[SuperSnake]

Although this isn't packing a V8 like our Chevy SS is, it does give us an idea of what to expect as this is so far the only highest KM Chevy SS/VF Commodore out at the moment

On Drive's 16,500km road test around Australia, the team has found that the claimed fuel use figures are far less than the real-world figures.




Holden is out to prove that big cars don’t necessarily equate to big fuel bills with its latest Commodore.


But as we approach the 15,000km mark of our trip around Australia, it is becoming clear that the VF Calais V isn’t re-writing the rules on petrol use.


Our V6 sedan is averaging more than its trip computer reads and isn’t fetching anywhere near the official figures, which are calculated according to a government test cycle that isn't usually an accurate reflection of what you'll use in the real world.


Holden says the new VF Commodore will consume a combined average of 9.0L/100km in highway and city driving. So far, we have averaged 9.4L/100km after 16 days of predominantly open roads, albeit at sometimes higher speeds – up to 130km/h – and accelerating quickly to overtake or when pulling back on the road after photography or to get out of the way of trucks.


An overall reading calculated manually at the end of each day tells a bigger story, with the VF averaging 10.1L/100km in that instance.


Holden says the differentiations between the two readings could come down to a calibration issue, and will look into the matter on our return next week.


However, it’s not unusual for car trip computers to claim the car is using less fuel than it actually is; unlike speedometers – which aren’t allowed to read lower than the actual speed being travelled and can read up to 10 per cent above the travelled speed – trip computers aren’t nearly as closely legislated.


Previous Drive testing has found many cars to be inaccurate by up to 10 per cent, while others have been surprisingly close to the actual fuel used.


Holden has left the VF’s 3.6-litre engine unchanged from the previous iteration but has shed about 43kg from the weight of the car, largely through the use of more light weight aluminium – all with the aim of improving real-world economy.


The biggest winner in the VF range in terms of fuel savings is the base model Evoke, which gets a seven per cent improvement in economy from its smaller capacity 3.0-litre V6. Holden claims that car will consume a relatively frugal 8.3L/100km.

Drive - Holden VF Commodore Fuel Figures

 

[chevypwr]

i much rather see how the V8 model thats close to what we are getting being put through this test as it will directly relate to us.

 

[brianch]

the economy of this car has nothign to do with the SS>

I'm not interested in comfort, chassis characteristics.

At least those can be related to the SS.