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# The unlikely replacement for Commodore and Falcon cop cars
- URL: https://torquecafe.com/western-australia-police-gets-phev-suv-to-replace-commodore-falcon/
- Published: 2025-07-02T23:35:56.000Z
- Updated: 2026-06-04T11:11:14.000Z
- Description: With Australian vehicle manufacturing ending almost a decade ago, police fleets are turning to unlikely alternatives for patrol vehicles.
- Author: Jordan Mulach
- Tags: News, Performance

While some states have gone for more traditional successors to our rapid, locally built Holden Commodores and Ford Falcons - such as the Kia Stinger, BMW 5 Series and even the Subaru WRX - they’ve done things differently out in Western Australia.

Instead, the Western Australia Police Force has announced its latest vehicle fleet recruit: the Volkswagen Touareg R, a plug-in hybrid SUV with more power than our V8-powered Highway Patrol cars ever had.

“Following the decommissioning of the Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore, a comprehensive review was undertaken to identify an operationally suitable vehicle to withstand the demands of police emergency response driving,” the Western Australia Police Force said on social media.

> View this post on Instagram  
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> [A post shared by Western Australia Police Force (@wa\_police)](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLmk6GzPus6/?utm%5Fsource=ig%5Fembed&utm%5Fcampaign=loading)

Contrary to the post, as well as [other news reports](https://thewest.com.au/news/police/forrestfield-police-station-and-new-volkswagen-touareg-r-turbo-diesel-hybrid-fleet-unveiled-by-wa-police-c-19222377?ref=torquecafe.com), the Touareg R isn’t a turbo-diesel, despite the Touareg being available as an oiler. It’s powered by a turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine, which is mated to an electric motor fed by a 14.3kWh battery.

With the battery and electric motor assisting, it can produce up to 340kW and 700Nm. That’s a lot more than the last Commodore SS-V’s 304kW 6.2-litre V8, and above even the 335kW output of Ford’s final supercharged XR8s.

Volkswagen claims a 0-100km/h time of 5.1 seconds, and the Touareg R can drive for up to 51km on electric-only power, but when the battery is depleted its outputs drop to a still respectable 250kW and 450Nm. The circa-2.4 tonne SUV can be charged at up to 7.5kW.

[![](https://torquecafe.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/volkswagen-touareg-r-phev-1.jpg)](https://archive.torquecafe.com/western-australia-police-gets-phev-suv-to-replace-commodore-falcon/volkswagen-touareg-r-phev-1/?ref=torquecafe.com)

Volkswagen Touareg R

[![](https://torquecafe.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/volkswagen-touareg-r-phev-4.jpg)](https://archive.torquecafe.com/western-australia-police-gets-phev-suv-to-replace-commodore-falcon/volkswagen-touareg-r-phev-4/?ref=torquecafe.com)

For private buyers, prices start from $133,490 before on-road costs, though it’s not clear if Western Australia’s police fleet was able to get a bulk discount.

It’s not the first plug-in hybrid vehicle to serve in Australia, with Queensland Police previously adding a number of MG HS Plus EV SUVs to its fleet in 2023.