It’s Holden vs Ford, but not as we know it.

For decades the rivalry between the lion and the blue oval were the foundations of the Australian car industry. The locally-made Commodore and Falcon created their own category - the Big Aussie Six.

But those days are gone. Neither Holden or Ford make cars in Australia anymore and we Australians no longer have a big appetite for large, six-cylinder sedans. Instead we have adjusted our tastes towards more efficient, but just as powerful in some case, four-cylinder models that better suit our modern tastes.

The new, imported Holden Commodore is a prime example of this change, ditching the 3.6-litre V6 in favour of a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine in the majority of its models.

So how does this new generation Commodore stack up against its competitors? Well we’ve gathered its rivals from Ford (Mondeo), Toyota (Camry) and Subaru (Liberty) to find out which is the best Big Imported Four.

Holden Commodore RS

Few cars have had as much written about it as the new Commodore and the challenges it faces. So forget the emotion and the history, this is a straight forward assessment on how the new model stacks up.

We’re testing the RS model, which sits one above the entry-level LT model in the range, priced from $37,290.

Value shapes up well with a lengthy list of standard equipment including 18-inch alloy wheels, auto headlights, LED taillights, a sports body kit, keyless entry and ignition, cloth-trimmed sports front seats, MyLink infotainment system with a 7.0-inch touchscreen, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and cruise control.

To that you can add autonomous emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane keeping assist, lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert as well as a reversing camera and front and rear parking sensors.

While it has plenty of gear for the money what it’s lacking inside is some design flair. The cabin of the RS looks and feels plain, especially among the competition here. From the hard dash plastics and relatively small infotainment screen to the simple pattern on the cloth-trimmed seats the RS interior feels quite basic.

On a positive note it’s a spacious cabin, with generous kneeroom in the back seats, even if headroom is compromised slightly by the tapered roofline.

One of the biggest issues with the design is the visibility around the corner of the front windscreen. The VE/VF Commodore was often criticised for its thick A-pillars that limited visibility at times. While the new Commodore has thinner pillars the placement of the side mirrors creates a large blind spot that can be a hazard when driving.

As has been well documented, the imported Commodore is now powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine. While it may seem too small to traditionalists the little engine punches out an impressive (and best-in-contest) 191kW and 350Nm. It’s paired to a nine-speed automatic transmission and sends drive to the front wheels only.

It also manages to record the second-best fuel economy rating of 7.4-litre per 100km, despite its performance advantage.

On the road it feels every one of those kilowatts, with excellent pulling power than makes the new Commodore feel just as quick as the V6 of old.

While the handling is good, with light but accurate steering, and decent body control, the engine can overwhelm the front wheels at times causing torquesteer; not something previous Commodore owners will be accustomed to.

The imported Commodore also doesn’t possess the same level of ride comfort as the locally-made one. It has good compliance most of the time but Australia’s imperfect roads catch it out at times, especially smaller repeated bumps which unsettled those in the cabin.

2018 Holden Commodore RS price and specifications

Price: From $37,290 plus on-road costs

Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol

Power: 191kW at 5500rpm

Torque: 350Nm at 3000-4000rpm

Transmission: Nine-speed automatic, FWD

Fuel use: 7.4L/100km

Toyota Camry 2.5 SX

After decades of being the boring but sensible choice, the latest generation Toyota Camry is bolder - and better - than ever before.

We’ve already put this new model up against its other rivals in the medium car market - the Mazda6, Hyundai Sonata and Skoda Octavia - and it came out on top. This is a new challenge though and the Camry is starting at a disadvantage in key areas - especially what’s under the bonnet.

But it still has a lot of positives going for it, starting with the price. We’re testing the sporty SX model which is priced from $33,290, undercutting its nearest rival (the Subaru) by more than $3000 and its most expensive (the Ford) by $4500.

And yet it still comes well equipped with 19-inch alloy wheels, a unique sports bodykit, LED headlights, dual-zone climate control, keyless entry and ignition, an 8-inch infotainment display, navigation, Bluetooth, leather-accented sports seats, rear USB points and wireless phone charging all standard.

Safety includes seven airbags, autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, adaptive cruise control and a reversing camera.

As well as the bolder exterior there’s a fresh look to the cabin, with a driver focused layout and nice combination of materials and finishes to give it a premium look and feel.

Space is excellent too, with good room front and rear, as well as plenty of small item storage.

Motivation for the Camry comes from Toyota’s venerable 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine. Producing 133kW and 235Nm it can’t match the turbocharged Holden and Ford for performance. It also uses more fuel compared to the Holden, with a claimed average consumption 7.8L/100km.

While it may not be the most potent machine it has adequate performance on the road. It lacks the initial low down pulling power of the Holden and Ford, but if you need some punch you just need to push your foot down hard, give it some more revs and it responds.

Where the Camry really excels is in the way it rides and handles. Traditionally not a strength of the Japanese mid-sizer, the company has made a leap forward with his model as it has very nice steering, with good accuracy and weighting, and a responsive chassis.

The ride is nicely sorted too with a nice balance between comfort and the body control needed for good handling.

