- Refined and reliable 3.0-litre I6 engines
- Awesome turbocharged I6 engine
- Comfortable interior
- Attractive styling
- Soft suspension lacks body control
- Basic live rear axle suspension
- Underpowered V8 engine
Overview
Released in March 1986, the Holden VL Commodore was available as mid-size, rear-wheel drive sedan or wagon. Manufactured in Elizabeth, South Australia, the VL Commodore was initially powered by a 3.0-litre inline six cylinder petrol engine and offered in SL, Executive and Berlina variants. However, turbocharged engines were introduced in August 1986 and V8 engines followed in October 1986.
In September 1987, a Vacationer variant was released; a limited-run Series 200 variant was also released in March 1988.
Engines: RB30E, RB30ET and V8
Manufactured by Nissan, the 3.0-litre RB30E inline six cylinder engine had a cast iron block, an alloy cylinder head, a single overhead camshaft (SOHC, belt-driven), electronic fuel injection (EFI), an Electronic Combustion Control System (ECCS) and a ram-tuned intake manifold. In August 1986, a turbocharged version of the RB30E engine was introduced – the RB30ET – which had a Garrett turbocharger that was fitted inside a water-cooled housing, new pistons and a lower compression ratio (7.8:1, compared to 9.0:1). For these six cylinder engines, transmission choices consisted of a five-speed manual or a four-speed Jatco automatic units (the latter with an overdrive gear and fuel-saving torque converter clutch).
From October 1986, the VL Commodore was available with a 5.0-litre pushrod V8 engine which had a cast iron block, two valves per cylinder and a four-barrel Rochester carburetor – this engine was solely available with a three-speed automatic transmission (Holden’s ‘Trimatic’).
Suspension and dimensions
The VL Commodore had MacPherson strut front suspension and a live rear axle with lower trailing arms. The Commodore sedan was 4766 mm long, 1722 mm wide, 1368 mm tall and its wheelbase was 2668 mm long. The wagon, however, was 3 mm shorter (at 4763 mm) but 21 mm taller (1389 mm); the other measurements were the same. Compared to its VK predecessor, the VL Commodore could be identified by its more rounded styling, elongated headlights and bootlid spoiler.
| Variant | Body | Years | Engine | Trans. | Peak power | Peak torque |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SL | Sedan, wagon |
1986-88 | 3.0-litre petrol I6 | 5sp man., 4sp auto |
114 kW at 5200 rpm | 247 Nm at 3600 rpm |
| 3.0-litre turbo petrol I6 | 5sp man. | 150 kW at 5600 rpm | 296 Nm at 3200 rpm | |||
| Executive | Sedan, wagon |
1986-88 | 3.0-litre petrol I6 | 4sp auto | 114 kW at 5200 rpm | 247 Nm at 3600 rpm |
| 3.0-litre turbo petrol I6 | 4sp auto | 150 kW at 5600 rpm | 296 Nm at 3200 rpm | |||
| 5.0-litre petrol V8 | 3sp auto | 122 kW at 4400 rpm | 323 Nm at 3200 rpm | |||
| Berlina | Sedan, wagon |
1986-88 | 3.0-litre petrol I6 | 5sp man., 4sp auto |
114 kW at 5200 rpm | 247 Nm at 3600 rpm |
| 3.0-litre turbo petrol I6 | 5sp man., 4sp auto |
150 kW at 5600 rpm | 296 Nm at 3200 rpm | |||
| 5.0-litre petrol V8 | 3sp auto | 122 kW at 4400 rpm | 323 Nm at 3200 rpm | |||
| Vacationer | Sedan, wagon |
1987-88 | 3.0-litre petrol I6 | 5sp man., 4sp auto |
114 kW at 5200 rpm | 247 Nm at 3600 rpm |
| Series 200 | Sedan | 1988 | 3.0-litre petrol I6 | 4sp auto | 114 kW at 5200 rpm | 247 Nm at 3600 rpm |
Features: Commodore SL, Executive and Berlina
Standard features for the Commodore SL and Executive variants included 14-inch steel wheels with 185/75 HR14 tyres, a two speaker sound system with a radio and cassette player, cloth seats, a height adjustable driver’s seat and a power-operated boot release.
The Berlina was further equipped with a power-operated antenna; its sound system was also controlled by a micro-processor.
1987 Commodore Vacationer
Released in September 1987, the Vacationer was fitted with air conditioning as standard.
1988 Commodore Series 200
The Series 200 was released in March 1988 to commemorate Australia’s 1988 bicentenary. Standard features included air conditioning, power windows and central locking; visually, the Series 200 could be identified by its two-tone champagne paint finish.
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