Danv8
24-02-2005, 05:28 PM
Although I just copy and pasted the Adventra snippet.
Rest of the article is
Holden Adventra SX6
Holden won't be left wondering when the Alloytec V6-powered version of the Adventra goes on sale in April, as the SX6 offers the Territory TX and Kluger CV very stiff competition in value terms.
It is $2000 cheaper than the Territory and offers equipment advantages such as standard side airbags, hill-descent control, rear parking sensors, cruise control and 17-inch alloy wheels (steel wheels for the other two). That's on top of the gear all three vehicles get such as air-conditioning, dual front airbags, anti-lock brakes (ABS), power windows and single-slot CD players.
The Territory fights back - but only so far - with the unique advantage of standard adjustable pedals.
The Holden is even better off against the Kluger, which is $3000 more expensive yet misses out on even the option of side airbags and rear parking sensors and doesn't have electrotrickery such as traction or stability control in its armoury. The Kluger does get climate control, however, and standard cruise control, the latter surely a necessity in these days of speed cameras with virtually zero tolerance.
But you can see where Holden has cut costs in the Adventra to hit the price point. The rear storage compartments that line both sides of the more expensive CX6 and LX6 are missing, ditto the rear door pockets and the spring-out cup holders in the centre console.
There are only bumps instead of headrests in the second-row bench seat and even the little flipdoor at the rear of the centre bin has been deleted.
The problem is that dumbing down the Adventra's interior is a dangerous strategy, considering it is obviously based very much on the Commodore wagon and so lacks IQ anyway.
The Adventra is comfortable enough, has masses of space, a low loading height and a split tailgate. But comparing its interior with the Territory and Kluger is to shuttle between the 20th and 21st century. The transmission tunnel is a good example. Virtually unsighted in the Ford and Toyota, in the Adventra it severely impacts on the centre rear passenger's leg space.
There's some nostalgia in the drive as well, thanks to the performance of the new locally built V6, which sounds eerily like the hoarse old Ecotec unit it replaced in the VZ Commodore last year.
It shouldn't be so. At 3.6-litres, the Alloytec is slightly smaller than the 3.8-litre Ecotec, but in no other way is it inferior. Not forgetting a new fivespeed automatic rather than the clunky old fourspeed.
And yet, driving the Adventra is an all-too familiar experience. Smooth and quiet when cruising, once efforts are demanded, that harsh refrain surfaces.
Happily, through the noise Alloytec keeps delivering way beyond the point at which the old engine would have tied itself in knots. At 190 kW it is the most powerful engine here, and feels it when you get to 5000 rpm and beyond (peak power comes in at 6000 rpm). And you're going to find yourself up in that rev range a fair bit, which means the auto will rotate through the gears more than you would like as it chases torque to keep the Adventra's 1.9-tonne kerb weight moving along.
The Adventra is a fun drive on bitumen and gravel roads once the pace builds up. It has heavy but accurate steering (annoying mainly when parking), a competent ride on all but poor surfaces, low-profile 17-inch Bridgestone rubber and an all-wheel-drive system. All that is aided by the lowest centre of gravity here, which means less body roll. The downer is the brakes, which overheated after one tough mountainous run and never really inspired confidence.
Back in suburbia the heavy steering, five metre- plus length and big 11.9-metre turning circle work against the Adventra compared to both the Territory and the Kluger. The park distance sensors no longer seem like a luxury but a necessity.
For: Attractive price and generous equipment list, powerful V6 engine, dynamically competent.
Against: Looks and feels like a tarted-up Commodore wagon, heavy steering, new drivetrain not what it should be, lacks interior flexibility and thoughtfulness.Here (http://www.drive.com.au/editorial/article.aspx?id=9298&vf=2&bg=19&pp=0)
Rest of the article is
Holden Adventra SX6
Holden won't be left wondering when the Alloytec V6-powered version of the Adventra goes on sale in April, as the SX6 offers the Territory TX and Kluger CV very stiff competition in value terms.
It is $2000 cheaper than the Territory and offers equipment advantages such as standard side airbags, hill-descent control, rear parking sensors, cruise control and 17-inch alloy wheels (steel wheels for the other two). That's on top of the gear all three vehicles get such as air-conditioning, dual front airbags, anti-lock brakes (ABS), power windows and single-slot CD players.
The Territory fights back - but only so far - with the unique advantage of standard adjustable pedals.
The Holden is even better off against the Kluger, which is $3000 more expensive yet misses out on even the option of side airbags and rear parking sensors and doesn't have electrotrickery such as traction or stability control in its armoury. The Kluger does get climate control, however, and standard cruise control, the latter surely a necessity in these days of speed cameras with virtually zero tolerance.
But you can see where Holden has cut costs in the Adventra to hit the price point. The rear storage compartments that line both sides of the more expensive CX6 and LX6 are missing, ditto the rear door pockets and the spring-out cup holders in the centre console.
There are only bumps instead of headrests in the second-row bench seat and even the little flipdoor at the rear of the centre bin has been deleted.
The problem is that dumbing down the Adventra's interior is a dangerous strategy, considering it is obviously based very much on the Commodore wagon and so lacks IQ anyway.
The Adventra is comfortable enough, has masses of space, a low loading height and a split tailgate. But comparing its interior with the Territory and Kluger is to shuttle between the 20th and 21st century. The transmission tunnel is a good example. Virtually unsighted in the Ford and Toyota, in the Adventra it severely impacts on the centre rear passenger's leg space.
There's some nostalgia in the drive as well, thanks to the performance of the new locally built V6, which sounds eerily like the hoarse old Ecotec unit it replaced in the VZ Commodore last year.
It shouldn't be so. At 3.6-litres, the Alloytec is slightly smaller than the 3.8-litre Ecotec, but in no other way is it inferior. Not forgetting a new fivespeed automatic rather than the clunky old fourspeed.
And yet, driving the Adventra is an all-too familiar experience. Smooth and quiet when cruising, once efforts are demanded, that harsh refrain surfaces.
Happily, through the noise Alloytec keeps delivering way beyond the point at which the old engine would have tied itself in knots. At 190 kW it is the most powerful engine here, and feels it when you get to 5000 rpm and beyond (peak power comes in at 6000 rpm). And you're going to find yourself up in that rev range a fair bit, which means the auto will rotate through the gears more than you would like as it chases torque to keep the Adventra's 1.9-tonne kerb weight moving along.
The Adventra is a fun drive on bitumen and gravel roads once the pace builds up. It has heavy but accurate steering (annoying mainly when parking), a competent ride on all but poor surfaces, low-profile 17-inch Bridgestone rubber and an all-wheel-drive system. All that is aided by the lowest centre of gravity here, which means less body roll. The downer is the brakes, which overheated after one tough mountainous run and never really inspired confidence.
Back in suburbia the heavy steering, five metre- plus length and big 11.9-metre turning circle work against the Adventra compared to both the Territory and the Kluger. The park distance sensors no longer seem like a luxury but a necessity.
For: Attractive price and generous equipment list, powerful V6 engine, dynamically competent.
Against: Looks and feels like a tarted-up Commodore wagon, heavy steering, new drivetrain not what it should be, lacks interior flexibility and thoughtfulness.Here (http://www.drive.com.au/editorial/article.aspx?id=9298&vf=2&bg=19&pp=0)