First Review: New Ford Falcon vs Holden Commodore - The Verdict

[JoeT]

Giant Ford v Holden Test: The Route

Toby Hagon
25 April 2008
www.drive.com.au

Seven Ford Falcons and Holden Commodores travelled more than 14,000km in an exhaustive test from Melbourne to Brisbane, via Bathurst and Sydney.

Drive conducted the most exhaustive test yet of the new Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore, driving a fleet of seven cars through Australia’s heartland – and our three biggest capital cities, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane – over four days.

Our journey started a few metres from the end of the Ford Falcon production line at Broadmeadows on the northern outskirts of Melbourne.

Our route took us north on the Hume Highway before a detour on backroads through Glenrowan, the home of Ned Kelly, and on to Cootamundra, the birthplace of another Australian icon, Sir Donald Bradman. We then travelled via Bathurst, the high temple of horsepower, and on to Sydney for some city driving. From there we headed north on the Pacific Highway past other symbols of Australia, such as the Big Banana in Coffs Harbour, and the sugar cane fields north of Grafton, before finishing in Brisbane.

All up each car travelled more than 2000 kilometres and a combined total of almost 15,000km across the seven cars.

We used some $2500 worth of fuel.



Ford Falcon XT v Holden Commodore Omega

Joshua Dowling and the Drive team
25 April 2008
www.drive.com.au

The first new Ford Falcon in 10 years has arrived as large-car sales hit a 14-year low. Joshua Dowling and the Drive team compare the new Falcon XT with its Holden Commodore Omega rival on an exhaustive Melbourne to Brisbane test.

Australia’s two biggest-selling fleet sedans are, quite literally, facing the battle of their lives.

An all-new Holden Commodore introduced in 2006 has done little to bring buyers back to large cars. Mitsubishi’s V6 sedan is a recent casualty of Australia’s growing indifference to big sedans, with local production of that model ending in March, 2008.

And in 2007 the Ford Falcon recorded the lowest sales in the 47-year history of the nameplate.

Meanwhile, market leader Toyota continues to chip away at the dominance of the Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore with its locally-made Aurion V6.

Can Ford succeed where Holden hasn’t, and build a sedan to entice buyers away from imports of all shapes and sizes? Or are the Commodore and Falcon destined for the history books, to be remembered as icons of a bygone era?

To find out, Drive conducted the most exhaustive test yet of the new Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore, driving a fleet of seven cars through Australia’s heartland – and our three biggest capital cities, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane – over four days.

Is the new Ford Falcon good enough to beat the big cheese, the Holden Commodore, Australia’s biggest selling car for the past 12 years? Or will it be as palatable as a raw prawn?

Firstly, we look at the cars that make up most of the Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore sales, the entry-level, fleet-oriented Falcon XT and Commodore Omega.

Click here to continue article

Click here for Drive's Ford Falcon XT vs Holden Commodore Omega Video

Ford Falcon G6E v Holden Calais

Toby Hagon
25 April 2008
www.drive.com.au

The new Ford Falcon G6E holds high hopes for repositioning Ford’s luxury large sedan, but how does it compare with the rival Holden Calais?

While the entry-level fleet models make up the majority of Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore sales, the more luxuriously appointed – and more expensive – luxury models do more for the image of each brand.

To prove how crucial image is when it comes to the Falcon and Commodore, Ford’s marketeers have even dropped the long running Fairmont Ghia nameplate, instead switching to the more modern Falcon G6E name.

Despite the name change, the $46,990 G6E still clearly competes with the rival Holden Calais, priced from $45,790.

Both come with leather trim, electric seats, alloy wheels and many other luxury touches to help separate them from the $35,000-odd fleet cars they’re based on.

Our drive took us from Melbourne to Brisbane, via Bathurst in Sydney in the most comprehensive test of the all new FG Falcon to date.

Click here to continue article

Click here for Drive's Ford Falcon G6E vs Holden Calais Video

Ford Falcon v Holden Commodore: Performance Figures

Toby Hagon
25 April 2008
www.drive.com.au

Ford’s new Falcon brings notable performance benefits over its Holden Commodore rival.

