Holden Epica CDX Review – 2009

On the back of three weeks of travel I required a car to get me from Tamworth to Newcastle and so booked a car through Avis.  I arrived at the airport to find that they had given me a Holden Epica CDX.  Having heard a lot about this vehicle I was quite excited to hop in and have a drive.

It is very rare for me to not like a car and even factoring in the fact that I had been on the road for some three weeks, developing a cold and quite tired I would have to say that this may be the worst vehicle I have driven for a long time.

The exterior of the car looks like they gave it a very good whack with an ugly stick.  The body looks like a confusion of shapes and while maybe the wind tunnel said it worked well I think it is a horrible shape.  That said I don’t like the body shape of the Camry either, Epica’s main competitor but perhaps the mid-sized car buyer does like this shape.

Hopping into the cabin the first thing that hit me was plastic, plastic and more plastic.  The controls were well laid out although maybe a few too many on the steering wheel.  Everything was in easy reach and the dashboard was clear and visible.  Seats were adequate with manual height and lumbar adjustment but lacked a fair bit of support, particularly noticeable on the long run to Newcastle.  The heating and cooling system worked well and the radio was acceptable.

In terms of the mechanics the Epica is not a performance vehicle nor is it expected to be.  Power delivery had a noticeable lag particularly in the passing speed range of 80 to 100 kilometres per hour.  Handling was below average with considerable body roll and a lack of responsiveness from the steering wheel to the driver – the term handles like a boat came to mind.  Fuel efficiency was excellent for the vehicle and this will be a strong selling point for families looking for an efficient competitor to the Camry or Mazda 6 – if they can get past its looks!

For a mid-sized car the Epica has adequate space, being able to easily fit a family of four and their associated baggage in it, however the shape, design, fit out and handling of the car was extremely below par and left me disappointed as a driver.

Holden Epica CDX

• Power: 115kW @ 5800 rpm*
• Torque: 237Nm @ 4600rpm*
• Price:  Around $26,000 to $30,000
• Date of test: August 2009
• Location:  Regional New South Wales

Tags: 2009, CDX, Epica, Holden, Review

Category: Driving Journeys, Reviews