Holden Adventra

Everything an Aussie wagon should be – Whilst the Adventra isn’t for everyone, for it’s purpose I couldn’t imagine a better car. Absolutely love mine and will keep it until it can’t be driven anymore. I really have no idea what I’d replace it with. You know you’re onto a winner when you drive past other Adventra owners - 9 times out of 10 you’ll get a smile and a wave. For context,… Read more

I purchased the LX variant with the 6 cylinder engine at around 150,000kms on the clock and have done around 35,000kms in it.

Positives

- Incredibly comfortable, with full electrics and a great sound system for a stock Holden. Makes the car perfect for long journeys

- Ample space for passengers front and back

- The boot is huge. With the seats folded you can fit surfboards, bikes etc. anything under 8ft long will get in there. I regularly sleep in the back of mine and it is amazingly comfortable for 2 people

- Smooth drive train

- At home on the highway. The V6 sits at 1900 RPM at 100 km/h, which lends to respectable fuel economy given the size of the car, and there’s ample power to overtake when needed

- Holds the road in a range of conditions - gravel, corrugations, wet and even snow

- Servicing has (so far) been cheap

Negatives

- Sluggish off the mark

- Thirsty when driven in city traffic, although if you’re sensible with the throttle it’s not really that bad

- Not a great turning circle

- Typical creaks and rattles associated with a 12+ year old Commodore

If you’re in the market for a comfortable and spacious highway cruiser/weekend getaway car, and you can find a well-maintained Adventra, don’t hesitate. You won’t regret it.

Closest thing to a proper wagon since my 1974 HQ V8 wagon – A comfortable car to drive which hugs the road like a rally car thanks to its cross-track AWD. I know as I use to own the Impreza WRX STI. This car being over 2 ton in weight and handling this well was quite surprising. It has 250 KW of power which is more than enough to pass safely in traffic and sounds good doing so in the process! It has huge… Read more

space compared to any vehicles in its class. My sister had the Ford Territory and I found it to be much smaller and more of a gas guzzler than this V8. The only downside is that they have not upgraded the fuel tank size from its original 70 liter Opel 4 cylinder base! Holden should have added a larger tank, even so I manage on long trips to get 500-550 kms out of a tank doing around 12-13L to 100kms depending on how heavy my foot is on the day! The interior finish is as you would expect from a GM product, better than Ford but not the German quality like VW or Mercedes! As for reliability I have this, make sure you have a larger independent cooler for your transmission as the 4L65E trans has an EPC(Electronic Pressure Control) valve which fails when it gets too hot too often! The standard trans cooler is integrated in the radiator and keeps the oil too hot eventually causing the valve to fail which in turn causes the 3rd/ 4th gear clutch pack to wear out eventually causing you to lose those gears. So totally preventable and not a real issue for reliability once seen to. The only other issue they can get is a small leak at the rear of the sump which is actually the rear engine main seal. I've had a few minor issues such as dicky window switches in the rear doors but these are literally only a few dollars to replace! Here in New Zealand we have no emission laws so the catalytic converters were cut out when they were blocked and it made a huge difference to the fuel economy and the sound was beautiful after that was done! :)

All round it's a brilliant car and it's sad Holden stopped making them. Though for future buyers of the ones that are left it will be a great investment as there are so few of them and they will like all old Holdens be worth something to the collector a few short years from now as these are the only 4x4 wagons ever made by Holden! The V8s by the way will also become a more popular conversion base for the Duramax diesel V8 engines as they should drop straight in maybe only needing to upgrade to a 4L80E trans with it.

Best car I've ever owned – Great vehicle and reliable, I've done over 310000Ks a little bit of whine in the diff. Timing belt and chain needed replacing and that was an expensive exercise $2000.I bought it with only 32000ks on the clock.Well worth keeping as I don't see another vehicle to match. I liked the features on this car and with my work I've also travelled the… Read more

country towing a caravan for 150000Ks. Handling brilliantly it saved me from some nasty situations with the AWD and the breaking system . I'm not sure why everyone is bagging the fuel economy on a trip I've got as low as 10.5 ltrs per 100Ks, so a smaller car you might save your self an extra $3 on a 100ks but find your up for another car in the same time I've had mine. If you get a chance to buy one don't hesitate. Down fall is the duco on the car rack it peeled off by the time I had 40000 ks on it. Also the rear wind shield dust deflector came off twice and once again Holden said that I had done over 50000 since it was last replaced and so this was not guaranteed. So its still that way. Comfortable and roomy what more could you ask for

Fantastic car – After 22 years of of owning a Magna, this was my first Holden since 1985. Love it. Very roomy, great power and nice to drive. Negatives are that it can be thirsty if driven hard, and the steering is a tad heavy. I get about 13.5l/100 around town and on the Hume/Princes Hwy's it runs around the 10.5 - 11.5/100. Great tow vehicle and its very stable on dirt and wet road surfaces.  Show details

