HSV Clubsport R8 Tourer Wagon Review

Design and Engineering

Design and Engineering

 Good

Launched in September 2008, with the E Series 2 technical upgrade arriving 12 months later, the Clubsport R8 Tourer is HSV’s first wagon since the all wheel drive Avalanche was released back in 2003. HSV build the Tourer from the donor Holden Sportwagon (a great place to start) adding ‘go fast’ bits under the skin and ‘go fast’ looking bits to the skin. The performance engine hood with dual scoops, the wild ‘shockwave’ inspired front grilles and lairy daytime running lamps up front ensures (from front on at least) it’ll never be mistaken for anything other than the real deal from Clayton (the home of HSV). For more than one of our tester’s, the R8 Tourer is the best-looking HSV you can buy! The optional dual five spoke 20 inch ‘Pentagon’ alloys look sensational (and remind us of some tasty Lamborghini wheel designs of late).
Not so good

Whilst the frontal design can’t be mistaken from a Holden, the rear end of the Tourer is less distinguishable from the donor Sportwagon (however the chrome strip running between the taillights, sourced from the Calais Sportwagon, ensures a more premium feel compared to say a SS Sportwagon). HSV sedans feature bold looking ‘Shockwave’ exhaust outlets, the Tourer goes for less bling looking quad exhaust outlets instead (you could argue the quad exhausts are tougher looking though).
Interior and Styling

Interior and Styling

 Good

Usual Holden Sportwagon pluses – no short of space in the front or second row – easily accommodating five adults in comfort. The HSV changes help (but only a little) to differentiate the ‘Tourer’s’ Sportwagon origins. The grippy cloth covered front sports seats with electric adjustment (leather covered pews are optional) provide good support, the flat bottomed steering wheel (HSV unique) adjusts for both rake (up and down) and reach (in and out) and the alloy faced pedals look the real deal.
Very roomy rear seat leg and headroom - even with the sloping rear roofline. Almost twice the cargo space over the sedan (895 litres v. 496 litres) with the rear seats up, and with the split fold rear seats folded flat ensures over 2,000 litres of loadspace (the adjustable luggage net comes in handy when there’s 317kW under the bonnet). Yes, cargo space is less than in the previous HSV wagon (the Avalanche), but considering the styling and road and handling improvements, we’re not complaining one bit. The Tourer is the only HSV to come standard with a reverse camera as standard (on top of rear park assist).

From October 2010 (E Series 3) the R8 Tourer is fitted with HSV's Enhanced Driver Interface (EDI) which allows the driver to access performance data such as lap times and g-forces. As with the donour Holden Sportwagon, the centre dash design is now more logically arranged - the sat-nav and audio controls are positioned higher than previously and surrounded by classy piano-black trim.
Not so good

Usual Commodore / Sportwagon negatives: overly thick windscreen pillars, excessive amounts of hard, dark plastics and the cheap looking and feeling hand brake lever. The sports seats are very good, but they’re on the large side so smaller folk will move around a little more than they wished. The Clubsport sedan gets a 230 Watt, 11 speaker audio system, the Tourer ‘makes do’ with 150 Watts and 7 speakers.
Performance

Performance

 Good

The Tourer’s big 6.2L V8 engine produces an impressive 317kW of power and 550Nm of torque – all wrapped up in a family friendly wagon bodystyle - ensures this is one of the fastest people and cargo carriers on the market. Unlike a number of smaller capacity sports car’s, as speed increases in the Tourer acceleration remains strong (well into three figure speeds for those tempted to test the R8 on the race track). Whilst the 6 speed manual gearbox is a touch heavy and notchy changing from gear to gear, it feels refreshingly enjoyable to have this level of interaction with the mighty LS3 engine (especially so in this age of Automatic transmissions easily outselling Manual's. Auto fans need not worry though, as most Tourer buyers tick the optional 6 speed Automatic transmission box). Above 4,000rpm the V8 roars at a level that turns nine out of ten pedestrian’s heads and inside it’s the sound of the engine (and the thrust forwards) which has kids in the rear giggling with excitement.
Not so good

The wagon bodystyle = almost 100kg of extra weight than the R8 sedan (thank the longer roof panel and all that extra glass), however we couldn’t notice any tangible performance disadvantage as a result. The notchy manual box can get tedious in peak hour stop-start traffic.
Ride and Handling

Ride and Handling

 Good

Impressively sharp handling, true agility (even on a twisty road) and excellent cornering grip - thanks in part to the very, very good multi-link rear suspension of the donor Sportwagon, tweaked by HSV (the Tourer’s springs are 30% stiffer than the Clubsport sedan); yet at the same time the ride (in the front seats at least) feels no less as polished as the R8 sedan (even with the optional 20 inch alloys with licorice thin tyres).

The Tourer really begs to be driven hard with mighty fine steering that provides dollops of feedback, yet never feels overly heavy.
Not so good

Rear seat passengers (at least on the optional 20 inch alloys) must put up with a firmer ride than in the Clubsport sedan. On the road the performance brakes are fine for killing off the speed quickly, however if you’ll regularly undertake track work, you’ll wish for the six-piston brakes standard on the HSV GTS.
Buying and Owning

Buying and Owning

 Good

Ticks the safety box with standard anti-lock brakes (ABS), electronic stability control (ESC) and six airbags; as with the Holden Sportwagon, the Clubsport R8 Tourer is awarded a top crash rating in independent crash testing. You should sleep easier at night knowing that from the September 2009 facelift, all HSV’s feature an improved version of the DataDot anti-theft identification called DataDotDNA Platinum as standard.

The wagon bodystyle = extra versatility over the sedan and superior handling over a high riding SUV. Picks up some neat features over the less expensive and less powerful Sportwagon SS-V grade (including extended cruise control, a rear view camera and the distinctive running lights) and is great value against similarly powerful yet far more expensive high performance Euro wagons.

Optional extra’s (Bi-Modal sports exhaust, leather trim & the 20 inch wheels) are priced sensibly – are you listening leading Euro brands! The standard equipped tyre pressure monitoring system stops any unnecessary worrying of a flat tyre.

If you’ll use the performance on offer regularly, we highly recommend the Clubsport Tourer.
Not so good

High official combined fuel economy figures of 14.2L/100km (auto) and 15.0L/100km (manual); urban driving and performance driving = significantly higher again fuel bills!

If you’ll mainly ‘potter’ around in urban traffic and restrain from giving it a good ‘thrashing’ on a semi regualar basis, we don’t recommend the Clubsport R8 Tourer.