Part of our exhaustive, 14,000km-plus Ford Falcon versus Holden Commodore comparison test involved independent assessment of performance testing.

Drive’s performance testing is conducted in a controlled environment using a Racelogic Driftbox, which uses the GPS satellite system to measure acceleration, among other parameters.

Each of our seven cars – four Ford Falcons and three Holden Commodores – was tested on the same day under the same conditions.

This week we’re releasing the performance data for four of the cars (Falcon XT, Commodore Omega, Falcon G6E and Calais), while the remaining three cars (Falcon XR6 Turbo, Commodore SS and Falcon XR8) will be revealed next Saturday, May 10.

Full performance data is available at the bottom of this page.

Our independent testing verified the comments of the seven testers used on our giant comparison test, which is the biggest, most exhaustive media test to date of the new Falcon and its Commodore rival.

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Drive's 14,000km In The Falcon and Commodore Video

Revealed: The New Ford Falcon Is Here!
New Ford Performance Vehicles Falcon Range Released
New Ford Falcon Can Outsell Holden's Commodore, Says Ford Australia Boss

[Kamshaaft]

1st!

lolol Just kidding.

I hope Holden responds strongly to this, and makes the next update (VF) more than just a facelift - i.e. Direct Injection, Diesel option, AWD, Torana, Turbos or Superchargers, uprated interiors, 7 speed BMW auto's, more aggressive styling facelift...
..any of those. The Commodore models maybe aren't distinct enough from each other.

EDIT: Had to stop reading, Toby Hagon sounds like a bit of an idiot.

[Sinner]

Originally Posted by Kamshaaft

1st!

lolol Just kidding.

I hope Holden responds strongly to this, and makes the next update (VF) more than just a facelift - i.e. Direct Injection, Diesel option, AWD, Torana, Turbos or Superchargers, uprated interiors, 7 speed BMW auto's, more aggressive styling facelift...
..any of those. The Commodore models maybe aren't distinct enough from each other.

EDIT: Had to stop reading, Toby Hagon sounds like a bit of an idiot.

They could do most of what you suggested now in a refresh. The Zeta platform seems new to us because we're just getting the G8, the Commodore on the other hand is 2 years old, so it's not surprising that Ford bested it. When you know what the other guy has it's pretty easy. Holden will come out with an MCE that'll beat Ford and the pendulum will swing again. Rarely do two competing cars come out in the same year, those really show who did their homework and built the best in class.

[chinamonty]

I cant understand why Ford would use G6E when the Pontiac version of the Commodore is G8. Is it a deliberate ploy or marketing just doing their usual stuff-ups.
You would think after 14,000K they may have had more to say. Do we have to buy a magazine to find out?

[CJ Thunder]

So is that basically the Superman Taurus but not RWD?

[RedVee8]

Originally Posted by chinamonty

I cant understand why Ford would use G6E when the Pontiac version of the Commodore is G8. Is it a deliberate ploy or marketing just doing their usual stuff-ups.
You would think after 14,000K they may have had more to say. Do we have to buy a magazine to find out?

On the radio on Saturday they said it stands for Ghia 6 cylinders Euro. What crap. How many years did they invest in Ghia being their highest level of trim????
I thought it amusing that they choose Gsomething after all the criticism on this board for Pontiacs names.

SMH had the first half this week, XR6T & XR8 Vs SSV next Saturday. Hint - they love the XR6T, hate the XR8. 5.1sec for XR6T - even faster accelerating now.

[RedVee8]

Originally Posted by CJ Thunder

So is that basically the Superman Taurus but not RWD?

Dont understand this comment?
This is the Aussie Falcon and has always been RWD.

[from oz]

Originally Posted by chinamonty

I cant understand why Ford would use G6E when the Pontiac version of the Commodore is G8. Is it a deliberate ploy or marketing just doing their usual stuff-ups.
You would think after 14,000K they may have had more to say. Do we have to buy a magazine to find out?