Adventra 2005 LX6 – I have had this wagon for nearly 3years got it at 150k, Love the boot space that's why l have not brought a sport wagon for the simple fact you loose quite a bit of boot space. Great car to drive it has great features. Fantastic on long trips. I really don't know what I would bye to replace this. A real shame they stop making them.  Show details

Best Car I have ever owned – This was the best car I have ever owned. Goes anywhere (within reason for a car based AWD). Heaps of power and safety which gives confidence on road - sealed and unsealed. Needs to be the V8 version and tune the engine for best power and economy. I had VZ LX8 which had all luxury features. Only moved on due to high miles, to another V8 Holden wagon.  Show details

Only problem is the timing chains on the v6 – It would have been the perfect car except the problem with the timing chains (the chains stretch and bring up error codes) on the v6. Perhaps the v8 would have been the better option (only complaint I have heard is they are more fun and use a bit more fuel) . Overall a good car, but don't expect to do any serious 4x4ing.  Show details

Brilliant all rounder – 5.7 litres of fun, all the bells and whistles, best of both worlds (on the highway or off road). Fuel consumption same as my 6 cylinder ford with double the power and pulls like a Mack truck. I never get tired of taking it out and letting it loose. BRILLIANT car...  Show details

Awesome AWD Wagon – I am going on 61 and I finally went out and got myself a 2004 Adventra LX8 in Shanghai Mica When the Adventra first came out I was interested so I got a Sales Brochure that I still have to this day. I however held off and in January 2006 I purchased a brand new VZ HSV Clubsport. I have had the LX8 just over 1 month now and I now regret not… Read more ·  1

buying this car brand new. It has a few more features that the WK Statesman I owned last was lacking. The memory drivers seat, automatic dipping left mirror when reverse gear is selected, and electric sunroof.

Those front bucket seats are better than the ones that were in my VZ HSV Clubsport or the WK Statesman that I previously owned

This car is a very practical car as it's ability to pretty much go anywhere that I want to in relative comfort is very important to me. I am not worried about the fuel economy as I have had mostly V8's for the 45 years that I have held a licence.

I am a Holden man and I feel that Holden should have kept up developing the Adventra instead of producing that thing called the Craptiva.

Holden Adventra ...Best kept secret – **Recently added Injected Gas to the LX6 and am so impressed (completely fixed the issue of fuel consumption)** Well thought I'd update.... Our love affair with these cars has stepped up a notch We now have bought (after 2 years looking) a mint 2005 LX8 with 100,000 kms on it and promptly stored it properly for long term.. Neither of us can… Read more

imagine life without an adventra..

The CX8 and LX6 are both still running beautifully at 239,000kms and 220,000kms with minimal and frankly standard repair work only. (In the interests of full disclosure the 8 did develop a minimal oil leak from rear cam cover plate, but there is an updated part that replaces it and it was fitted resolving the problem) We intend to keep them running indefinitely due to the lack of anything to replace them with...

Original review....

Having owned a CX8 for 8 years and an SX6 as well for 3 years..(recently traded the SX6 up to an LX6) I can honestly say these cars are an under rated vehicle. The CX8 has now done 190,000 kms with no major issues, (waterpump at 160K) handling and offroad capability is truly remarkable (dirt tracks not bush bashing). They are dirt cheap to buy now and you won't get a better Sport SUV for your money. The fuel economy on the 8 is a little hairy I average 17litres/100. But it tows my 2.5 tonne boat like it's not there. The LX6 with the 5 speed auto surprised me, I expected very little from its economy but I get a bearable 12.1 litres/100 and both my averages have run over 12 months with both city and freeway driving.

To the uneducated eye they just look like Commodores with plastic bits, but they are so much more. The crosstrack system is sublime and the extra 8cm wheel base width means it hands amazingly well for a big car. The LX versions are so well fitted out I can't think of anything I would want to add (driver memory, heated mirrors, dualzone climate, the passenger mirror even tips down when you reverse). Long trips are effortless, I have driven from Sydney to Melbourne straight with no backache. If you're thinking about a used Territory or a used Adventra stop thinking, the Adventra is a far nicer vehicle and bang for buck a good second handy is unbeatable.

