Holden Colorado ute and Colorado 7 2015 review

With a bunch of new or revised one tonne utes here and on the way, Holden has struck just in time with upgrades to its light commercial twins, the Colorado ute and Colorado 7 SUV.

Holden's revamp is mild, so mild that you really can't discern any difference to either vehicle from the outside. The boofy-looking face remains on both ute and SUV, the rear ends are the same but there are one or two new colours and a range of new accessories. Neither vehicle is good looking.

REFINEMENT

All the action has been on refinement and on local calibration to some systems and components. Colorado LTZ ute came in for the most treatment but all models score thicker firewall padding (panel between engine and passenger compartments) to deaden engine noise and time was spent in Monash University's wind tunnel to moderate a fair amount of noise on both vehicles. They even tightened up some panel gaps in the quest for quieter driving.

Tweaks were made to the LTZ ute's suspension with some softening of spring rates and stiffening of damper and stabiliser bar rates. Other models got pretty much nothing due to their workhorse nature. The effect in LTZ is a gain in comfort for passengers. It now targets so-called "lifestyle" buyers as well as tradies and "cashed-up bogans".

INSIDE

Though the interior remains predominantly hard "tupperware - style" grey plastic, efforts have been made to improve its look and feel with some soft touch panels where your body touches the interior. Piano black fascia also makes an appearance along with black carpet. There's no escaping the cheap construct of the interior - immediately evident as soon as you open the loose centre console lid. A few rattles too on rough roads.

Leather is optional on the top of the range ute, standard on the top of the range 7.

RESEARCH

Holden went to existing Colorado and 7 owners to find out where the vehicle could be improved and paid attention on some fronts. There's still no steering wheel reach adjustment and sought-after driver assist features, fitted or available, are thin on the ground in any model.

Things like the satnav by "Bringo" app appears half-baked because it has a tendency to drop out. Also on that front, the MyLink infotainment system can only run one phone at a time….

ENGINE

Retained is the strong 147kW/440Nm (manual), 500Nm (auto) 2.8-litre, turbo diesel four cylinder engine and six speed manual/auto transmission. Auto adds $2200 to the price tag which kicks off at $28,390 for the bogger 2WD ute.  Wan't a fourbie Colorado ute?

The powertrain is good and it's almost unstoppable offroad...

That's $35,490 kick off, plus the $2200 for auto transmission, plus on-roads. The 7 SUV starts at $47,490. Towing capacity is allegedly 3.5 tonnes in the ute, 3.0 tonnes in the 7. One wonders how much of this sort of punishment the Colorado ute and 7 could take?

The ute lineup comprises DX,LS,LT and LTZ in ascending equipment levels. The 7 SUV is in LT and LTZ. All have the same powertrain and underpinnings except the coil spring rear suspension on 7. 

It's on a ladder chassis with double wishbone front suspension and leaf springs (on the ute) at the back. The 4x4 system is selectable on the fly and offers high and low range from a dial on the centre stack. Sequential gear selection is provided in the auto from the selector stick on a parallel gate.

DRIVING

This was the real test and we have to say, the Colorado ute and 7 SUV are fairly accomplished off road and on. Engine performance is strong and minimal vibration intrudes into the cabin. It seems relatively economical too though we couldn't accurately determine consumption on the test program.

The auto transmission is smooth and works well but the ESC stability control system can be problematic on sand unless you fully turn it off by pressing a button for perhaps 10 seconds. Unexpected heavy brake application tends to be somewhat disconcerting when you're driving on the beach.

Load capacity in the ute is around a tonne - model dependent, and in practical terms, the Colorado and 7 are acceptable with a generous amount of handy stuff like cup holders and storage options. The 7's rear windows are very small, passenger room is good.