The EFTM Garage – Holden VF Evoke Sportswagon

We’ve had plenty of positive things to say about the new VF Commodore range from Holden – this week in the EFTM Garage we find the base model Evoke Sportswagon – just what’s it got and how does it go?  More soon!

Make: Holden

Model: VF Commodore

Variant: Evoke Sportwagon. 185kW / 290 Nm 3.0-litre V6 with 6-speed automatic.

Standard Features: Park Assist with front and rear parking sensors, rear-view camera, Bluetooth with streaming, 16-inch alloy wheels, full array of airbags and electronic safety systems, hill hold / hill start, electrically adjustable driver’s seat, electric hand brake, dual-zone climate control plus an eight-inch colour touchscreen with ‘MyLink’ infotainment system.

Price: $36,990

Wow Factor: Automatic parallel and perpendicular parking works a treat. Huge MyLink screen has excellent resolution. Sound system is a vast improvement over the rubbish VE set up. Handling and ride about as good as it gets.

Most Impressive: Vast amounts of interior space, mounts a very strong argument against buying an SUV. Dash layout and quality has lengths on the VE presentation. Overhauled transmission resolves the previous unit’s inconsistencies.

Not so impressive: Visually in wagon form very little has changed. The front end is all new but from behind it’s still a mirror image of the 2006 VE. Fairly sluggish off the mark, engine sounds very bland.