V8 fuel economy is bad

Owned 8 years, 220,000 kms, and nothing better out there to replace it with! – VYII LX8 In the past, I've done around 50,000kms of pretty heavy going off-road driving in a dedicated/outfitted 4WD, and would be foolish to compare the Adventra to that type of vehicle. I'd probably better describe it as the "Super Heavy Duty" version of a station wagon. It's taken me a good 12 months to really appreciate this car, exploring… Read more

its limits. Design-wise, it's practical, roomy, and with nice finishing touches (mostly Statesman perks). Love the road-presence it has. Fantastic on the open road for touring - quiet, comfy and plenty of get-up for overtaking etc. Off-road it handles well also, limited only by clearance, low profile tyres, and long wheelbase (reduces breakover clearance). I've researched exhaust-mod options, and wouldn't get much benefit for under $2.5-3K - the standard headers and piping are excellent. The only mod I settled for was a K&N filter - worth every cent. Really would be nice if there were better options for mounting mud flaps to protect bodywork better. Tyres are great for road work - grip well and very quiet. On wet dirt roads, the tread clogs quickly reducing traction fast, making things very slippery - hence the wish for a chunkier more typical off-road alternative. The long-wheel base has it's internal room advantages, but does make closed space maneuvreing challenging at times. Overall, this is a car that really does suit Australian driving conditions, and will go almost anywhere you point it. It's lack of take-up by the market isn't a reflection on the quality of car itself, it just didn't appeal to the masses. All Adventra owners I've spoken to really love their car, and plan to hang on to them for a while to come - as I do. I do a blend of town/country/dirt road driving, and it suits my needs fine( I'm not scared to make it work hard - and it responds beautifully). I enjoy driving it. I do miss the robustness of a bigger 4WD (LandCruiser), but don't need it just now.At the end of the day, you have to make sure the vehicle suits your lifestyle needs, and no the other way around. Handling advantages over standard RWD wagons due to AWD, ride height and suspension travel. Long wheel base smoothes out rougher dirt roads well. Plenty of torque in the V8 (better than expected economy - avg 14.8L/100, 13.3L/100 on HWY). Statesman-style cabin appointments. Great turning circle, solid steering feedback. Very quite on the road. Handles rough dirt tracks/corrugatons well (Flinders Ranges). Headlights/hi-beam surprisingly good. For a 2tonne vehicle, still quick off the mark. Braking & wet road handling very good. Doesn't have the higher centre of gravity that the Territory and other AWD's have. Some minor warranty repairs needed - powder coating on roof rack mount, rear side window rubber seal. Would be better with a 5spd transmission. Would be nice to have the option of more agressive off-road tyres with taller profiles (not available as yet). Back section of front wheel arches don't give door panels enough protection from mud/stone spray, and current inner arch panelling doesn't provide for solid mud flap mounting options. Being 6"2", I was aware of the head room sacrificed to the sunroof (loose about 4cm of ceiling height). No really major cons though - mostly minor ones. Update - Oct 2019 - 285,000kms and still going strong. I've experienced some of the expected issues for it's age,namely the roof liner sagging, and have replaced the water pump, radiator, rear shocks (with OEM ones), and still no issues with the transmission or timing chain (thankfully). Other than that, no other issues to report. With the growth of electric cars on the market, it seems best to wait before upgrading, as buying anything fossil-fuelled is likely to devalue enormously in the coming years.

Holden's finest station wagon ever – I have just bought a second Adventra. The VY2 CX8 has clicked over 200,000km. Just bought a VZ LX6 with 90,000km on the clock. This will be our bestie and we'll keep the V8 as a runabout. Holden went all out with the VZ LX6, it has so many modern extras and the new generation quad cam 3.6. We have test driven many cars and SUVs, including new ones… Read more

- nothing compares with the ride or comfort as far as I'm concerned. ESP, paddle shift, traction control, hill descent control, sunroof, and just a lovely car despite the age now. I can see the VZ LX6 becoming a rarity and holding its value. Love the improved handling with the V6 as well although it doesn't have the sheer grunt of the 8 pot

Best car ever had – This is my favourite car of my life. Im 61. Its a 2006 v6 lx6 bought at 65k. Done 139k after 5 years as its not my only vehicle. Use it for towing, long trips, getting firewood. Driving on country roads all the time. Will climb steep sandy tracks, but too tidy a car to really bush bash. Never been confident too take it on a rough beach. Slippery… Read more ·  1

clay gravel roads are a pushover. The seats are fantastic. The ride is excellent. Swapped a 2006 Nissan Navara with 65k for the Holden as i was sick of the pogo stick ride of the Navara. So a bargain as well. If the 5 speed auto drops down going uphill in cruise just lock it in auto select. I dont know what i will get to replace it. Maybe i will keep reconditioning it. Shame new Holden/Captiva and Colorado are nowhere in the same leaque.

