TACKLE TRACKS WITH ‘Z’ FACTOR
Top-spec Colorado does lifestyle and lugging
It’s been a torrid few years for Holden as its car sales figures fall off a cliff. Yet its Colorado ute continues to shine.
Last year we bought three times as many Colorados as Commodores (imagine that a decade ago) and the Holden ute secured a respectable fourth place in the competitive 4WD ute market last year.
It’s earned its stripes as a dependable work and off-road truck. How does the flashy rangetopping Z71 version, refreshed last year, serve as a family car?
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
JULES: You had me at orange truck.
IAIN: Orange truck with black wheels and black decals, no less. This is the modern Australian’s General Lee.
JULES: Can it do sweet jumps while escaping the cops?
IAIN: Probably. I’ve tested a Colorado off-road and it’s got solid mud-plugging chops. This Z71 version is very much an urban poser, though.
JULES: I get that. Of all the utes we’ve tested, this looks the most convincing. Aggressive styling and I love the contrast colour and beefy tough style.
IAIN: Short of getting an HSV version, this is the fanciest Colorado you can buy. It’s $57,490 drive-away with auto gearbox and, currently, seven-year free servicing.
JULES: Seems par for the course. What are its rivals?
IAIN: Ford Ranger Wildtrak, Nissan Navara N-Trek, Mitsubishi Triton GLS Premium, Toyota HiLux Rogue … the list goes on.
JULES: What goodies does the Z71 rangetopper come with?
IAIN: Lots of black body bits including chunky fender flares, sports bar and side rails, soft-drop tailgate, integrated nudge bar, folding soft tonneau cover, spray-on tub liner and improved underbody protection.
THE LIVING SPACE
JULES: It’s a bit plainer inside.
IAIN: The Colorado’s showing its age here. It’s pretty utilitarian design but you score an eightinch screen running Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, satnav and power/heated leather seats.
JULES: The leather isn’t exactly plush, the buttons feel clunky and the infotainment old.
IAIN: It’s still a work truck and not a family
SUV. Look, you get carpet in the door pockets. That’s fancy.
JULES: But you don’t get normal modern kit, such as keyless entry or push-button start. For $57,000, I don’t want to turn an ignition key.
IAIN: Oh, the humanity. But you’re right, I’d skip heated seats in favour of a steering wheel that adjusted for reach — I couldn’t get a properly comfy driving position.
THE COMMUTE
JULES: It’s got some grunt but is noisy when you floor it.
IAIN: Much like all diesel utes. The Z71’s 2.8litre doesn’t get any more power than normal Colorados but I reckon its 147kW is ample.
JULES: It surprised me how composed it was on the highway. It cruised well, there was really good vision and it actually didn’t feel too big. Size usually puts me off dual-cab utes.
IAIN: Holden always does a good job of setting up its products and the Colorado handles well for such a big lump. It settles better over bumps than the segment leading Toyota HiLux but the gearbox shifted down a bit too eagerly and noisily at times.
JULES: I know it’s mainly you blokes buying big utes but a word of warning to the ladies. In hot weather when wearing a skirt, it’s not easy to elegantly climb up and in to the front seats.
THE SHOPPING
JULES: Utes are terrible for shopping. Groceries roll around in the tray and they’re so cumbersome you need to park a long way from the supermarket doors.
IAIN: True. The weekly shop needs to go in the back seat, which isn’t great with kids on board.
JULES: The soft-drop tailgate’s a bonus and I reckon a full electric one’s not too far away.
SUNDAY RUN
IAIN: Dual-cab utes are compromised family vehicles — they’re expensive, they ride and handle far worse than cars and are a pain to park and manoeuvre. But when used as intended, they’re brilliant.
JULES: Like moving two tonnes of firewood?
IAIN: Precisely. It took us a few trips but the Colorado was a brilliant log lugger. We put a tarp down but, impressively, the tub liner suffered zero damage.
JULES: It rides a lot sweeter with all that weight in the back.
IAIN: Yep. Utes with empty trays are at their worst yet it seems 95 per cent of owners drive them around unladen. Payload on this one is 987kg … nearly a true one-tonner.
JULES: With low-range and 3500kg towing capacity, it’ll do the lifestyle bit.
IAIN: It lacks a locking rear differential, which will put off serious adventurers.
THE FAMILY
JULES: What kid doesn’t love a bright orange truck? Our two had loads of rear space but no air vents or USB points, so it’s not terribly family friendly.
IAIN: Safety-wise there are a rear camera, forward collision alert and lane departure warning. The cheaper Mitsubishi Triton GLS, with autonomous emergency braking and blind spot monitor, is far better for family users.
JULES: The grippy tub liner held the kids’ school bags in place. In most utes they annoyingly slide to the back, out of reach. Plus the canopy locks in place for decent security.
IAIN: We returned 8.7L/100km, markedly more frugal than some rivals we’ve tested.
THE VERDICT
JULES: The Colorado rides more like a big SUV than a truck, setting it apart from some other utes. Throw in the orange paint job and how good it is at hauling stuff and I’ve warmed to the Z71. But could I live with one every day? Sorry, not as a family car.
IAIN: I’ve a soft spot for the Colorado. The Z71 looks the part and serves as a great work and lifestyle vehicle but there isn’t enough safety and luxury gear for $57K. I’d buy a $50K wagon or SUV for daily duties and rent a 4WD ute for the few times I need to haul something or go bush.