretty much the same.The four speed auto needs to be consigned to history as it is simply not cut it these days in the face of five and six speed 'boxes from rivals. It not the smoothest tranny by anyone's measure and is atb odds with the refined atmosphere insided Caprice.That said, driving the big Holden is fun even around corners where its considerable weight doesn't seem matter too much.It has a ridiculous amount of rear seat legroom and the boot is expansive if a little shallow.As flagship of the range, Caprice is equipped with the full Holden inventory including dual rear DVD screens.A number of controls are available to rear seat passengers.But there's plenty of driver enjoyment to be had from this large limo.The engine sounds powerful propelling the Caprice at sports car pace.It's extremely comfortable inside but the dash looks like a tarted up Commodore item which it is.The new engine likes a strong brew and functions best on premium unleaded thanks in part to a knock sensor and high compression ratio.Fuel economy on test averaged around 14.5 litres/100km - impressive for a car this size.

Holden's Caprice V8 sits comfortably in this territory offering acres of metal (and rear legroom) in an imposing and surprisingly well mannered package.Caprice is Holden's flagship and as such, it bristles with goodies some of which are over the top.The nature of Caprice was changed a couple of years ago into more of a sporty limo with the softer option slot being occupied by Statesman.High output 5.7-litre V8 is a cracker, generates 250kW and sounds great.Fuel economy not bad for a big weighty beast with 11L/100km achievable. Hoof it and the fuel buckets through.Rough changing four speed automatic needs retirement. This car cries out for a smooth shifting five speeder and tiptronic function would be a plus.Has comprehensive dynamic control package including ESP that kicks in too late and stays active for too long. Traction control can be a problem if rapid take offs are needed.Long wheelbase gives superb ride also aided by sporty suspension and wheel/tyre combo.Fun to drive, responsive steering, powerful brakes, excellent acceleration.Styling looks the goods, handsome front enhanced with large driving lights, square bumper and bonnet crease lines.Love the five spoke 17in alloys and low ride height. Very sexy.Interior is arguably the best ever effort from Holden.Has classy European look and feel, great combination of colours and textures capped of with brilliant audio system and multi function module.Steering wheel has multiple functions including sound and cruise control.Trip computer offers bewildering array of information.Twin headrest mounted DVD screens a plus for rear passengers on long distances.Climate control offers numerous outlets, works fast.Pretty well everything is electrically operated. Decadent.Boot is large, possible sleeping venue.Third seat in rear is not really a seat, it's the join between two buckets.Quality seems to have improved over underwhelming previous models.Extensive safety features.