A Brilliant Vehicle - A pity Holden doesn't make them any more! – I have a 2006 CX6 which has not missed a beat in over 150,000km. It tows my 2,040kg atm caravan with ease at 100km/h all day. The road manners and comfort are amazing. Toyo Open Country tyres just made it handle and drive so much better - brilliant tyres that have done 80,000km and probably will last another 40,000km. I have looked at a lot of… Read more

other vehicles to replace it but have decided to spend $2,000 on it to add some Mace insulators, replace the spark plugs, injectors and ignition coils and keep it for a few more years. There just isn't anything to rival it for space, comfort and driveability. The servicing costs are so low too. I would like to add extractors to improve the torque in the lower rev range - I would like some tips with this. Being a petrol engine, going up steep hills requires using the gears a bit more than in a diesel. I use 95 octane fuel when towing heavy loads. It seems to handle the steep hills a bit better running on that fuel. But without the caravan on the back I use E10 every day - drives like a dream.

Better than I ever anticipated – I have been looking for a used 4WD vehicle but was trying to avoid the BIG 4WD types such as the Landcruiser, Patrol, Discovery etc which I have always owned. A vehicle that was friendly for everyday commuting but also great for long trips and towing. I came across the Holden Adventra VZ LX6 and glad I did as Its just what I wanted. The majority… Read more

of positive reviews on Product Reviews also convinced me.

The first thing you notice about the Adventra is the ample space. Large comfortable leather seats & massive rear cargo area. The LX model provides all the luxuries, whistles & bells. Its like a Holden Calais but with the AWD. The trip computer/display is magnificent as is the stereo system. It is a heavy car but driven sensibly it uses around 12.5 lt per 100km around the city. Heaps less on highway trips. Good enough for the type of vehicle it is. The high beams are the best I have used. For a standard system its great.

The steering is on the heavy side but you soon get used to it and it feels very confident on the road wit h the AWD system. On dirt roads is where the Adventra really shines. At no stage do you ever feel unsafe or like you'll lose control, even on wet muddy dirt roads. Steep fire trails & tracks can be tackled but you need to watch the approach angles else you will encounter some under-body scrapping. And with the hill decent going down is no drama. But you will be impressed where the LX6 can go.

The Adventra is not a serious hard-core off road vehicle so if that's what your into best you look at other vehicles but if you are after a reliable vehicle which offers extreme comfort, safety and mild off road capability which also has the power to tow its hard to go past. I'm really loving my Adventra and will hold onto it as long as I can. Holden reliability & safety, roomy interior, luxury features, decent fuel economy. No rear cup holders (I'm embarrassed to even write that)

Power and luxury on a budget – I bought a VZ LX8. A proper VZ made late 2005 not a VYII (VZ). Is worth the extra money as it has the electric throttle which gives it a 15kW advantage over the VY and the 4L65e transmission which is a strengthened 4L60e and capable of handling over 500Nm of torque. First things first. It's heavy and doesn't feel like a V8 even with 250kW. So… Read more

put a small comp cam with new valve springs, push rods, double row timing chain and ported head. This will set you back $4-5k. Well worth it.

OTRCAI & MAFless tune will cost about $1200. Again well worth it.

Full exhaust extractors/ highflow cats. About $1500.

So my $15k adventra plus $7k is now a serious monster that gets 15L/100 around town an 10.5L on the highway.

Dynoed at 255 awkw.

Pulls my 22ft boat easily.

Plus I won the red light Grand Prix against an sti wrx.

Seriously underrated car with so much potential & more power means better fuel economy.

Best car I have owned wish Holden would reintroduce the model – After looking for a second car to run around in on the weekend and tossing up between a ute and a large 4x4 I came across an Adventra 2006 with 90,000km leather 6 cyl tow pak upgraded 18 inch ss rims 15k. It is such a good car that the new Mazda doesn't get a start anymore. Cheap to service and good on fuel. Had it off road no problems at all. Great all round  Show details

Lovely drive in luxury – After owning a Ford Falcon Wagon (sily me) we needed to upgrade. As we didn't like the Territory with its small boo. We wanted a luxury AWD with enough room and leather seats so kids can make a mess. The Adventra LX6 was the answer 80.000km and for a good price. This is heaven on wheels. As we live in rural WA we travel lots on dirt roads. It… Read more

drives comfortable and you will never have the idea that your not in control, the awd is a treat. It will go a lot further offroad than you think as long as you keep the ground clearance in perspective.

The interior with its very comfy leather seats and enough gizmo's can drive for miles without getting tired.

Massive boot space enough room for the twinpram and the engel fridge.

Fuel is ok for this size car. When towing a heavy campertrailer consumption goes up around 15.5/100km in hilly country and with cruiser on a 100. Otherwise around 12.8/100km (country driving).

