2008 Holden Epica CDXi Diesel Review
December 16, 2008 by Alborz Fallah
2008 Holden Epica CDXi Diesel Review & Road Test
It sounds good, on paper at least …
Model Tested:
- 2008 Holden Epica CDXi 2.0-litre, turbo diesel, six-speed automatic sedan – $33,490 (RRP)
Options:
- None fitted
Package sounds good in theory; reasonable price; good looks
Cheap interior; woeful handling; underdone against competition
CarAdvice Rating: 
- by Alborz Fallah
As I am sure you can imagine, doing my job has a few benefits, but it also has some downsides. I read a research paper back in my uni days which concluded that those of us that are obsessed with certain things (e.g. cars) have bad memory for normal social situations.
For example if you’re like all of us here at CarAdvice and can recognise the type of car, the variant, the model year and probably even remember that the colour is called Scandinavian Blue from 500 metres away, you’re most likely dreadful with names and faces. Your brain spends all its resources memorising senseless facts, like if a 1987 model Corolla has drum or disc brakes on the rear (it has drums).
I once met our former Prime Minister John Howard in an elevator in a hotel here in Brisbane, by himself without any guards or anyone else stopping me from punching him in the face, but all I could muster up was a measly “Hi, I hear you’re the Prime Minister” to which he responded just as unimaginatively.
What I really wanted to say was “Hi, I’ve never voted for you and I hope this elevator gets stuck so I can tell you why, before I punch you in the face”. The problem was, as always, a car was occupying my mind.
About two minutes earlier I’d jumped out of a friends Ferrari 360 downstairs and I was still trying to come to terms with the whole experience (my first in a Ferrari) so meeting John Howard was a non-event. Now, had I been driving the Epica diesel that week, meeting Mr Howard would have been a highlight.
Holden has been with us for more than 60 years now and throughout this period it has built a reputation with solid foundations and has become Australia’s favourite. Not long ago it was un-Australian to not buy a Holden. So why then, does Australia’s former number one manufacturer import cars from Korea and pass them off as Holdens?
The Barina, Captiva, Viva (discontinued) and the Epica all come from the Hangul speaking country in North East Asia. Unfortunately, the matter remains a mystery to most Holden fans, including so many that have actually purchased the Korean made cars.
I’ve lost count of how many people have come up to me asking what I think of their Captiva and I’ve replied, “oh it’s not bad, but I’d probably pick the (Ford) Territory to support the local industry”. Their response? “Yes I feel the same, that’s why I bought a Holden.” Oh dear.
There are so many new car buyers out there that simply won’t go near a Hyundai or KIA just because it’s Korean made, yet they will happily walk in to a Holden dealership and drive out in an Epica, Barina or Captiva.
Nonetheless, there is no point dwelling on this fact, yes the Epica is made in Korea, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Hyundai is also Korean and in the past five or so years it has made some very reliable and durable cars (the day I say that about Chinese made cars, you all have permission to send me off to Guntanamo Bay).
Plus just because the car is made in Korea doesn’t mean the technology is Korean. For example and this is not a typo, the in-line, six-cylinder engine in the petrol Epica was actually designed by, ready for this? Porsche. Yep, that’s right, the company that makes the 911 Turbo, GT2, GT3 etc, has been involved in the Epica development.
The Epica, better known as the Daewoo Tosca (Tosca – Tomorrows Standard Car) in Korea, took 27 months, 261 cars, 9-million kilometres of testing and cost in excess of US$50-million to design. So, still have something against Korean cars? Remember we had this attitude towards Japanese cars 30 years ago. Korean cars today are the Japanese cars of the late ’90s, meanwhile soon to arrive Chinese cars will be the Korean cars of the ’80s.
I can’t wait to buy a Craptiva, Crapica or a Bombrina. LOL
Jord, you are hilarious!
Whats up with the cheap plastic interiors with the new Holden line up? Now its parent GM is getting a bailout in the US too?
I think my VZ commodore was heaps better in terms of interior trim quality than the new one!
Kind daypart to the Australian continent (izvenite for bad English). I from East Evropy and for us dizil’nye Epiki does not sell but khochetsa poprobuvat’ as it rides. Those Epiki which prodayuca for us a bit innoy acquisitions, for us it is not on the cantilever of durackoggo box there side kompyuter stands funkcional’niy ekran insert with little nishoy or vladel’ci.
Shto touches comparing to Kia or HYUNDAI that Epika kakraz golden mean. 1. A hard plastic is used in Kia + noisy back pendant. 2. HYUNDAI at speed higher 130 km/h. vylyat’ begins on the road and very not informing management. In Epike good dirigibility and fine holds a road at speed 200 km/h., otdelochnye material not super but lochshe what in Kia, but placed better what in HYUNDAI, and also absence of extraneous noises of engine, transmisii and absence what or vibrations inbenzinovikh versions. Content with a typewriter, before Epikoy rode and on Kia Magentis and on HYUNDAI Sonata.
Diesel cars consume 10% less fuel than the equivalent petrol cars.
Diesel is 25% more expensive than petrol at the pump.
Diesel cars cost $2000 more than the equivalent petrol cars.
Go and do the maths :[
Holdens Lineup is a Joke.I do remember going into a Holden Dealership a long time ago when everything below the Commodore and Deriatives that wasn’t a Commercial Vehicle was Opel Sourced.I long wish for those days.I wouldn’t be surprised if the would be Barina Buyers are now at the Volkswagen or Peugeot Dealership looking at their possible replacement or now looking at Mazda or Suzuki.
Holden Epica is alright. Diesel/Petrol are great choices. Exterior better than when it 1st came out. Better looking than a Toyota Camry. Interior only slightly better than it was but screams KOREAN!!! Prices undercut many by $$$$. Despite all this, sales are still hovering below 200 sales a month. Import Insignia FAST! Go Holden!
Who is the tool that wrote the Epica review above. The claim is they tested a CDXI, yet the pictures and the comments are about the CDX. Truth is this person clearly doesent know their cars and yet they think they can write about them. Go figure?
Very disappointed in the Epica. Like most Holdens – never get the first run, they just can’t clip in or glue the trims properly. Most unfortunate is the auto-gear change when needed to make a quick overtake, there’s literally almost a second delay while it sorts out what the hell to do, and on our aussie freeways that’s a second closer for a semi to give it a nice kiss.