Holden has upgraded the Colorado for 2014 with a vastly improved Duramax 2 Turbo Diesel engine, more power and torque, some other changes and a six speed manual transmission.
We test the LTZ 6 Sp Manual in the new vibrant Sizzle Orange which is certainly noticeable on the road. Externally it remains the same as the model it replaces. The new Holden Alloy SuperBar certainly looks the part with its aggressive lines that complement an already great looking front end.
Internally the LTZ is the top of the range with leather seats, thickish steering wheel with a heap of controls on it, sat nav, and an abundance of storage areas.
The leather seats are very comfortable and the height adjustable steering wheel provides more feedback than you would expect from a Ute. The driver’s seat is electrically adjustable and the lumbar support is excellent.
Internal storage is a feature with door pockets front and back, two decent sized glove boxes, a storage in on top of the dash, bottle holders in front of the air vents (great for keeping things cool in summer), a shelf below the steering wheel, a door sill recess, cup holders in the centre console and a large centre storage bin. Seriously all cars should be like this.
The New Colorado features Holden’s new Infotainment MYLINK system units as standard. The MYLINK is an easy to use in car entertainment and navigation unit that is an app based system that works with most smartphones such as IPhone and Android.
It brings a whole new experience to Motoring enjoyment. You can choose from the latest Apps that include Pandora, Stitcher and Tune in Radio these are preloaded into the MYLINK unit. Pairing your Bluetooth phone is a simple step and the call quality was very clear with the drivers microphone built into the roof for a clearer conversation.
The Touch screen worked a treat with little if any delay when going through the Apps and the menus. Kudos to the Holden Tech team on a great intuitive system and the speaker setup sounded great throughout the cabin
Holden has vastly improved the Duramax 2 TD engine. Peak power is now up from 132kw to 147kw @ 3,600 rpm and 440Nm @ 1,600 rpm of torque. The Auto version has been upgraded from 470Nm of torque to 500Nm. The 6 Sp Manual mates beautifully with the 2.8L engine to produce a sweet moving combination both on and off road. The engine just seems more refined and quieter and is economical with a fuel usage rate of just 8.1L/100Km. On the freeway we got that down to a little over 6.6L/100Km and it is possible to get 1,000km out of a tank on the freeway.
It still boasts 3500kg towing capacity and a payload of a tonne now that’s impressive and what everyone wants when they tow a camper trailer off road or trailers full of work gear. An improvement for towing is the new chassis control systems such as Trailer Sway Control and Hill Start Assist, as well as a Descent Control System.
Trailer Sway control detects any towing instability, activates the brakes and reduces engine torque, ensuring complete peace of mind when pulling a trailer or caravan. The rear camera also makes hitching a breeze.
Unlike Utes of the past the Colorado is now rated as 5 Star ANCAP with a host of safety features including: driver and front passenger airbags, front side impact airbags and full length curtain airbags, ESC, complemented by ABS with EBD and HBA.
Off road the Colorado 6 Sp manual performed a treat. Electronic assistance in the form of the hill descent control means the Colorado was able to handle very steep fire trails and tracks with ease. Its almost too easy and any 4WD enthusiast will be happy with the performance.
The engineers and test team have refined The Colorado from its predecessor into a true all-round work truck, farm truck, tradie vehicle and family getaway vehicle that will give years of enjoyment.
Holden have come up with some great styling packs to really stand the vehicle out from the crowd with factory fitted accessories that compete with anything the aftermarket boys can come up with.
Over all the New Colorado series remains physically the same vehicle as the one its replacing but the engine and transmission’s refinement certainly change this to a much more pleasurable vehicle to drive on and off- road. Additionally the towing features makes this one of the top choices.
What is good:
Towing Capability
Internal comfort
Robustness
What is not so good:
No steering reach adjustment
Not fussed on the Orange colour
Reverse Gear too high
Model Holden Colorado LTZ
Model Price $55,353 RDAP
Engine 2.80L 4 Cyl Turbo Diesel
Drivetrain 4WD 6 Speed Auto
Power 147Kw @ 3,600 rpm
Torque 440 Nm @ 1,600 rpm
Safety 5 Star ANCAP
CO2 Emissions 243 g/km
Green Vehicle Rating 2 1/2 Star
Economy (ADR comb) 8.1 L/100km
Tow Capacity – Max 3500 kg
Tow Ball Rating 350 kg
Servicing $Not Supplied
Warranty 3yr/100,000km with full roadside assist
Overall OzRoamer Rating 92/100
Behind the Wheel 8
Comfort 8
Equipment 9
Performance 9
Ride & Handling 9
Practicality 10
Fit for Purpose 10
Towing Ability 10
Off Road Ability 10
Value for Money 9