| Overall Rating |
 |
| Description |
| Monaro is a stridently macho performance machine but expensive for what it is a big Aussie muscle car. It could lose value fast and certainly won't be cheap to run. |
| Handling |
 |
| Comfort |
|
| Quality & Reliability |
|
| Performance |
 |
| Roominess |
|
| Running Costs |
 |
| Value for Money |
|
| Stereo/Sat Nav |
|
| NCAP |
| Not tested |
|
| Road Test |
| Vauxhalls rarely set the pulse racing. This one does, but then there isn't much Vauxhall in it. Monaro is a truly international car, an Australian-built Holden coupe powered by a large American V8 engine. The combination is truly astounding. The hugely powerful 5.7-litre engine delivers impressive acceleration and a top speed of almost 180 mph. That's effectively supercar performance, yet Monaro also has a softer and more sensitive side. Go light on the right foot, and the automatic gearbox gently glides the large coupe around town; and you can cruise in a relaxed manner on the motorway. Comfortable and well finished, Monaro's problem is that it competes with BMWs and even TVRs. Its lack of sporting heritage and the Vauxhall badge will probably hurt resale values; and it isn't special enough to tempt the supercar buyer. Insurance and fuel costs are high, and there's a question mark over depreciation. |
| Positive Points |
- Hugely powerful V8
- Muscle-car styling and presence
- Well behaved in town
|
| Negative Points |
- Little image or heritage
- Likely to depreciate quickl
- Thirsty with high running costs
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