Holden Commodore VY: the third-generation Commodore restyled

The Holden Commodore VY was produced from 2002 to 2004 as the third iteration of the third generation. It was the first major design departure of that generation, inside and out, and the last Commodore to use the 3.8-litre Ecotec V6.

Holden Commodore VY at a glance

History of the Holden Commodore VY

A new look

Released in September 2002 and produced until August 2004, with a Series II in August 2003, the VY was the first major design departure of the third-generation Commodore that had arrived with the VT in August 1997. It launched at the same time as the Ford BA Falcon. The front and rear of the body were restyled with a new grille, headlights and tail lights, and the interior was significantly upgraded with a new instrument panel, centre console, steering wheel, transmission lever and handbrake.

The new instrument cluster had a large multi-function digital display, single or triple window depending on model, showing the radio station, the selected gear, a trip computer with stopwatch, service reminders and a help facility. There was a new mobile phone power outlet under the centre console. Standard features on some models now included twilight sentinel automatic headlamp control, a programmable headlamp-off delay, Blaupunkt audio systems, road-speed sensitive intermittent wipers and passenger airbags.

The range

The range consisted of the Commodore Executive, Acclaim, S, SV8, SS, Berlina and Calais. All were offered as sedans, but only the Executive, Acclaim and Berlina came as wagons. Unusually, the VY also introduced a limited edition SS wagon with the same 235 kW (315 hp) V8, body kit and sports suspension as the SS sedan, though on 17-inch alloy wheels instead of 18-inch.

The VY was the first Commodore not to offer a V8 on the Executive: buyers had to choose the new SV8, essentially an Executive with a V8, rear spoiler and unique 17-inch wheels, as the cheapest V8 variant. The SS was the flagship sports model of the range, and the S was the cheapest sports variant with an optional 171 kW supercharged V6.

Series II and commercials

The Series II update added cruise control, front power windows, variable front seat lumbar support and revised interior trims. A 245 kW (329 hp) V8 went into the sports variants and the Calais was repositioned as a sportier car with a subtle body kit, the option of a 235 kW V8 in place of the previous 225 kW unit, and a firmer FE 1.5 suspension tune that was not as stiff as the FE2 used on sports models.

The VY range also included the commercial versions, the Holden Ute, One Tonner and Crewman, and in 2003 it gained the first Commodore-based all-wheel drive variants, including the Adventra wagon. The VY was the last Commodore to use the 3.8-litre Ecotec V6 engines originally introduced in the VN, sixteen years earlier. Following the GM and Subaru tie-up of 1999, Holden briefly considered giving the VY Ute to Subaru to sell as the Subaru Brumby in exchange for the Forester, but the plan was called off after objections from Subaru Australia.

Design and features

• New interior: redesigned dashboard, console and cluster with a multi-function display.
• SV8: the new entry point to V8 power after the Executive lost its V8 option.
• SS wagon: a limited edition with V8 power, a body kit and 17-inch wheels.
• Series II V8: 245 kW (329 hp) for the sports models.
• Last Ecotec: the end of the V6 that had arrived with the VN.

Holden Commodore VY versions

• Executive: the baseline V6 model with 15-inch steel wheels.
• Acclaim: one step up, with automatic transmission and 15-inch alloys.
• S: the cheapest sports variant, supercharged V6 optional.
• SV8: the cheapest V8, based on the Executive.
• SS: the flagship sports model with the 235 kW V8.
• Berlina and Calais: the luxury models, the Calais made sportier in Series II.

The VY came after the VT and before the VZ, and its commercial versions became the Holden Ute range. More cars are in the Holden collection.

Sources

• Holden Commodore (VY), English Wikipedia: models, equipment, engines, commercials