I am already worried about when I need to upgrade this as a Captiva is just not that luxury and that roomy. Will I ever find seats this good again in an other car? Very good road handling, spacious, luxurious, seats AA++ $300 tyres not common

The Adventra - 86,000 Kms from new - It's a good car but – After owning a new VX wagon I was looking forward to receiving my new LX8 Adventra from the dealer in early 2004... Long production delays meant 6 months I waited until my shiny new Adventra complete with full Calais spec & the only options left to tick were weather shields & rubber floor mats. Even the tow-bar was standard........ It was a… Read more

typical Holden & I knew that - the dash rattled every now & then & silly things were replaced under warranty including brake rotors, outside temperature unit, fog light falling out, etc... But otherwise I was impressed with it's road holding in all weather, especially dirt roads - it just loves them.....

The things I loved - those big comfy leather seats (much nicer than the car I replaced it with - a 2005 Audi Allroad). That glorious Gen III V8 - yeah it was thirsty but the torque is awesome. Finally it handled well at all speeds & all types of road surfaces, wet & dry because it's basically a normal wagon & unlike the high centre of gravity 'soccer mum' type vehicles like Territories & Craptiva's, it's forgiving & easy to drive.

Negatives ' yeah fuel consumption, expect this guys, you're pushing a rather heavy AWD vehicle. If you can't afford the weekly fuel bills, don't buy one. 6 cylinder engine Adventras will be dearer to run than the normal equivalent specced Berlina wagons because of the AWD. It does have a big turning circle, it's a Holden so expect the shoddy plastics in the interior inc' the grey paint to scratch or wear off on the console. The biggest gripe is the old school 4 speed auto box left over from their VR range I'm sure. I've owned a couple of Euro 6 & 4 pot diesels since my Adventra & none of them jump back to 3rd gear going up hills on cruise control. The orig auto 4-speed box in the V8 Adventra's are very agricultural & really lets the whole vehicle down....

I've spent the last 5 years driving a 2005 Audi Allroad, 2.5 TDi V6 & a 5 speed tiptronic, full airbag ride-height adjusting suspension & apart from the firmer seats than the Adventra, it's chalk & cheese. I advise any Adventra owner to try & fiond one of these C5 Alroad models for sale & take it for a spin, you'll know what I'm talking about. The Bi-Turbo 2.7 litre V6's will easily outperform any standard spec'd V8 Adventra & if you want a 4.2 litre V8 Allroad, they're out there...

Like Adventra's which were only around for 4-5 years - so were the C5 Audi Allroads (2001-2005). The only thing out there that's anything like these vehicles are Subaru Outbacks (I can't believe they made a boxer diesel!!!) & Volvo XC's. The latest Audi Allroad A4 don't have the engine choices & air suspension unless you have well over $100K for the A6 version.

For those who will be trading in their Adventras in a few year's time - maybe the new VW Passat Alltrack or Skoda Octavia Scout... That glorious Gen III 5.7 V8, The comfortable leather seats, LX model came with lots of bells & whistles in standard spec. Comparatively cheaper to service & repair than Euro equivalents. Agricultural 4-speed auto gear box. Inferior interior - inferior plastics. Poor fuel economy & small fuel tank capacity

Great all round AWD with the most space – Just done a road trip to pick up my 03 CX8 AWD Holden Adventra wagon from Melbourne. I am very happy with this car, it returned 11.7lit per hundred klms with the cruse control on 75% of the time. That was over 1,900 ks not to bad for a 5.7 lit V8. The ride of this car on a long trip is fantastic, the air con was cold and was just a joy to drive,… Read more ·  1

at times I had to fight my GF so I could get in the driver's seat again, she like it that much. The set up in the back is perfect for camping etc, and the space is massive. Over all I wanted the V8 and don't care about the fuel, but I was surprised that it returned those figures of just 11.7 / 100 ks.

I'm sure it will use lots of fuel around town, that happens. If ya drive it like ya stole it will eat the fuel. Just like most cars. the solid ride on poor Roads.

Fuel Economy – I have just returned from an interstate trip with my LX6 Adventra. I was towing a trailer full of stuff which totaled a bit over 600kgs and the average fuel used was 12.3L/100kms over a 1200km trip. In my book that is good fuel economy for such a large and heavy car. Very comfortable and good fuel economy. Being a V6 it had to work a little hard up some steep hills but it never dipped below 100KPH (on the 110KPH highway). Show details

A Great AWD - One of Holden's best kept secrets – Have the Top Spec LX6 which has about every creature comfort you could want with plenty of space. Great ride and handling on road. Use it as my daily drive (70 to 100 km/h extra urban) and average around 10.3 l/100km which is 27mpg in the old language. When freeway cruising, consumption dip to around 8.7 l/100km. However..drive it like a rental… Read more ·  7

and it will steal your wallet. Overall, excellent for a luxury 1900kg vehicle. AWD traction control system is very good on and off road. It will take you places a 2WD can only dream of. It's not a 4WD Cruiser, Patrol or Discovery, it's more a Subaru on steroids. Holden "threw the baby out with the bath water" by not carrying this AWD platform over to the current VE Commodore. Very capable and safe AWD vehicle! It's Cool, size, very comfortable cruiser, power when you need it. Underserved reputation from the uneducated, "it's just a jacked up Commodore."

