In the GMI Garage: 2012 Holden Colorado 2.8 CDTI LX Cab

[BBDOS CV8]

Big, chunky utility. Early impressions: engine is both grunty, and willing to rev. Excellent matching of trans to engine - power everywhere - grunt it, or spin it out.

It feels like it's carved from solid to drive, nary a squeak, rattle or buzz.


The 2011 Colorado looks a bit forlorn in the Holden test vehicle garage next to the 2012 RG. New vehicle is much larger, much 'butch-er'. The interior is man size.

Edit: Apologies, this is just the preview, not the review! Late night. Yes, open for questions. This is a one-up-from base model, in a typical tradesman/contractor configuration.

[FxsX24]

am i the only one thinking this review is missing something?

[Rick_VT]

So is the interior plastics as bad as all of the car mag reviews say??

[PHAT-JAY]

man thats one ugly truck....

[SeetheUSA]

If it's that much bigger, I'm glad they're delaying the launch here in the US. The Silverado/Sierra's can't afford another competitor when the new one's debut.

I would have liked an interior pic, but you get what you pay for sometimes...LOL!! Thanks BBDOS!

[PontiacBixler]

am i the only one thinking this review is missing something?

[logansowner]

Sweet review...now that we know it felt solid, there is absolutely nothing else a review needs to contain.....

[steve333]

Yahoo is calling, it wants it's review back

[FenwickHockey65]

Well, he never really said it was a review...just letting you guys know he has one to drive around if you have questions...

[Lowboy]

[

Flatbed Equinox?

[oldmember2]

I don't care what anybody says, I like the truck. i would love for GM to offer it with a flat bead just like the one in photo and a 2.8 diesel here in the great USA.

[krusshall]

If it's not a review, shouldn't it be titled "In the GMI Garage"?

It really does make the 2011 look small and outdated. I'll take a crew cab with extended wheelbase so the bed doesn't look cantilevered off the back.

[BBDOS CV8]

So is the interior plastics as bad as all of the car mag reviews say??

In short, no. I spent Saturday afternoon driving along the strip of dealers near me - looked in Nissan, Toyota, Mitu, Mazda. New, and near-new vehicles. I think the car journos are on crack - they can't recalibrate their preconceptions. It's about par for where I think it should be. It's competitive in this segment - obviously quite rugged, and designed to be long-wearing in commercial use and easy to keep clean (hose out) But it isn't a tin box lined with tupperware like my old Hilux.



This is a teaser pic of the LX, which is tradie-special one-up from the poverty-pack DX. It isn't a passenger car - it's a LCV but even so, the graining of the plastics on the doors, armrests is quite pleasing and warm, not hard and cold 1980's-style like the Hilux. Yes, that's a real leather steering wheel cover on a pretty base-spec trades vehicle.

After a close look at a Hilux, I can't believe anyone who cares about anything other than price buys one - it's a dinky toy. And feels like Mattel makes it. Everything about it is 90lb weakling, even the size of the brakes.

The Mitsu you'd buy if it's cheap, the Navara is decent-looking inside and out although 1 year old used examples show a lot of wear on switches and fake brushed alloy. I think at entry level the interior is not a patch on the Colorado. The dimples in the dash 'crash' pad around the dash cluster opening where it obviously has locating tabs looks naff, and the 'silver alloy' trim looks fake from brand new and worse once worn.

I understand Holden nominating it is the lead competitor. The Nissan salesman told me - nice guy, we had a long chat about this segment and he used to work for Toyota in the Northern Territory - that Nissan actually kills Toyota for profitability even on 60% of the volume. Toyota sells lots of Hiluxes, or more accurately gives them away. Nissan last month outsold them in the AWD crew and especially premium price category. Hence, Nissan is now a bit threatened by the Colorado, because up until now it was the most rugged and powerful. Notice Nissan re-advertising Navarrs, even though it's after EOFY and all the trade/commercial yards were quiet as crypts. There was no-one even there apart from the Nissan yard, and he'd just wandered around to show someone a Patrol.

But park the Colorado next to any one of them, or sit in it it just looks and feels like it's in another league. It doesn't come across in photos - it looks sorta soft and I can understand why people think it's a bit feminine. Stand beside it; and it feels vaguely menacing. Unlike the others, the seats feel like they're made for blokes more than 170cm 5'6" and with bigger than 32" waists!

So far, I've only driven it in peak hour traffic but initial impression on drivability, power and the basics like handling brakes etc are positive. I have some solid tests in mind for it including some furniture removals - it's going to get a workout this week.

[Brenie]

You need to be cross referencing this against the new Ranger and Amarok as they are the current benchmarks.

[BBDOS CV8]

You need to be cross referencing this against the new Ranger and Amarok as they are the current benchmarks.

Amarok? You must be joking. If you were a dedicated Euro-nut it's your only choice. If I was spending my money - and my missus has a DSG VW so I am well aware of it's foibles: it has half the engine and 1/2 the tow capacity. And inisde, it's a bit cheap shizzit at entry level. The Colorado makes it look half-assed. You'd be paying more, for less.

The Ranger looks nice, it's more car-like. Whether that translates into sales in a 'tough' segment is another matter. I didn't get that close to one. The BT50 is nominated as a twin-under-the-skin and other than more sparkly bits inside I can't see it radically better in any way. As it is, the Colorado puts the wood on both for towing capacity and interior size - it's plain bigger and roomier at least in this format.