10 facts you may not have known about the VR Commodore
VN, VP, VR, and VS Holden Commodore Buyers Guide: What to Look for When Buying
Complete VR Commodore Restoration Parts Checklist
VR Holden Commodore Trim Levels
When the VR Commodore and Statesman was released – Australia in 1993
Australian Holden Part Finder
VT Commodore VT SS
Some links below are affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
| Years | 1997–2000 |
|---|---|
| Body | Sedan |
| Doors | 4 |
| Seats | 5 |
| Engine(s) | Chevrolet LS1 |
View the Holden Executive model page →
Oils
Affiliate link: if you buy through it we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
Browse by make/series
The VR Commodore is the 8th model of the Holden Commodore. It represents a major face lift of the previous VP Commodore. The only panels that remained from the VP were the door skins and the roof. It was in production for 19 months (July 1993- April 1995), with the series 2 introduced in April 1994.
The VR featured slimmer headlights as well as a smaller grille which was just two small slots. In the rear the tail lights were raised and more flush fitting with the shape of the car. the rear boot panel that went between the tail lights was gone and the bumper bars were much rounder. In comparison to the VP, the VR had a more aggressive look to it.
It won Wheels Car of the Year in 1993, making it the 3rd Commodore to win the award (The VB won it in 1978, the VN won it in 1988).
VN VP VR VS Commodore Repair Manual
When the Holden Commodore was first introduced in 1978, the emphasis was on fuel economy. With consumers panicking less about fuel prices, Holden entered the large car market again and now with an emphasis on safety, in particular occupant safety in the event of an accident. Holden took a giant stride towards this in fitting the VR Commodore with Weber seat belts and a drivers airbag which came out of the steering wheel. The VR was the first Australian car to offer a drivers airbag. This did wonders for the cars reputation at the time and made it one of the best selling Commodores.
The VR produced 165 262 units in just 19 months, close to 10 000 cars a month. It was a very popular car among fleet buyers for its size and practicality and families for its safety and smooth ride.
The engines and transmissions remained very similar as most of the change from the VP to the VR was cosmetic.
The VR also had its own Ute and its own Statesman and Caprice. The previous VQ Statesman looked pretty similar to the VN and VP, whereas the VR Statesman had much less resemblance to the VR Commodore.
The VR Commodore was available as a sedan, a wagon and a Ute.
The Acclaim trim level, seen for the first time with the VR, targeted family buyers. Higher spec than the base model Executive, which still targeted fleet buyers. The Berlina and Calais also remained in the line up.
The VR Statesman sold alongside the VR.
The VR Commodore would be the last Commodore to use the 3.8L Buick V6 which was introduced in 1988 with the VN Commodore. It would be replaced by the VS Commodore in April of 1995, after a production run of 165 626 vehicles.