How the mighty Commodore has fallen with Holden’s former bestseller now outsold by $100,000 Mercedes-Benz luxury cars – and it barely outsells a $250,000 Porsche 911
- Just 78 Holden Commodores were sold in September 2020 – a fall of 81 per cent
- Much dearer Mercedes-Benz E-Class coupes, convertibles notched up 97 sales
- Mercedes-Benz E-Class, C-Class and BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe outselling it too
The Holden Commodore is now so unpopular it is being outsold by Mercedes-Benz luxury cars costing more than $100,000.
Just 78 Commodores were sold in September, with sales plunging by 81.4 per cent compared with the same month in 2019, Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries data showed.
The Commodore was Australia’s bestselling car from 1996 to 2010 but last month, it was outsold by a series of Mercedes-Benz luxury models with six-figure price tags.
The Holden Commodore (pictured) is now so unpopular it is being outsold by Mercedes-Benz luxury cars costing more than $100,000. Just 78 Commodores were sold in September, with sales plunging by 81.4 per cent compared with the same month in 2019, Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries data showed
In September, 97 Mercedes-Benz E-Class coupes and convertibles left showrooms in Australia, even though starting prices of $101,900 are triple the Holden’s entry-level $33,690 tag. Pictured is a Cabriolet priced from $130,900
In September, 97 Mercedes-Benz E-Class coupes and convertibles left showrooms in Australia, even though starting prices of $101,900 are triple the Holden’s entry-level $33,690 tag.
The E-Class sedan also outsold the Commodore, despite prices starting at $96,900.
This occurred as 94 smaller Mercedes-Benz C-Class coupes and convertibles were registered, priced from $67,900.
The C-Class sedan had more than triple the sales of the Commodore, with 283 sold.
The Mercedes-Benz wasn’t the only German-designed luxury car to outsell the Holden with BMW notching up 186 sales of the 2 Series Gran Coupe, selling from $58,900.
The BMW 3 Series had 241 sales, with Australian buyers of prestige cars overwhelmingly preferring a German badge if they are in the market for something starting at $51,500.
With Holden no longer offering a V8 option on the Commodore, the Ford Mustang was the muscle car of choice with 145 coupes and convertibles sold.
The last Australian-made Holden Commodore rolled off the Adelaide production line in October 2017.
Its German-built replacement, also sold as a Commodore, has been a disaster on the sales charts.
In 2020 so far, 860 Commodores were sold, marking an 81.5 per cent plunge compared with the 4,639 sold during the first nine months of 2019.
Buyers have shunned the front-wheel drive model, after the Commodore had been sold as a rear-wheel drive for almost four decades, and General Motors is in 2021 retiring the 72-year-old Holden nameplate.
While the Commodore has been a sales dud in 2020, medium sedans have done even worse with just 15 Honda Accords, four Ford Mondeos and four Kia Optimas sold in September.
By comparison, 62 Porsche 911 Carreras found a new owner despite prices starting at a very expensive $245,600.
The Mercedes-Benz wasn’t the only German-designed luxury car to outsell the Holden with BMW notching up 186 sales of the 2 Series Gran Coupe, selling from $58,900
In September, 62 Porsche 911 Carreras found a new owner despite prices starting at a very expensive $245,600