{"id":3021,"date":"2026-04-03T03:33:30","date_gmt":"2026-04-03T03:33:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/australianholden.com\/?page_id=3021"},"modified":"2026-04-14T05:45:10","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T05:45:10","slug":"when-the-holden-vn-commodore-and-vq-statesman-were-released-australia-in-1988","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/australianholden.com\/index.php\/australian-holden\/commodores\/vn-commodore\/when-the-holden-vn-commodore-and-vq-statesman-were-released-australia-in-1988\/","title":{"rendered":"When the Holden VN Commodore and VQ Statesman were released &#8211; Australia in 1988"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/australianholden.com\/index.php\/australian-holden\/commodores\/\">Commodore Home<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/australianholden.com\/index.php\/australian-holden\/commodores\/vn-commodore\/\">VN Commodore<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Cost of a new VN\/ VQ<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>VN Commodore sedan: approximately&nbsp;$16,000\u2013$16,500 <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>VQ Statesman luxury model: approximately&nbsp;$22,000\u2013$23,000<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The VN Commodore featured&nbsp;a completely new body design with improved aerodynamics, modernized interiors, enhanced suspension, and updated engine options<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It was a full new development which featured the first V6 to be featured in a Commodore. It was also the first Commodore to be classed as a &#8216;Full Size&#8217; as opposed to the &#8216;Mid size&#8217; VL Commodore.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The VQ Statesman offered&nbsp;premium luxury features, automatic transmission, air conditioning, high-quality trim, and advanced comfort. The VQ was the first Statesman offered by Holden since the WB Statesman was discontinued in 1985.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A Full size Ute, called the VG was available alongside the VN range.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Both models targeted&nbsp;Australian families and executives seeking modern styling, comfort, and reliability<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Average wage<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Average weekly wage: about&nbsp;$440\u2013$450<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Average annual wage: roughly&nbsp;$22,880\u2013$23,400<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Average house price<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Around&nbsp;$100,000<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Price of petrol<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>About&nbsp;92 cents per litre<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Prime Minister<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Bob Hawke (Labor Party)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Population of Australia<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>About&nbsp;16 million people<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Top-grossing movie<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Rain Man, Who Framed Roger Rabbit<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Top song<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Faith&nbsp;by&nbsp;George Michael&nbsp;topped Australian charts<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Significant world event<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Fall of the Berlin Wall was still a year away, but global political shifts and technological advances shaped markets<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Rising environmental awareness and economic globalization influenced industries<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Popular TV \/ radio in Australia<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Neighbours, A Current Affair, Countdown, and The Don Lane Show<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>FM radio and music television were dominant for youth culture<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Significant Australian news story<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Economic policy, suburban expansion, and technology adoption dominated headlines<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Interesting comparisons <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The VN Commodore cost roughly&nbsp;0.7 years\u2019 average wages, while the VQ Statesman cost&nbsp;0.95\u20131 year\u2019s wages<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The average house cost about&nbsp;4.5 years\u2019 wages<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Filling a ~60L tank cost roughly&nbsp;$55 AUD<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A week\u2019s wages could buy roughly&nbsp;460\u2013470 litres of petrol<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Commodore Home VN Commodore Cost of a new VN\/ VQ Average wage Average house price Price of petrol Prime Minister Population of Australia Top-grossing movie Top song Significant world event Popular TV \/ radio in Australia Significant Australian news story Interesting comparisons<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3464,"parent":53,"menu_order":10,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-3021","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ 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