Holden is confident its new Euro-style sporty wagon will draw buyers back to the fold.

THE VE Commodore-based wagon is hoping style and sedan-like driving dynamics will lure people away from SUVs.

As well, Holden is aiming to return to the top of the sales ladder with the wagon which has been missing from its line-up since the sedan was launched.

Sales of large sedans have fallen in the past five years while people buy up SUVs.

In 2002, Holden sold about 90,000 Commodores, while 4WD sales were 140,000. Last year, Commodore sales fell 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 has been without a Commodore wagon for the first six months of the year.

It says the previous model VZ wagon attracted an average of 900 buyers a month in its last year on sale.

Holden is targeting private buyers with the Sportwagon, believing drivers want something versatile, not just a family van for youngsters and dogs.

They are going in hard with the Sportwagon, pegging the price of every model at $1000 above the equivalent VE sedan.

The base Omega Sportwagon is $37,790, down $440 from its VZ Executive equivalent. Among its key features are a multi-function steering wheel, 16in alloy wheels, cruise control, a trip computer, rear parking radar, a single-CD sound system and automatic headlights.

But total space in the wagon has fallen from 2752 litres in the VZ to 2000 in the VE.

The VE Sportwagon went on sale this week and should give Holden an edge over Ford, which is still working on its wagon plans. Nothing is firm yet on an FG-based successor to the original Territory.

The Sportwagon weighs 91kg more than the VE sedan, but has a good-looking back end that Holden says maintains the car's 50:50 weight balance.

The wagons have 72 unique body panels and, for safety, retain the front, side and curtain airbags and stability control of the sedan.

All Sportwagons get a 17in steel spare as standard. A full-sized wheel is a $250 option.

The wagon sits on a slightly shorter wheelbase than its VZ predecessor (down 24mm) and is shorter overall by 36mm, cutting load space from 1402 litres to 895 litres with the seats up.

Fold them flat and the VE takes 2000 litres, still less than the VZ's 2752 litres.

Holden's engineering team says the sedan platform was chosen for the wagon because the long-wheelbase Statesman would not have increased the load area, just the rear legroom.

The bodyshell is stiffer and stronger and Holden says it reduces booming and road noise from the tail.

The front multi-link suspension is largely a carryover, apart from a 1mm increase in the stabiliser bar (the sports suspension spring rate is up 23 per cent), but the rear multi-link suspension has an upgraded spring rate and a stabiliser bar that has shed 4mm to a 12mm-diameter.

The rear end has also been tweaked with three cross-axis ball joints (up from two).

Inside, it's familiar VE in the front, but the rear seat has had the expected alterations.

The 60:40 rear seat can fold nearly flat. There's a two-position cargo blind, four load hooks on the floor, an extra four hooks, two retractable shopping bag hooks, a storage bin, a 12V power outlet and a low-mounted light in the load area. Rear headroom is unchanged from the sedans.

The Berlina is $38,240, $5600 below the VZ equivalent, and gets 17in alloys, front fog lights, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, Bluetooth, six-stack CD sound, power-adjustment for the driver's seat and dual-zone climate control as extras.

The SV6 starts the sports range at $42,290 with sports suspension, 18in alloys, a body kit, dual exhausts and a sports interior.

The SS V8 six-speed manual costs from $46,290 and the six-speed auto $48,290 with a limited-slip differential. The SS V costs from $53,790 as a manual or $55,790 with automatic transmission.

The Calais is $46,790 and gets a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear selector and electric seats with leather bolsters.

The Calais V V6 starts at $55,290 for the five-speed automatic and the V8 six-speed automatic is $60,290. It's equipped with 18-inch alloys, a leather-wrapped sports steering wheel, front and rear park assist, rain-sensing wipers, a rear DVD player, power-adjustable leather seats and the option of the six-speed automatic transmission.

VE Sportwagon
Development cost: $110 million (on top of the $1.03 billion VE Commodore and $105.1 million Ute program)
Testing durability: 243,000km
Reliability test trips: 15,500km
Captive fleet: 255,000km
Total: 513,500km
Dedicated test vehicles: 60

VE Sportwagon prices
Omega $37,790, Berlina $41,290, SV6 $42,290, SS (manual) $46,290, SS (auto) $48,290, SS V (manual) $53,790, SS V (auto) $55,790, Calais $46,790, Calais V V6 (auto) $55,290, Calais V V8 (auto) $60,290

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