Actually Ford was using the name G8 long before the Pontiac existed.


2006 Ford Fairlane G8

[from oz]

I'd like to think that having been beaten by Ford would give Holden the kick up the backside it needed to improve the oft critisised elements of the Commodore but seriously how long have people been saying the 4 speed auto should go? 6 years?

It's always been laughed off with the old "Fleet managers don't want the added cost" (even though it still appears in the "private buyer's" Berlina), and constant improvements. Why is it that now, all of Fords transmissions are better than the equivalent Holden transmission? And it always seemed so easy for Ford to do it. Remember the old 6 speed Tremac and both Falcon and Commodore had the same, yet Ford's was the better transmission. I don't want to think that Holden have the "yeah but we're still the best selling car so it can't matter that much" attitude but that very thought is creeping in.

[2b2]

Originally Posted by RedVee8

Originally Posted by CJ Thunder View Post
So is that basically the Superman Taurus but not RWD?

Dont understand this comment?
This is the Aussie Falcon and has always been RWD.

think CJ was wondering what relation the FG Falcon has to the F-Awd superTaurus spypic we saw recently

imho the answer is no real relationship other than some styling DNA,
until the 2010-11cy Taurus(or whatever) comes out in NA
and then
there's mixed opinion about how much Falcon will be in the GlobalRwdPlatform...
...imho: LOTS

[Generation IV]

How can you not tell the Calais interior apart from the Omega interior. The Calais is quite a big step up. As seen here. If anything, the FG's interiors look the same, the difference between XT and G6E is reversed colours on the dash (the buttons and back finish are reveresed, so silver buttons, black finish and vice versa), there isn't any physical changes as such. I think that was an unfair comment to make. Toby Hagon must be losing his mind.

Omega


Calais


I'm not surprised the XT is a little better than the Omega (they tested the old Omega, it's been updated slightly since then), but performance, fuel economy wise I knew the XT would be better.

[mmciau]

G6E. So what!

Holden wouldn't be fussed what the Falcon was called. The present frame will never be LHD so it will never be a direct competitor with the Pontiac G6.

Yes, the evolution of cars continue. Ford do need sales or their postion as a manufacturer in Australia will be under doubt.

Holden will need to respond.



Mike

[AusCalais]

Snore.

We've been here before.... as one journalist said recently... all the glowing reports from journalists count for nought if people dont buy the things.

Ford have for some time now had the benefit?? of coming in late with their equivalent updates and can target the competition nicely... they have been arguably better cars (Falcon v Commodore) for a while as well....but they have continued to be smashed in the market.

The FG cars look similar to what they replace, with an engine that is about to be replaced, on a platform that will be going as well.... whatever the market says I think Ford has already said it... tired and ready to be superseded.

I just wonder about the sanity of a management that provided more capital to upgrade an engine that was already, by many accounts, class leading, but with only two years left to run before replacement. I am sure they could find more deserving things to spend their scarce resources on...like keeping Territory fresh... there is another Ford train wreck coming... the next two years will be interesting in that space.

[isszy]

It is really important that the Falcon is better than the Commodore. The reason the Commodore is so good is because both the Falcon and the Commodore have to be better at the next release than the opposition. If this cycle stops then bye bye Commodore and we will all be driving Epicas. Be thankful Ford Australia is as passionate as Holden, rather than criticise. We do have the best, affordable RWD choice in the world. I just hope that Ford head office can continue to let Ford Oz control their destiny the way GM has let Holden up til now.

[mikmak]

What gives with Drives performance time for the V6 Calais? 0-100 in 8.4? What a load of cobblers. Wheels has it posted as 7.4 and thats 2 up with a full tank. As far as his addressing the down side of Calais interior, where was the detail? I would probably agree with the gearbox assessment even though I have only ever driven 1 5speed auto commodore. It was fine. But the ZF is a peach...if you like that sort of thing.

I can't wait until one lands locally. Finally I can do part 2 to my base model comparo. I might even stretch out into Calais V. G6E (by the way, I thought that the E stood for Executive.)