New Holden Colorado SUV undercuts Toyota Prado

Holden’s Colorado 7 four-wheel drive wagon will undercut the entry-level pricing of Toyota’s popular Prado by almost $10,000 when it goes on sale in December.

Two versions of the seven-seat, diesel-only, auto-only off-roader are being offered; the $46,990 LT and the $50,490 LTZ. By comparison, the entry-level five-door GX Prado turbo-diesel is $55,990, and an automatic transmission costs an extra $2264.

The Colorado 7 also prices well against the likes of the Mitsubishi Challenger and Nissan Pathfinder, which also feature a truck-like body-on-frame construction, come only as diesels and can seat up to seven passengers.

The sharp pricing signals the importance of Holden’s attack on the booming SUV market. The Colorado 7 is the first serious Holden off-roader to be offered since the Isuzu-developed Jackaroo wagon disappeared from sale in late 2004. It joins the light-duty Captiva range, with the Trax compact SUV arriving in early 2013.

As its name suggests, the 7 is based on the Colorado one-tonner already sold in Australia. It is built in the same Thai plant, but swaps its utility body for an integrated wagon design, while multi-links and coil springs replace leaf springs in its live rear axle suspension.

But most other mechanical aspects are familiar, starting with the 132kW/470Nm 2.8-litre four-cylinder Duramax engine. Featuring double overhead cams, common-rail direct-injection, a variable-geometry turbocharger and intercooling, its official fuel consumption average is 9.4L/100km and its CO2 emissions are rated at 252g/km.

The engine hooks up to a six-speed automatic transmission and a part-time shift-on-the-fly four-wheel drive system with high- and low-range ratios operated via a rotary switch on the centre console. A limited-slip differential, hill descent control and a 3000kg towing capacity are standard.

The Colorado 7 retains the five-star ANCAP crash protection rating scored by the Colorado crew-cab ute. Other safety features include curtain airbags that extend to all three rows of seats, front airbags, rear parking sensors, a reversing camera, stability control and anti-lock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution and brake assist.

Standard LT comfort and style features include air-conditioning, cloth trim, Bluetooth connectivity, USB and aux inputs, 16-inch alloy wheels, side steps and aluminium roof-rails.

The LTZ adds leather seat trim, a powered driver’s seat, eight-speaker audio (up from six in the LT), single-zone climate-control, power-fold mirrors, projector headlight and 18-inch alloys.

Measuring up at 4878mm long, 1902mm wide and 1834mm high (1847mm for the LTZ), the Colorado 7 is 52mm shorter than a Prado, 17mm wider and 11mm lower (LTZ: 2mm higher).

The Holden’s ground clearance is 219mm (LTZ: 231mm), it has an approach angle of 30 degrees, a departure angle of 22 degrees and a ramp breakover angle of 22 degrees. The Prado’s ground clearance is 220mm, the approach angle 32mm, departure angle 25mm and breakover 22 degrees.

The three-seat middle row splits 60/40, the two-seat third row 50:50. Minimum luggage space is 235 litres, expanding to as much as 1830 litres with rows two and three folded. Smaller items are catered for by as many as 30 storage compartments.

The Colorado 7 comes with an extensive range of more than 30 accessories, 13 of which have been developed in Australia. Among them is a bull bar which will not impact on the vehicle’s five-star ANCAP rating.

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