Holden Colorado Z71 2015 Review

Holden began narrowing its sights on family and recreational dual-cab pick-up buyers late last year, when a mild update saw its Colorado LTZ score softer 'Comfort Suspension' and some cosmetic cab enhancements, while the better sound suppression was rolled-out across the range.

Now, with the recent introduction of the Colorado Z71, Holden is targeting the 'lifestyle' end of the pick-up market with even greater vigour, the family's new flagship arriving with a host of largely cosmetic upgrades for a $4000 price premium.

Its name is borrowed from the Z71 grade trim package available on several Chevrolet utility models in the US over the years.

In Colorado form the niceties include 'Arsenal Grey Metallic' 18-inch alloy wheels, leather-appointed seating (with two-stage electric heating for the driver and front passenger), colour-coded 'sail plane', roof rails, a soft tonneau, Z71 decals, a 'styled nudge bar' and a range of blacked-out components, the latter including door handles, side mirror housings, B-pillars and bonnet panels, among others.

Vehicle aesthetics are a purely subjective affair, but the Z71 grabs attention. The sail plane is fitted in lieu of the traditional sports bar and it tidies up the Colorado's mid-section nicely, while its usual chrome-grilled nose lends it a distinctive American look.

The alloys look tough and while we wouldn't want to actually go 'nudging' anything with the nudge bar – it's really just a different bumper moulding – the tactical use of gloss black and the matt-black adhesive bonnet panels give the Z71 its own unique appeal, especially in the Orange Rock metallic paint shown here (a $500 extra).

Beneath the bling it's the same old Colorado, which is to say it's the updated LTZ that first appeared at the end of 2014, with engine acoustics package, new sound-deadening liner, thicker dash mats, softer suspension and cosmetically upgraded cab interior.

The improvements are incremental but they add further appeal to an already solid proposition – a good thing given the fresh wave of rivals hitting the segment this year.

Over the course of a week we put the Z71 through its paces as a family all-rounder, the vehicle tackling city commuting, country runs and some lighter off-road work, with a family of four on board. We never loaded the Z71 up with any serious weight – that can wait for our upcoming 2015 4x4 dual-cab pick-up comparison test...

As a family truckster the Z71 fares well for comfort. The leather-appointed seating is supportive enough and should prove durable while the front seat heating was welcome in the depths of a southern winter. The driver's seat gets six-way electronic adjustment (manual for the front passenger) and the leather-wrapped steering wheel is adjustable for tilt (but not reach), while the cab's hard plastics are now softened by the judicious use of piano black fascia.

Rear passengers get a reasonable amount of room – the second row is still better suited to kids rather than adults, though – and a 12-volt outlet, but no HVAC venting.

From behind the wheel the controls are sensibly placed within easy reach but the instrumentation is 'busy' and the analogue speedometer is small and subsequently cramped. A digital speedo can be dialled up in the central display, if desired.

The Z71 gets Holden's MyLink infotainment system with 7.0-inch colour touch-screen. It works well enough and pairing a phone is simple, but in a flagship model we'd expect a dedicated sat-nav, instead of the MyLink's smartphone-app-based set-up. There's no CD player either, just USB/MP3/Bluetooth input, but there are two front 12-volt sockets.

Cab storage is one area where dual-cab pick-ups tend to suffer. The Z71's modest centre-console bin and glove box is complemented by a handy concealed dash-top tray, but the door side pockets are tiny. Thankfully the rear 60:40 split seat bases can be flipped up for additional room and a soft 'Streamline' tonneau is standard, while the rear tailgate can be locked.

All dual-cab Colorados from 2012 attract a five-star ANCAP safety rating. The Z71 scores front and side airbags for the driver and front passenger, plus a stability control package comprising anti-lock brakes, traction control and electronic brake force distribution. There's also hill-start assist and trailer sway control, plus an ISOFIX mounting system for child seats.

Our test vehicle wasn't fitted with a tow bar, but for recreational use the Colorado boasts some compelling stats. The model comes with a 3500kg braked towing limit, equal to Ford's Ranger, Isuzu's D-MAX and Toyota's looming next-gen HiLux.

That means it can handle a wide range of boats, campers and caravans, provided the model's gross combination mass (GCM), towball limit and payload limit are also observed.

Fitted with a six-speed manual gearbox, the payload limit for the Z71 reviewed here is around 800kg, or typically closer to 600kg with two adults and two kids on board.

For off-road use the Z71 boasts a healthy 30-degree approach angle, 210mm of ground clearance, a 22-degree departure angle and a 600mm wading depth. A dial on the centre console switches the dual-stage transfer case from two-wheel drive to four-wheel drive (high or low range) but there are no locking differentials, although you do get hill descent control.

On the road the Z71's ride is more compliant and certainly more refined than you'd expect of what is, at heart, a ladder-frame LCV. The model adopts the softer spring rates of the MY15 LTZ – the rates have been backed off by 12-15 per cent at the front and up to 30 per cent at the rear, which subsequently shaves around 175kg from the previous LTZ's payload limit.

For a traditional leaf-spring rear the Z71 soaks up the bumps nicely; it's surprisingly composed through the bends too and transmits only a little of the road rash caused by smaller surface imperfections, while the well-assisted steering adds to the sense of security.

The 2.8-litre Duramax engine feels gutsy and muscular, although it likes a few more revs than some rivals – Isuzu's D-MAX springs to mind. Still, it's strong and torquey from below 2000rpm to around 3500rpm, and in general the turbo-diesel is responsive and virtually lag free.

Noise levels in the cab have dropped and in general NVH (noise/vibration/harshness) is addressed well. A few vibes creep in above 3000rpm, but they're not especially intrusive.

The six-speed manual shifts cleanly enough and saves $2200 over the six-speed auto. However, the manual also drops maximum torque from 500Nm to 440Nm, which may or may not be an issue depending on the model's intended usage.

These dual-cabs are big brutes to manhandle around town and the Z71 is no different. With a 12.7-metre turning circle and a longish steering box (3.75 turns lock-to-lock) a considered approach is required when parking. Fortunately the Z71 comes with a reversing camera and rear parking sensors as standard.

After 500 kilometres of mixed use the Z71 achieved 9.2L/100km at the pump. That gives a safe working range of approaching 800 kilometres from the Z71's 76-litre tank.

The Z71 comes with Holden's three-year/100,000km factory warranty and one year of roadside assistance. Service intervals are indicated at every 15,000km or nine months, whichever comes first.

At $54,990 (plus on-roads) the manual Z71 is hefty wad more than the LTZ, but it also turns heads like no standard LTZ can. For recreational buyers after something that will stand out from the dual-cab masses, the Z71 adds extra appeal to the Colorado's impressive workhorse credentials.