1997 Holden Commodore Wagon VT 3.8L V6 4AT RWD (230 HP)

Vehicle Overview

Holden introduced the third generation of the Commodore lineup, known as the VT, in 1997, and along with the sedan, it also revealed the station wagon version, which was available as a seven-seater.

After two successful generations of the Commodore lineup based on European platforms, GM considered repeating that recipe. As a result, the third iteration of this nameplate was produced on the same basis as its European sibling, Opel/Vauxhall Omega B. However, unlike its sedan stablemate, the station wagon used a more extended wheelbase, which was more suitable for a family-oriented vehicle. The 1997 Holden Commodore Wagon was well-received by customers thanks to its large cabin and even available seating for seven occupants. In addition, the engine lineup was tuned for Australian customers.

The car was styled during the bio-design era. As a result, the 1997 Holden Commodore Wagon featured horizontal headlights with rounded corners. They flanked a narrow grille with a vertical slat in the middle. Below, the Australian car manufacturer installed a plastic wrapped-around plastic bumper featuring an upside-down center air intake. Unlike its sedan brother, at the sales start, the estate version wasn’t available with fog lamps.

From its profile, the 1997 Holden Commodore Wagon shared its front parts, up to the B-post, with its sedan sibling. Its door handles were flush with the bodywork, and all door panels were identical to those from the three-box version of the car. However, thanks to the longer wheelbase, the rear doors were ended more forward than the wheel arches on the sedan version. Like any estate-shaped vehicle, the car also sported a third row of windows placed next to the trunk area. The automaker offered the vehicle with steel wheels for the Executive and the Acclaim versions, while the top trim level, the Berlina, came standard with 16-inch alloy wheels. At the back, the automaker installed narrow taillights that flanked the broad tailgate. Furthermore, the bumper below it had a cut on its upper area that resulted in a lower loading height.

To make the car look more appealing to its customers, the 1997 Holden Commodore Wagon VT had a rounded-shaped dashboard with a well-equipped center stack. The automaker installed a set of vents on the upper section, followed by the HVAC control panel and the stereo in the lower area. In addition, the center console housed the gear stick (or the gear selector for automatic transmission versions) and the handbrake. Furthermore, an armrest with cubby storage underneath was considered very important for the model. As an option, Holden offered the car with a pair of jump seats placed in the trunk area, albeit with limited legroom and headroom, which made them suitable just for children.

The base version of the 1997 Holden Commodore Wagon was powered by a naturally aspirated 3.8-liter engine that sent all the oomph to the rear wheels via a five-speed manual transmission. Those craving more could get the car fitted with a five-liter V8 powerhouse, available in two power choices. These two eight-cylinder machines were available with four-speed automatic gearboxes, and customers could opt for a limited-slip differential.