Holden VE Series II SS Ute complemented with 18-inch alloys, front fog lights and a lowered sports suspension. With its 6.0 L V8 the SS is certainly powerful, but it’s also safe with a maximum 5-star ANCAP rating thanks to its six airbags and electronic stability control.The VE Ute is based on the same floorplan as the Commodore sedan and, as such, is quite a long vehicle. It’s not noticeable on the open road, but from the outside or when parking it becomes increasingly apparent, especially if you’re used to driving subcompacts. On the plus side, there’s plenty of storage space in the tray area and front leg room is more than ample.
Interior, The pews are supportive without being restrictive and even a big bloke like me had no trouble getting in and out. The steering wheel is big and meaty and, in SS guise, leather-wrapped to boot. The centre console is logically laid out with Holden’s multifunction touch screen iQ system at the top and the climate controls at the bottom. The SS comes with dual-zone climate control and everything about the system is intuitive and easy to use.The interior is made of high quality materials and is very well put together and there’s the usual package of trip computer, cruise control and steering wheel controls. The driver’s seat is partly electrically adjustable (straight up and down and tilt), though still requires you to manually slide it forward and adjust the backrest.Interior of Holden VE Series II SS Ute also gets Bluetooth and iPod integration, which is nice. One thing I found disappointing was the sound system, which is very tinny and not at all fitting with the SS’s character. In a car that can cost upwards of AU$45,000, I had expected a bit more in this department.The SS Ute was not the uncouth, brutish leviathan I expected it to be. Acceleration is smooth and consistent, the ride is (mostly) smooth and the V8 is – dare I say it – refined. I went in with a lot of preconceptions about this car, but came out with a new found appreciation for this motoring sexagenarian.The Holden VE Series II SS Ute is a highly capable, comfortable cruiser. Though lacking in some areas – the sound system and seat controls, for instance – it is well equipped and pleasant on the road. And at AU$52,161 in 6sp automatic SS guise, its good value for money to boot. With the exception of Ford’s XR8 Falcon – which we are yet to test – the SS Ute has no other real competitors on the Australian market and as such remains highly desired among both tradespeople and enthusiasts alike.
