Holden Colorado 2017 Long-term Review - 3

What began as a tenuous and somewhat forced relationship has finished amicably, with the completion of our six-month long-term test of the ‘Summit White’ LTZ, dubbed by the motoring.com.au team as 'Collette' for short.

In the end, the test closely mimicked that of real-life ownership. In six months, we notched 7800km (the national average full-year commute distance in Australia is 15,000km) and completed a plethora of tasks including load-lugging, off-roading, towing and carrying a full complement of passengers.

The Colorado fared incredibly well, performing most tasks strongly, though at times not as well as some direct competitors.

Bearing the fruit of an extensive engineering overhaul, which included Australian input, the updated Colorado promised improved dynamics, added comfort and refinement and a vastly better infotainment system. As our previous long-term reports will attest, the changes have brought seismic change for the better to the Colorado.

The white number which graced the motoring.com.au garage was the popular 4×4 LTZ model, which starts at $50,490 (plus on-road costs) and is perched in the middle of Holden’s dual cab portfolio. Our Colorado LTZ was fitted with the six-speed automatic which adds a further $2200, making for one pretty hefty price tag by traditional ‘ute’ standards.

Rough and ready
The final term of our test comprised a healthy amount of off-roading and towing, disciplines the revised Colorado revelled in. This came after extensive highway, country and city driving.

On steep ruts and gnarly inclines, the Colorado excelled with decent ground clearance and electrically-assisted power steering which delivered drivers great feel and control, even on rocky surfaces.

However the 2.8-litre turbo-diesel engine’s low-speed readiness was temperamental, dogged by some slow responses when low-range four-wheel drive was engaged. Which meant the Colorado often required a dollop of throttle to extract it from sticky situations.

The four-cylinder felt much more at home when towing (admittedly hauling less than its advertised 3500kg towing capacity). With a 2000kg trailer in tow, the Colorado was stable and offered decent performance, though the engine seemed eager to rev in order to reach its full potential, correlating with a combined fuel rating of 16.0L/100km.

Recovery from large washouts on B-grade surfaces was nice and the steering maintained decent accuracy, despite some loss of feel, thanks to the concentration of mass over the rear axle. We wouldn’t say the Colorado matched the Toyota HiLux, the unabashed leader for load-lugging in this class, but it managed a pretty decent imitation.

The low-down
They say familiarity breeds contempt, but our long-term teaming with the Holden Colorado has generally been an amicable affair. As we wrap-up ix months of ownership, these are our key ‘likes’ and ‘dislikes’:

Pros:
Power: The Colorado might lack the headline grunt or cylinder count of some rivals, but on the road, it never felt short of breath.

Engine noise was an ever-present factor around-town – the same as you’ll find in most dual cab utes – and the Colorado tended to reach its straps in the meaty mid-range, meaning it liked to rev more than some rivals. But once the full 500Nm of torque was summoned, the Holden made easy work of overtaking manoeuvres and higher speeds.

Highway speeds were particularly impressive, with the turbo-diesel spinning faintly in the background at a miserly 1800rpm.

Steering, ride comfort: Kudos to Holden’s Australian engineering team here.

The updated Colorado’s electrically-assisted power steering feels eons better than the previous generation, beaten only by the Ford Ranger in this segment for weighting, feel and accuracy. In fact, the new configuration endows the Colorado with SUV-like ease of use in both tight parking scenarios and on the open road.

Ride remains typical dual cab ute: sharp and busy at times. Nevertheless, the Colorado is a comfortable day-to-day prospect, albeit one which settles more comfortably with a couple of hundred kilos of weight in the rear.

Technology: The addition of Apple CarPlay, forward collision alert and other new accessories within Holden’s updated MyLink infotainment system greatly enhanced the appeal of the traditionally brutish Colorado. There were no complaints from behind the wheel with drivers afforded a digital speedo and clear presentation of the important controls.

Moreover, the driver’s seating position left a little to be desired. With no reach adjustment for the steering wheel, the high-set seat forced you to have your arms stretched.

Climate control: Arctic blast or bushfire furnace? As the winter months approached, the Colorado’s cabin became a place of some frustration as occupants desperately searched for the ideal temperature control. Some rivals run climate control systems measured in half-degree scales, but the Colorado’s is measured in whole degrees. If it sounds like we’re clutching at straws, we’re not: 23 degrees was a little too icy and 24 degrees had you ready to strip off items of clothing. An in-between or more accurate temperature modulation would be appreciated.

Cabin ergonomics: We learned to live with the Colorado’s still-hard door plastics and its lack of rear air vents and cupholders. More frustrating from the driver’s perspective was an annoying reflection at night of the dashboard centre fascia into the rear window and then into the rearview mirror.

Transmission: We took issue with the Colorado’s gearbox fairly early on, mostly in instances of downhill descents where it was prone to kick down gears too eagerly. Thousands of kilometres on, the six-speed automatic was still up to its old tricks, kicking down gears and occasionally flaring under heavy acceleration.

Would you live with one?
As we embarked on this long-term test, the underlying question was whether we could join the thousands of Australians purchasing a dual cab ute such as the Colorado?

The answer? Yes.

While there are some unwanted traits about Holden’s load-lugger, its rugged charm, relative comfort and overall practicality delivers a resounding affirmation.

Holden’s dual cab entrant may not create the same headlines or regularly win comparison tests like some rivals, but living with one has been a surprisingly enjoyable experience.

Long-Term tests
motoring.com.au aims to make your choice of vehicle easier. Our Editorial section does this via our mix of news, international and local launch reviews, as well as our seven-day tests.

From time to time we also take the opportunity to spend even longer with a vehicle. These longer-term tests can be as short as a couple of weeks, but more recently we’ve settled on a three-month period as indicative of ‘normal’ ownership.

Long-term tests give our staff writers and contributors a chance to get to know a car as an owner would. While the car is with us, we pay for fuel, the servicing, and generally use and live with the car as a new owner would.

We believe long-term tests give car buyers a deeper insight into the vehicle on test, but also the qualities behind the brand and nameplate. The extended period also allows us to touch base with the dealer networks in question.

It comes as no surprise that manufacturers tend to have a love-hate relationship with long-term tests. Three months is plenty long enough to fall out of love with the latest and greatest, and start to nit-pick — just like real owners do.

2017 Holden Colorado pricing and specifications:
Price: $50,490 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.8-litre four-cylinder petrol turbo-diesel
Output: 147kW/500Nm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel: 8.7L/100km (ADR Combined), 8.8L/100km (tested)
CO2: 230g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP

Related reading:
>> Holden Colorado 2017 video review
>> Holden Colorado long-term test (Update #1)
>> Holden Colorado long-term test (Update #2)