Ford Falcon XR8 2015 Review

It's with this in mind that I slide into the driver's seat of the XR8 and scan an interior that looks about three generations out of date. If the vehicle didn't have a thumping great force-fed V8 capable of rending rubber and torching clutches, it would be tough to overlook.

Consider the seating position is not as agreeable as that of its arch-nemesis, the Commodore SS V-Series Redline [Ed: check out our comparison here], and things are not off to a great start.

The seats are wide and comfortable, front and back, and this test car features leather upholstered pews with good-looking grey highlights. But overall the interior is drab. There are large swathes of dull grey plastics that look as though they'll age as gracefully as that weird cat lady from Los Angeles. And there's no adjustable rear head rests. Even the Hyundai i20 has 'em.

To its credit the XR8 has a very comfortable interior and the new SYNC2 infotainment system is excellent. Voice operated commands are generally seamless, digital radio is a nice touch and the interface is orders of magnitude better than its predecessors.

As a mode of transport it scores well in terms of comfort and space, with scads of room everywhere, allowing all passengers to stretch out like lounge lizards. Although the uneven floor in the boot can be annoying when loading smaller objects, it turns out the wheel well indent is ideal for keeping shopping in place.

As a cruiser the XR8 is a mixed bag. Large alloy wheels, narrow tyre sidewalls plus suspension components and a similar tune to the discontinued FPV GT RSPEC means it rides firmly. On less than perfect surfaces there's some intrusion into the cabin felt and although it's chronic, it is a lot firmer than I was expecting from the XR8 nameplate.

The other issue the vehicle faces as a cruiser is its thirst. I never saw less than 9.0L/100km on the highway when cruising in top gear at 100km/h – and frequently it went higher. Entertain the notion of an enthusiastic squirt down your favourite country road and fuel use can become pretty serious.

Where the car excels as a cruiser is when there are indecisive/inattentive/distracted drivers nearby and you want put as much distance as possible between them and yourself. The subtle flex of the loud pedal results in instant acceleration accompanied by the kind of mechanical symphony that will never cease to amuse.

The 5.0-litre supercharged Miami V8 engine benefits from a number of local developments, including the integration of a Harrop supercharger that conspires to deliver exhilarating propulsion at almost any revs – and especially at higher revs should you keep the pedal nailed to the floor.

There's a susurrus at idle that suggests the engine could be one of many configurations but it builds quickly in volume and resonance as the revs rise to the unmistakable beat of a marauding V8. The six-speed automatic is a talented unit – whether cruising, commuting or careening – and although I want the exhaust note to be more ferocious, ripping snarl that emerges between gear shifts under full load is enthralling.

And what an event full throttle is. Ford claims 335kW at 5750rpm and 570Nm across a lusty plateau between 2200 and 5500rpm – more poke than the HSV ClubSport. And in real terms all that twist results in a 0-100km/h sprint of 5.5sec, almost a full second faster than the Commodore SS V-Series Redline (6.4sec, as tested).

The acceleration chasm is widened thanks to the XR8's overboost function, which spins up a potential 375kW (except in first gear), which gives the car the kind of straight line thrust that will not be forgotten by the annals of time.

So much power is on offer than even with widened rear tyres – 275 aspect ratio – a bigger rear sway bar, recalibrated dampers and stiffer rear springs – the rear end still moves about entertainingly. Like a pudgy interpretive dancer wearing nothing but budgie smugglers on a crisp winter's night in front of a jovial crowd of slightly tipsy revellers, it's compelling stuff.

With all the suspension changes the XR8 is one of the best-handling Falcon's yet. It's true that the Holden SS V-Series Redline was slightly faster around our test track, but in isolation the XR8 is an enjoyable steer through along a smooth band of twisting, turning road.

It can feel a little heavy nosing into corners, especially if you don't respect its burly size and weight, but the way it punches out of corners with equal parts fury and composure is enthralling. Adjusting the car's trajectory with generous throttle inputs is one of life's great pleasures.

I like the handling in this car, it feels far more confident in corners than the previous XR8 and the steering is far superior, without the rack rattle that was prevalent in earlier models.

The brakes – Brembos at each corner – have to work hard to keep the car the moving rapidly from apex to apex but they earn their keep, no doubt about that. FPV-derived features like the beefed up battery, steering setup and cooling fan and limited slip diff are welcome additions and bode well for repeated thrashings.

The Ford Falcon XR8 is an outrageously brawny muscle car with the practicality of a family car a suspension tune that allows it to be driven like a proper sports sedan. Although I and many others will lament its demise in late 2016, I don’t like think of this as Ford versus Holden or red against blue, but as a permanent statement of what Aussie ingenuity can accomplish.

Granted, the Ford Falcon XR8 has its many flaws, it's not perfect by a long shot and will probably sell in similar numbers to a nondescript German convertible. But even when emotion is taken out of the equation, it represents mega bang for your buck and can still be used as family transport if need be. My three-year-old daughter in her cushy kid's seat quite liked the "growly" car.

Priced from $52,490, it's highly likely there'll never again be a large sedan – Aussie made or not – this capable at this price.

Also consider:
>> Holden Commodore SS V Redline (from $52,490 plus ORCs)
>> Jaguar XFR (from $189,075 plus ORCs)