RACV rates the second-hand 2013-17 Commodore SS ute.
As the Australian-built rear-wheel-drive utility starts to disappear from the new car scene, these icons are still selling strongly on the used market. Originally the ute was a workhorse for tradies or farmers. But over the years this role has broadened and many are now well-dressed fashion statements that comfortably cruise around town. In between the extremes, utes perform almost every imaginable combination of these roles.
Leading the charge on the used market is Holden’s V8 SS Commodore Ute line-up, plus stylish, performance-focused HSV models. As part of the VF Commodore family, the utes have fundamentally the same styling, features, cabin presentation and proven running gear.
The VF Ute was released in 2013, with the SS models boasting a 6.0-litre V8 engine producing an impressive 270kW (260kW in auto), while the VF II, in late 2015, increased the capacity to 6.2 litres and pushed out 304kW. HSV then squeezed more power out of those engines for its Maloo models. Transmission options are a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic, with availability on the used market split evenly between the two.
In this article
Dressed to impress
Improved reliability