If you're wondering what happened to the HSV Jackaroo, you 're looking at it.
Toned down a little and without its distinctive grille and spoiler Holden's new SE is the HSV Jackaroo by any other name.
When Holden restructured its Jackaroo line-up late last year it introduced what is, at first glance, a new spec level - the SE. The SE (for Specially Enhanced) is in fact an XS with wheel-arch flares, alloy wheels, two-tone paint and new badges.
While the SE - like the HSV Jackaroo - is mechanically identical to the XS, Holden has made a number of running changes to the entire 1994 Jackaroo range. Most significant of these are modifications to the engine management computer of the V6 engine and to the computer controls for the automatic transmission.
According to Holden, the two computers now "talk" more freely due to a simplification of the wiring which links them, smoothing out their previously rocky relationship.
The Jackaroo's 3.2 litre 24-valve V6 is a high-revving engine which makes most of its power high in the rev range. Peak power of 130 kW is reached at 5200 rpm and peak torque of 271 Nm at 3000 rpm.
Prior to this revamp the automatic had a tendency to "hunt" for gears, especially under hard acceleration, in hilly count1y or when towing a trailer. The shifts were also abrupt and jerky.
The work Holden has done with the engine management and transmission computers has made the drivetrain smoother.
On our brief drive of the SE - a week of urban driving and a day trip for photography with no four-wheel driving we found that the upshifts of the automatic transmission are now smoother and the tendency to "hunt" for a gear has been reduced.
The engine is still peaky. While the Jackaroo was always quick and sure-footed, the changes make the auto more pleasant to drive. Under gentle throttle the gears will change at around 3350 rpm, while under hard acceleration the up-shifts happen much later, at around 5750 rpm. The changes do not appear to have made any difference to fuel consumption. We used an average of 19.1 litres/100 kilometres, about the same as that achieved on our last automatic comparison.
The specification is similar to that of the GLS Pajero, which is now around $1700 less expensive. The Pajero has selectable full-time 4WD and seven seats, but is less powerful than the Jackaroo, offers less interiors pace and has a poorer quality sound system.
But the improvements to the Jackaroo are not enough to make it a serious threat to its archrival, the Mitsubishi Pajero. In 1992/ 93 Holden sold just 3577 Jackaroos, compared with 17,141 Pajeros in the same period. Holden's major hurdle is the Jackaroo's price tag, which has been climbing steadily since its launch two years ago. Even the least expensive wagon, the V6 manual "S", is now $43,595, while the XS is $47,616 with manual transmission or $50,161 for the automatic.
The SE package bridges the gap between the mid-spec XS wagons and the top-spec $66,045 Monterey. The manual SE is priced at 51,011 and the automatic at $53,556. The SE comes well equipped with cruise control, electric windows, heated electrically adjustable mirrors which fold inwards at the press of a button, a good stereo with height adjustable electric aerial, and central locking. A third row of seats is a $1400 option and air-conditioning adds another $1600.
With 4WD prices at their highest ever, it will be the dollars which count against the Jackaroo. By the time you add air-conditioning and a third row of seats, the SE is looking seriously expensive, especially when compared with a Land Rover Discovery.
A five-door Discovery V8i automatic, which is just as quick as either Jackaroo or Pajero, better off-road, has electric windows, electric mirrors, central locking and standard air-conditioning, costs $48,650.
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