Car News Articles

The new Sportwagon is an intriguing concept.

It is basically Holden’s attempt to win back the faithful who defected to 4WDs in recent years.

The company’s reasoning is that some of those people, who bought 4WDs as a style statement, have now realised that they no longer stand out from the crowd in cities that are overwhelmingly populated by 4WDs.

Holden is probably also well aware that two of the biggest-selling “four-wheel-drives” are not what they seem.

Both the Ford Territory and Toyota Kluger have two-wheel-drive versions that account for roughly half of their sales.

So enter the Sportwagon; a stylish, but reasonably spacious rear-drive wagon that offers car-like driving dynamics.

Admittedly, the Sportwagon doesn’t have the same load carrying capacity as a Territory (about 25 per cent less) but it still has a healthy 2000 litres of cargo space. The Toyota Kluger has only 2136 litres.

In short, it is more than adequate for families who don’t need seven seats.

Holden says the Sportwagon hits the “sweet spot between form and function”.

It would want to. Sales of large sedans have plummeted in the past five years, while people can’t seem to get enough of 4WDs.

In 2002, Holden sold roughly 90,000 Commodores, while the total number of 4WDs sold was just 140,000. Last year, Commodore sales slumped to less than 60,000, compared with almost 200,000 4WD sales.

This year, Commodore sales are down by 23.5 per cent, while sales of medium-sized 4WDs are up by more than 20 per cent.

Holden expects the Sportwagon to attract a much higher percentage of private buyers than its VZ predecessor. Roughly 90 per cent of VZ wagon buyers were fleet customers.

To that end, there are seven models in the VE Sportwagon range, compared with just three in the VZ wagon.

What do you think? Can you see people trading out of 4WDs into the Sportwagon?

Will buyers be willing to sacrifice outright size and space for style and road holding ability?

Or do you think the Sportwagon lacks a couple of important ingredients for success, namely a high seating position and seven seats? (and perhaps even a diesel engine)

Richard Blackburn