Good – (I must preface this by saying that I have never liked wagons, have never owned a V8 previously, and have only had the car just under a week) I'd been looking for an upgrade from my 1999 V6 supercharged VTII Calais (had for 5+ years) for about a year - primarily because we wanted more room for camping, and because we had upgraded our boat to a… Read more ·  3

bigger size and the Calais, whilst it had served me well, was starting to work a bit hard towing on 37c days.

I knew what I wanted - black, V8, sunroof, leather. Originally I wanted a HSV Grange or Holden Caprice, but after nearly drowning the Calais on the now-shallow boat ramp at Eildon recently (and re-assessing my budget!), decided that wasn't the best idea.

I came across a black 2004 VYII Adventra LX8 with leather, sunroof and all the options on Carsales and thought I'd check it out - not to buy, but just to see what it had in it. Suffice to say, after a test drive, I bought it the following week. Whilst a practical choice, the Adventra was a perfect upgrade for my purposes.

In spite of only having for a short period and the above "cons" identified, I'm so far quite impressed!

Sitting in the driver's seat you are driving a Statesman / Caprice. It's only when you get out you notice there is a wagon attached. I was surprised how car-like the Adventra drives - even having a better turning circle than my girlfriend's Supra! Low down power is great, and this is a real freeway / holiday car. Around the city it's fairly heavy on fuel, is longer than a normal sedan and is a little sluggish from takeoff (slower than my s/c V6)... until you get the revs up and it fires into action....then it transforms into some sort of hybrid beast; with truck-like space in the back, yet power to overtake anything and surprisingly good road handling.

The night I bought it we had severe flash floods in Melbourne and it got its first test. Some of the main roads in the area were 30-50cm under water and while other cars were either aquaplaning or rolling through at 5kms/h, the Adventra cut through at full speed like there was no water there. A quick dash to the local Bunnings to fill the boot with sandbags and the extra weight made no difference to handling or performance on the return drive.

I keep finding all these new gadgets in the car like extra compartments, the reversing sensors (which definitely come in handy maneuvering the bigger car in our narrow driveway) and auto-leveling suspension. Love finding new features.

I read quite a few owner reviews before deciding to purchase the Adventra, as I didn't know much about them previously. All of the reviews seemed to be pretty positive and consistent - the vast majority saying "great car" but "thirsty".

I was originally considering a Ford Territory as I personally think they look slightly better, but I'm so glad I didn't go for one after reading all the problems with them - eg. if the ignition barrel goes ($200 normally?) it's a sealed unit, so you have to replace the whole steering column at a cost of $2500 - that's absurd and the last thing you'd want after just paying $20k for a car which is no longer under manufacturer's warranty! More scary were the stories of failing ball joints where drivers lost control of the vehicle when the steering separated from the chassis/suspension - a potentially lethal occurrence if towing or doing 100kms/h on the freeway. Furthermore, despite having driven a Territory only once, it was enough to see that the brakes were only average and the engine underpowered for a vehicle of that weight. The Territory Turbo was definitely appealing, but with a starting at $30k for a 2004-2006 model, didn't seem worth the extra $10k.

I was surprised to see the Adventra and Territory compared in so many reviews though as, apart from being AWD, Australian-built and a wagon, I didn't see them to have all that much in common. In fact, in many ways they are the antithesis of each other - eg. the Territory was created with a research investment of $500 million by designing a new chassis and body and then adding Falcon components, whereas the Adventra had an investment of only $10-15 mil and took the Acclaim/Berlina wagon, pulled off the standard parts and upgraded accordingly. Thus, parts were designed/added to accommodate the Adventra's weight (almost 2 tonne), whereas the Territory simply used the existing 6cyl 182kw Barra engine, brakes, etc which were built for the 300kg+ lighter Falcon. Notwithstanding, I do think with a few adjustments/component upgrades the Territory would make a very nice car.

A better rival in my view would be the Subaru Outback; the Adventra being like an Outback on steroids.

As I've noted, the car does seem thirsty - it would be possible to burn through the 75L of fuel in under 400kms if you tried (and I've been trying - accelerating hard at EVERY opportunity to test the car!) - but if you drive it more sedately it's not too bad. I'm planning on getting a tune (eg. MAFless) which I hope will drop the consumption and increase takeoff acceleration / overall power. I'll probably also put in a better sub as the built in one is handy, but far from good. Other than that, the car already has everything added to it, including tinted windows.