2018 Toyota Camry SX 2.5 price and specifications

Price: From $33,290 plus on-road costs

Engines: 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol

Power: 133kW at 6000rpm

Torque: 235Nm at 4100rpm

Transmission: Six-speed automatic, FWD

Fuel use: 7.8L/100km

Subaru Liberty 2.5i Premium

The Subaru Liberty can often be overshadowed in the tightly contested mid-size market by the better-selling Camry and Mazda6. However, Subaru has given the model a minor upgrade for 2018, tweaking the styling and adding some new technology (including Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility) to try and step it out of shadows.

We’re testing the 2.5i Premium model here, which is priced from $36,640 and makes it the second cheapest of our quartet.

That price includes 18-inch alloy wheels, auto headlights and wipers, electric sunroof, keyless entry and ignition, leather trim, heated front seats, dual-zone climate control, navigation, Bluetooth and an 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen.

The safety package includes Subaru’s EyeSight system that incorporates autonomous emergency braking, forward collision warning and now lane keeping assist, as well as adaptive headlights that respond to the steering. There’s also seven airbags and a reversing camera.

Inside the latest Liberty lives up to its Premium label, offering a sophisticated presentation and finish. The new infotainment screen looks great and is easy to operate.

Space is good in the cabin, although the all-wheel drive powertrain means the transmission tunnel eats into legroom for the middle seat occupant in the rear. The Liberty’s more traditional, squarer roofline helps headroom in the back though.

Under the bonnet the 2.5-litre four-cylinder ‘boxer’ engine is largely unchanged. It’s the least powerful of our group, producing 129kW and 235Nm but it compensates, somewhat, by being the most fuel efficient with a claimed average of 7.3L/100km - fractionally better than the Commodore.

Like the Toyota, while the Subaru may lack the grunt of the Holden and Ford it still feels more-than-adequately powered.

The Continuously Variable Transmission is one of the better of its kind, with a smoother calibration that reduces the noisy engine flaring typical of this type of gearbox.

Subaru’s trademark all-wheel drive system means the Liberty feels sure-footed on the road even in slippery conditions. But even in the dry it has excellent road manners and a comfortable ride.

2018 Subaru Liberty 2.5i Premium price and specifications

Price: From $36,640 plus on-road costs

Engine: 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol

Power: 129kW at 5800rpm

Torque: 235Nm at 4000rpm

Transmission: CVT automatic, AWD

Fuel use: 7.3L/100km

Ford Mondeo Trend

Unlike Holden, Ford opted to retire the local Falcon nameplate and instead rely on the imported Mondeo to fill the gap.

We’re testing the mid-grade Trend model, which starts at $37,790 making this the most expensive of our group.

Standard equipment includes 18-inch alloy wheels, cornering lights, heated front seats, partial leather seats, dual-zone climate control, keyless entry and ignition and Ford’s SYNC3 infotainment system that incorporates an eight-speaker stereo, navigation with traffic updates and Bluetooth.

The Mondeo has a strong safety package that includes seven airbags plus inflatable rear seatbelt airbags (something none of its rivals in the mid-size market can offer), Ford’s MyKey system that can restrict functions (including speed limit, stereo volume, incoming calls) for inexperienced drivers as well as autonomous emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, lane departure warning, a reversing camera and rear parking sensors.

While the Ford is loaded with plenty of equipment it’s letdown slightly by its ageing interior. It lacks the style and premium finish of the Toyota and Subaru, using large amounts of cheaper looking plastics like the Holden.

However the layout is intuitive and the larger touchscreen arguably gives it the edge over the Commodore in terms of usability.

Space is good in both the front and rear and the Mondeo has the most practical boot in our contest, thanks to its liftback opening (like the Holden) and wide, deep floor area.

Another positive for the Ford is its engine, a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol unit that almost matches the Commodore's outputs, producing 177kW and 345Nm.

As you’d expect it feels strong on the road, with excellent low-end pulling power that continues through the mid-range to make it feel like a six-cylinder engine of old. The downside of this performance is fuel economy, with the Mondeo recording the worst return at a claimed 8.2L/100km.

The Mondeo is nice to drive, however, with a responsive and well-tuned chassis that feels comfortable as well as engaging.

2018 Ford Mondeo Trend price and specifications

Price: From $37,790 plus on-road costs

Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol

Power: 177kW at 5400rpm

Torque: 345Nm at 2300-4900rpm

Transmission: Six-speed automatic, FWD

Fuel use: 8.2L/100km

Verdict

In reality none of these cars deserves to come in last place, as each are excellent examples of the modern medium-sized sedan. So much so that depending on your priorities any of our quartet could be the winner.

Value safety the most? Well the Ford has an unbeatable package with its unique MyKey and inflatable rear seatbelt airbags.

Want the most premium package? That’s the Subaru, with its polished interior and refined road manners.

And if value-for-money is top of your list then the Toyota is the easy choice with its cheaper price tag for a car that is an equal or superior to its rivals in most respects.

As for the star of this comparison, the all-new Commodore, well if performance is your focus then you can’t go past the Holden, with its small but punchy turbocharged engine.

But which one combines all four elements the best to lead this new Big Imported Four?

When you combine all the factors together, the Toyota’s price advantage, polished road manners and spacious cabin give it the edge in this contest.

• Interested in buying Holden Commodore? Visit our Holden Commodore showroom for more information.

• Interested in buying Toyota Camry? Visit our Toyota Camry showroom for more information.

• Interested in buying Subaru Liberty? Visit our Subaru Liberty showroom for more information.

• Interested in buying Ford Mondeo? Visit our Ford Mondeo showroom for more information.

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