Holden range

Given that Holden NZ reacquainted us with its large vehicle range in the last edition of NZ Company Vehicle, it was kind of a given that we would get to take a gander at the small vehicle range a few weeks later and we did.

What was interesting was the drive programme was considerably longer for the smaller cars and there weren’t quite as many of them either: the newly refreshed Spark, the as-seen-on-tv Astra and of course, the SUV that doesn’t take itself too seriously, the Trax. The happy-as-a-lab Trax is probably the least likely to find its way into Fleetland only because it most likely to win over the private buyer first and foremost for its cute appeal. It’s spirited, appealing to the young at heart and a little bit different to the runof-the-mill SUVS and in addition, there are three models to choose from: the entry level LS on 16-inch alloys, the LT on 18-inch alloys which brings in push button start/ stop, a sunroof and the LTZ also on 18-inch alloys, heated seats, rear cross traffic and blind spot alert systems. Of course, there’s more than this; the Trax does have a five-star ANCAP safety rating after all and, being a contemporary Holden, all models feature the Mylink infotainment system integrating Apple Carplay and Android Auto, leather steering wheel, rear camera, cruise control and the common-toall-models 1.4 litre turbocharged engine, and a royal cracker it is too. Next in line is the Holden Astra, which comes to us in Sportwagon, sedan or hatchback versions with various grades of model in each. The sedan for example, is available in LS or LT spec, the Sportwagon available as an LS+ or an LT and the hatch as an R, an RS or an RS-V. Clearly, one of these things is not like the others. The Astra Hatch is the hero of the range and the RS-V the top of the trio. While the Astra R shares the same displacement 1.4-litre turbo with the Trax, the RS and RS-V hot hatches and sportwagons lend themselves to high performance considerations and run a 1.6-litre turbocharged engine with a few more beans – to coin the phrase – at 147kw. Like the Trax, the R, RS and RS-V have incremental equipment and spec upgrades. On the R model, the spec’ is pretty darned good anyway: rear view camera, ESC, six airbags, LED daytime lights, cruise control, voice activated functionality, auto headlights, Apple Carplay and Android Auto as well as Mylink with a seven-inch colour touchscreen being the highlights. To this, RS adds a leather steering wheel, blind spot alert push-button start, advanced park assist and Holdeneye® - an amalgamation of automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, forward collision alert and following distance indicator. The RS-V just gets everything bigger: 18inch alloys, eight-inch colour touchscreen, 4.2-inch driver info display, integrated satellite navigation, heated leather seats and steering wheel, dual zone climate control, Holdeneye® and a special-order touring pack including an electric sunroof and adaptive cruise control. And lastly, we come to the Holden Spark. The car that no one was really too fussed on, but which gives a grin factor that even the hot RS-V can’t match. Everything about this teeny tiny car is a surprise and delight feature. It’s well appointed, impeccably put together and feels ludicrously luxurious for a fraction of most other cars on the market. From a buyer’s perspective, the Spark appears to be a little outside of anything you would likely buy from a desirable point of view. It’s small, it’s functional and it’s the sort of car a doting dad might buy his daughter, or a nervous mum might insist her son buys as a first car. Said young person though, would probably never see the keys again after mum or dad drove the Spark home. For those companies who are investing in a Compact car, the Spark is an excellent proposition, not only in terms of value for money and specification level, but for driver appreciation as well. The Spark makes Compact car driving fun and frugal at the same time. For the pool vehicle or for the boutique fleet of maybe one or two cars where chic is part of the business ethos, the Small car still has a valid place in the market, in fact it’s more than valid, it makes good business sense. Perhaps this is the thinking behind Holden New Zealand’s strategy to have a comprehensive range offering in this sector?