THE V6 version of Holden’s all-wheel drive crew-cab ute offers the prospect of lower fuel consumption than the existing V8 Cross 8 models without a great loss of on-road verve. Like Cross 8, Cross 6 also offers the potential to carry five passengers while toting a decent payload into areas off-limits to regular rear- drive utes. Sure, that capability may be replicated by the swag of Japanese crew-cab four-wheel drives available in Australia, but it’s questionable that any of them would do it as comfortably as the Crewman Cross 6. And the V6 engine is smooth, as well as being surprisingly effective even if it doesn’t offer the economy of a turbo-diesel. The cruise liner turning circle takes some getting used to though.

Holden VYII Crewman
Released: September 2003
Ended: July 2004
Family Tree: CrewmanLAUNCHED in September 2003, Holden's first four-door Commodore-based ute receives its VZ-series facelift before it's even 12 months old. Released as part of the VY Series II Commodore Ute range, it was available in base V6, S V6 and SS V8 variants, but only the SS version offered a manual transmission option. While the V8-equipped Cross8 first appeared in December 2003, the Crewman Cross 6 tested here is the first V6-powered all-wheel drive Holden ute, launched as part of the VZ Crewman AWD range in November 2004.
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