Looking forward to towing and many holidays in this car. For anyone considering an Adventra, my advice would be to go for the LX8 with all the options. Considering you can pick one up for less than 1/3 of the new price which is just 7 old, I reckon that's good value! If you're interested in the V6 (which I haven't driven, but I imagine to be quite underpowered -- minus 45kw + less torque), I would instead consider a Berlina wagon which will probably be cheaper and will be lighter on fuel.

Finally, I will note that when the Adventra's discontinuation was announced, the Police bought up most of the remaining stock. I reckon that's gotta be a pretty good testament to their functionality, durability and reliability! (based on LX8 model)- Low down power- good looks (for a wagon)- raised height, without being a truck- drives like a car- all the gadgetry (pitch gauges, recessed sunglasses/cup holders, 2nd 12V power source in back, built-in storage areas in back, cargo barrier, built-in sub, projector headlights, space for extinguisher, adjustable tie down runners in boot, roof racks as standard, etc- split window tailgate (friends have been most impressed by this)- good brakes and suspension (definite upgrade from my Calais!) - Steering is too heavy at low speeds. - Fuel consumption is high due to weight of the car- Gearbox is fine, but not great.- Insufficient power at take off- There is an occasional strange gearing down when I brake to stop. Car has had a full mechanical inspection and came back almost flawless, so I'm not sure if this is a feature of the car, or there's a problem with mine which was missed. It may be particular to the Crosstrack AWD system coupled with an outdated gearbox?- This is more of a minor point but I thought I'd bring up nonetheless - the build quality is arguably not quite as good as some of the older Holden models - for example, my VTII Calais or parents VR Calais. This is not particular to the Adventra however - the same goes for all cars across the Holden range post-2002, in my opinion.

Excellent – I have a 2005 VZ LX6. There is a lot of talk on the various websites about the poor fuel economy. Simple answer to that is, don't drive with a heavy foot. Mine around town is sitting between 12.5 - 13.2lt / 100 km which for what the car is, I believe is pretty good. If you have issues with the fuel economy, buy a Prius! I certainly won't be.… Read more ·  1

Pretty much everything. It feels big, safe and solid around me and in the wet the car feels even better sticking to the road. The interior is great with all leather throughout including lovely snug front seats. I love the sunroof which I use on pretty much every trip. The car is a 2005 model, in a 2010 world that has Ipods, Bluetooth and MP3's. If the stereo was [censored word removed] I would feel fine about ripping it out and replacing it with a Double Din model that supported these things. BUT, the stereo is too good for me to be able to justify to the wife that I need a new one.

Love this car to bits – I've had my 05 LX6 Adventra for 5 years now, and all I can say is there is no plans of getting rid of it. I've done a lot of things with this, offroading, highway cruising, towing. And now it's slowly transforming into a street machine. It has all the features of modern cars now minus the flash touchscreen control screen for stereo and bluetooth. … Read more

The only downside is lack of competent service people. Holden are bloody useless with services, take it to another workshop and most of them have never looked over one before. If your after a very versatile car this is one to get. It has been very a reliable wagon, from being a shopping trolley to family hauler to tow car to off road adventurer to street machine does it all with ease. Holden dealership servicing is useless other mechanics are just as bad if not worse. Like everyone else it can get a lil thirsty.

A great car. Pity Holden dumped it for the Craptiva – Ive owned my 06 SX6 for 3 years now. Bought it from the auctions with 148000 on the clock and just done the 180000 service. Car is billiant in every way. When I bought the car I replaced the windscreen $220, new Brigestone Tyres $1000 and new brake pads $160. Since then all Ive done regaular services and its never missed a beat. Only problem… Read more ·  1

being is that the wife hit a pothole at speed and cracked the rim and popped the tyre. Cosof repairs $350 for the rim and $250 for the tyre. Despite its size I average 11.2 ltrs per 100 kms combined and it gets even better on the open roads to Apollo Bay and Phillip Island 9.8 ltrs per 100 kms is the best that Ive got.

I just cannot fault this car. This car is a dream to drive. The tyres and brakes still look brand new. Its a pity that Holden dumped it in favor of the Korean built Craptiva as a mate of mine who is a mechanic at Holden, no one in the workshop there likes to work on the Craptiva.

I unfortunatly will be looking at a upgrade in a few years and sadly since Holden dont make this great car I will be looking at another manufacturer to transport my family around in as I rfuse to buy the Craptiva. A solid reliable family car, lots of rear cargo space Nothing apart from that Holden dont make them anymore

Ultimate awd – This car has the capabilities of a true 4wd as long as your not climbing rock ledges bigger than the ground clearance can handle or crossing a waterway more than half a metre deep. Although if you could get an aftermarket snorkel for these cars (I've been shopping around to no avail) it would easily push through with water over the bonnet. I have… Read more ·  1

a 03 cx8 and have had it on the beach, in mud, boggy paddocks and done many creek crossings to with sandy, muddy and gravel bottoms.

