Drive
The CDXi version being tested here is the range flagship at $32,990. You can deduct $2000 for the petrol CDXi, while the CDX petrol and turbo-diesel are $27,990 and $29,990 respectively.
There is little obvious competition in the medium segment for a turbo-diesel sedan. The Skoda Octavia can match it on price, while the Ford Mondeo TDCi is more expensive.
New standard equipment for the Epica CDXi includes rear parking sensors and reach as well as rake steering adjust. Heated seats now come as part of the $2000 optional leather pack.
The CDTi engine includes a variable geometry turbo, Bosch common-rail direct injection and a particulate filter. Outputs are 110kW at 4000rpm and 320Nm at 2000rpm. Official fuel use claims are 7.6L/100km and 201gCO2/km.
However, turbo lag in our test car was a serious issue. Accelerating from zero throttle often brought little response until the turbo had wound up and started pumping. It got to the point where you became very cautious at places such as roundabouts and crossroads where the car would not accelerate predictably. It may well have been a problem specific to our test car, but we’d watch for it on any future test drive.
The original Epica displayed acceptable ride and handling, tracing its origins back to the 1997 Daewoo Leganza.
However, adding the extra 70kg of turbo-diesel engine weight over the front wheels has not helped balance, even though Holden has retuned the suspension to compensate.
The Epica now feels the bumps and holes of the road that bit more, struggling the most with sharp-edged holes.
The boot is a quite healthy 480litres, but the wheel arches do intrude. There is a split-fold function, but the through-opening is quite small, restricting its use. Safety
The CDXi continues with six airbags, stability control and ABS with EBD (but no brake assist). The CDX gains these important features. All passengers get lap-sash seatbelts, but the middle-rear passenger misses out on a head restraint.
The Epica recorded a decent four-star (out of five) overall Australian NCAP independent crash-test rating.
