Holden
Originally founded in South Australia as a saddle maker in 1856, Holden is now an Australian automobile importer and former automobile manufacturer.
Holden previously manufactured cars in Port Melbourne, Victoria, making Australia one of a few countries that built cars from scratch. Their first car, the Holden 48-215, was a family sedan: robust, safe and cost-effective.
Holden officially stopped producing cars in 2017, marking the end of an era and a shift in economic values in Australia.
About Holden cars
Holden, still an Aussie icon, now solely imports vehicles while selling the remaining Australia-born Commodore stock.
Holden is owned by General Motors, manufacturers of Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC. They import cars from Korea, Europe, Thailand and the US.
Holden cars include:
- Holden Commodore LT ($33,690), 9-speed automatic liftback with turbo direct engine
- Holden Colarado LS ($31,690), 6-speed automatic SUV with diesel engine
- Holden Cascada ($42,990), 6-speed automatic 2D convertible with turbo MPI engine
- Holden Captiva ($26,490), 6-speed manual SUV with multi-point fuel engine
- Holden Calais ($40,990), 9-speed automatic with turbo direct engine and power-assisted steering
- Holden Barina ($14,990), 5-speed manual 5D hatchback with 6,000 RPM and turbo direct engine
- Holden Astra ($20,490), 6-speed manual 4D sedan with 6,500 RPM and turbo direct engine
- Holden Trax ($23,990), 5-speed manual SUV crossover and 1.8-litre engine
Holden review
Holden offers cars that would suit almost any buyer at a range of prices.
Their manufacturing roots are firmly in the durable, family-friendly model, and their offering reflects this history, selling wagons and utes, sedans and luxury sedans, SUVs and convertibles.
Holden offers badge-engineered models in sharing arrangements with Isuzu, Chevrolet, Suzuki, Toyota, Opel, Nissan and Vauxhall.
For much of the post-war period, Holden led the market. But since losing the locally made Commodore, Holden’s market-share dropped to 4.9 per cent in 2018, compared to a peak of 21.6 per cent in 2002.
However, they have said that they have the “strongest product line-up ever” and expect to “bounce back quickly”.
How can I get a Holden car loan?
Holden offers in-house financing. However, car dealership finance is often offered at higher interest rates and fees than other car financing options.
It is always advisable to shop around. You can:
- Speak to a broker:
- Car brokers are experts in vehicle finance, and it is in their interest to try to find you a good deal on your loan
- Use a comparison website:
- Browse the market
- Use a car loans calculator to calculate repayments
- Go direct:
- Approach a lender directly
Make sure that you meet all the criteria before submitting an application. Loan rejections can negatively affect your credit score.
Car loans are often secured loans; this means that if you default on your repayments, the lender could repossess your car to pay off your debt.
Unsecured loans tend to have higher interest rates than secured loans, as they present a greater risk to the lender.
How much does a Holden car loan cost?
Here are the approximate running costs for three different Holden models, based on RACQ category averages:
| Model | Category | Cents/km | Average $ per week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Holden Astra | 5dr Hatch | 52.25 | $150.73 |
| Holden Commodore | Turbo 9sp Auto 5dr Liftback | 77.62 | $223.91 |
| Holden Trax | Turbo 6sp Auto 4dr Wagon | 58.57 | $168.96 |
Here’s how much a five-year loan will cost for three different Holden models if you borrow 100 per cent of the purchase price over five years:
| Model | Price/loan | Total repayments at 6% | Total repayments at 8% | Total repayments at 10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holden Astra | $20,490 | $23,768 | $24,928 | $26,121 |
| Holden Commodore | $33,690 | $39,079 | $40,987 | $42,949 |
| Holden Trax | $23,990 | $27,828 | $29,186 | $30,583 |