I have fitted raised height springs and 16 inch wheels with all terrain tyres for better ground Clearance and offload grip. I have had a rear tyre side puncture in this car and ended up down an embankment off a dirt road and the car reversed up and back out easily even with a rear tyre blown.

These cars have all the room you need too myself and my parner, bubs a fridge, small air compressor snatch kit and hand winch plus our luggage all fit easily in this car for trips away.

Now for my gripes Holden stopped making it so I can no longer buy a late model second hand one, it's a v8 it loves fuel that doesn't bother me but too small a fuel tank does and lastly the rear departure angle even with raised rear springs is lacking it is the only part of the car that always scrapes off road. Reliable safe tough awd wagon Fuel tank to small Holden stopped making them

OK – Because of the lack of service through the Holden dealership and the problems we've had with our Adventra, we will never buy holden again. It's a nice looking comfortable car, but not reliable. Our roadside assistance person told us that if it wasn't for Holden wagons, they would be out of work. So that being said, our next vehicle will be a… Read more

Toyota. Our 2006 CX6 is roomy and very comfortable. I find it looks good for a station wagon, a bit of a sporty feel. Fits all our scuba diving gear no problem. We have a tow bar, so we can pull a trailer if the need arose for our camping trips. Keeping in mind we bought the vehicle used in January 2010, by June 2010 we spent over $1000 in repair - the vechicle wasn't powering up. After replacing the battery, the key barrel and locking actuators (both sides), the vehicle was still not starting up. So finally, the dealership where we bought and had the car repaired, decided to replace the little sensor on the side of the door and the car has been working since. With only 84 000km on the vehicle - it's worrisome that it required the above repairs, especially the key barrel - that should last the life of the car. Although, if I could write a review on the Holden dealership, I'd give them 1 star for the stuffing around we had to do, even when I told them I was 36 weeks pregnant and needed a reliable product.

Excellent – If you have a big family like us and you like power and luxury they are perfect. and for a soft offroader you will be amazed where you can go. I just love our Adventra 7 seater LX8. We have 19 foot caravan and a 16.5 foot trailer and you hardly know your towing such heavy weights, even when I towed a mates broken down Toyota Prado (a big car). A… Read more

big car with a big v8 can be expensive so we put ours on direct injection gas strait away. Now it costs stuffall to run. A 250km run to work every day cost $18 and I don't baby it either. We have had ours for 3 years and I plan on keeping it for as long as possible. After all its only done 130,000kms. Auto will shiff hard sometimes after a very long run, the rear visibility is not as good as some and the power is very addictive (you may get a ticket).

Excellent – Its hard to find something bad about them. Drive them nice and you're fuel will return the favour. Excellent for the people in the country that might head down the dirt roads. They are apealing to the eye and pretty user friendly inside. Truth is most people like them, just holden fans like them more! The fact that not everyone has one (like… Read more

commodore or falcon and even territory)is a good thing because it should make the resale value hold a little better. Ive purchased a cx6 and for what I paid its a hell of a deal! Thats probably the best pro (the deal I got). Great looks, engine, features and handling. Probably all the stories about chewing out tyres. But that comes down to rotation and care. Also the fact that awd vehicles are limited to the brands and types of tyres. If you go budget you'll get budget kms. Its a pitty holden didn't keep making them and also a pitty they wern't a little more inventful rather than having a commodore on a lift kit plus a few extras.

Holden Adventra CX8 – I bought the CX8, no real difference though unless you insist on leather, a sub woofer and binacle guages. Leather? Too hot for me down the beach all day. Sub woofer? Meh, got one. Pitch and tilt guages? Hey, I'm not stupid!!! Love the body, looks angry. Subtle differences from the commodore make it stand out. Heaps more room than my Landcruiser… Read more

and far more comfortable around town. Im sick of hearing negative reports on fuel consumption though. Sure it uses juice, It's a bloody AWD 5.7lt ! If you've never footed the bill for a full size 4WD you're not ready for this car. That said, car reviewers need to be taken to task over their claims of 18lt + per 100k's. Are they dreaming? Yes. I average around 15 around town and my wife cracks 14lt. On a good country run we get around 13lt. Not bad for the size of the car with a family and all their luggage. (Including dad's toys). The V8 isn't for everyone, but it's shame Australia hasn't picked up on this model even in the 6. This truely is an Australian car built for Australian conditons. Electronic Stability Program - This car does nothing wrong, just point and steer It didn't sell enough and some people won't buy it because someone else said so