review from www.fastlane.com.au

Statesman hits a six. Holden's flagship, the Statesman, has since its first release in 1973 been a big car with a big engine.

Still the biggest Holden, Statesman copes happily with the blown V6.

The added weight of its longer wheelbase and extra sheetmetal was reason enough to justify the vast majority being powered by the 5.0 litre V8, especially when the only alternative was a wheezing 202 cubic inch, or 3.3 litre, in-line six cylinder engine.

Arrival of the 3.8 litre V6 brought about the first signs of attitude shift, and a few more buyers began shedding those extra two cylinders when it became the smoother and quieter-running Ecotec V6, even though it still lagged behind the big bent-eight for power and torque.

But attitudes could change even further now that Ecotec is supercharged.

Having already tried the new engine in a Calais, which is after all just a Commodore in fancy dress, I was expecting no surprises yet got them all the same, as the blown V6 just seems better suited to the extra bulk of Statesman.

A belt-driven supercharger delivers boost from the very start of its rev-range, as opposed to a turbocharger's tendency to get serious at a later stage, so the effect is one of seamless power and torque. (The fan-belt system looks like a mechanic's nightmare, but is actually simpler than it at first appears.)

It looks nightmarish, but the supercharged V6's drivebelts are deceptively simple.

While it pumps out power and torque which are right in V8 territory, the overall feel is still that of a good V6 with smooth running characteristics ideally suited to Statesman's urbane personality, and on Western Australia's open-road limit of 110kmh the engine seems to be barely more than idling at 1800rpm.

Our first fuel consumption check of 18.1 L/100km (15.5mpg) betrayed that my right foot had been over-excited by the blower, but the subsequent average of 12.8 L/100km (23mpg) was more in keeping with expectations.

Statesman's interior always impresses with its abundant space and expectedly better finish than lower priced siblings, and although our test car was not the range-topping Statesman Caprice it met expectations with nicely finished velour/fabric trim and just the odd fillet of discrete woodgrain.

It does get power adjusted front seats, with a myriad range of buttons that have to be operated whenever someone else has driven because there is no memory setting. For that added convenience, you have to dig somewhat deeper into the bank account for the Caprice.

The attractive interior has just enough woodgrain trim, without going overboard.

Controls are well positioned and remote stereo controls on the steering wheel, contoured for easy recognition at night, help keep the driver's concentration where it should be, though the leather-clad wheel still has those funny thumb-rests right where thumbs don't always feel comfortable. And cruise control buttons on the very end of the indicator stalk are fiddly at night, when the headlights can be accidentally flashed at oncoming traffic.

Those lights are worthy of respect, their high-beam perfect for country driving at night, and Statesman must be congratulated on its use of warning bells/chimes/beepers - it has none, Holden apparently assuming that its buyers do not need reminding of every basic thing by such infuriating devices.

Now, this is a seriously big boot.

Ride comfort is excellent thanks to the longer wheelbase and NVH levels are quite low, with just a bit of wind murmur at the A-pillars and a slight rumble from the standard 16 inch wheels and 60-series tyres, which combine with the fully independent suspension to make this big saloon a driver's car as well.

No sportscar, certainly, but with an assured poise in corners and steering that has enough weight and feedback to keep the driver in touch with what the car is doing, though Holden's ABS braking system still seems a bit wooden in its feel at the brake pedal.

Statesman has always appealed to lovers of big cars with big V8 engines, but for those who try depriving themselves of that V8 rumble, the supercharged V6 offers more than mere consolation.