ZB Calais V Review.
Four months and just over 4,000 km's so here's the good, the bad and the ugly.
Lets get the Bad & Ugly out of the way first.
Bad and Ugly
1. After suffering an engine failure after only 850 km's, (probably caused by a leaking head gasket letting coolant mix with engine oil) I still struggle to feel confident that this new replacement car and its engine will be durable but this is probably just a problem in my own head and I would say my reservations at this early stage after what I went through are quite normal and concerns will probably dissipate over time...its only time and mileage that will make me really confident with this engine....so I still have my kid gloves on with this one.
2. Ride quality is only average at best and that's with me selecting the wheels and 18 inch 45 profile tyres off an RSV which the dealer was kind enough to swap over to my Calais V. This was a good move. Buy a VXR for the adaptive dampers and Brembo's if you can fit into the seats, (my over indulgence in culinary delights over the years means they were too tight for me).
3. Back up Camera and surround view camera quality is poor, there's no two ways about this, its as grainy as heck and very poor clarity.
Average
4. Brakes are pretty good but not a highlight of the car that's for sure...go for the Brembo's on the VXR.
5. Performance - Its okay but its not a performance car, real performance starts with AT LEAST 300 kw's, preferably quite a lot more. If you're looking for a performance car look elsewhere.
6. The Bose premium stereo system is "premium" in name only and lacks any real base depth
Good
7. The GM 9 speed auto box is a very good and highly efficient bit of gear crammed full on very good technology. Even when the box is dead cold shift quality is normally so good its impeccable. I've only caught it out once when it dithered a bit on deciding which gear to shift down into on an abrupt overtake and got a fairly rough and slow change...otherwise its a real gem.
8. Handling - Is very good, augmented by what would appear to be a very light and stiff chassis.
9. The Led matrix headlights are simply brilliant in more ways than one !..who would have thought a few years ago headlights could be this good ?
10. The seats - apparently designed by BGR a European designer that specializes in ergonomics that are good for the back, there are very good and as mentioned above the seat heaters are a real belter and a tremendous thing to have in winter. Seat cooling is only average and I doubt anyone will bother with either number 1 or 2 of the 3 level's of cooling available.
So that's ten specific things. The level of technology overall and the looks of the liftback impress. Notable highlights not mentioned above include the excllent overall ergonomics of the car and the liftback gives a lot of versatility with loading, the heads-up display which is very clear but sometimes too bright at night and seat massaging which can be useful but something of a novelty.
Overall I give it 8 out of 10. That might rise to 8.5 out of ten after the passage of time and I feel more comfortable with the engine reliability.