[JoeT]

First Drive: Holden Rodeo Enters Colorado Country

Byron Mathioudakis
12 August 2008
www.goauto.com.au

Holden’s new Colorado light truck takes over where the Rodeo ute left off.

Colorado is in and Rodeo is out as Holden redoubles its efforts in the booming light truck segment. On sale now, the RC Colorado is essentially the previous RA Series II Rodeo built by Isuzu in Thailand, with a redesigned nose and tail-lights.

The Colorado also offers a lower starting price – that varies from $1000 to $1500, depending on model – and more standard features, including air-conditioning, dual front airbags and greater availability of anti-lock brakes.

Model proliferation falls, from around 45 to 30 versions, compared to Rodeo, but other than that, there are the same Single Cab, Space Cab and Crew Cab choices, in combinations with petrol or diesel and 4x2 rear-wheel drive or 4x4 four-wheel drive.

Every body panel forward of the A-pillar is new – the work of General Motors’ global styling team rather than just Holden’s – while the tail-lights feature new graphics to help set it apart from the previous Rodeo. There are also minor trim changes inside.

Finally, LT-R replaces LT as the range-topper, joining the base DX and mid-spec LX in the Colorado line-up. New LT-R features include Bluetooth capability and rear parking radar.

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Holden Colorado Range

Joe Kenwright
13 August 2008
www.carpoint.com.au

It gets a new face and a new name, but it's the same old Rodeo underneath.

Although the text books say you should never drop a popular nameplate, Holden could pluck a winner from adversity, after being forced to replace the Rodeo with the Colorado... Especially, as the process has been nudged along with some price cuts and extra equipment.

The RA Rodeo series, which was a Holden-badged Isuzu model that could trace its ancestry back to the original Chevy/Holden LUV truck based on the Isuzu Florian sedan, is no more. Launched in early March 2003, the RA series was the first of a new breed of one-tonners and enjoyed a captive market until the others caught up.

After several upgrades, including a new diesel and V6 petrol engine, the RA Rodeo faced a sales revival this year contributing to an 18.1 per cent increase in Holden's light commercial sales (over 2006) and becoming the third most popular vehicle of its type against much newer rivals.

The Rodeo has come to an untimely end after the tie-up between General Motors and Isuzu ended. Its Colorado replacement is the exact same vehicle wearing GM styling and Chevrolet's global model name for this vehicle segment. Although there is a Chevrolet Colorado in the US, it is totally different to the Thai-sourced Australian Colorado.

The Australian Colorado has exactly the same relationship with the Rodeo as the Australian Ford Ranger has with its Mazda BT50 equivalent. Holden's local design team has had major input in the new styling, thus the Colorado looks more like a Holden than ever with a clear family resemblance to the Commodore and other models.

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Meet Rodeo's Sister: New Holden Colorado Range & Prices Announced ​

 

[jmlee0695]

is there any chance of us getting this?

 

[steve333]

So GM insists on having Isuzu build their small trucks even though they absolutely suck at it.
Wonder why GM is having financial problems?

 

[ColinOpseth]

Lipstick on a pig.

 

[helen m]

Are they going to call it Colorado? I mean it's being sold in Australia and it's made in Thailand by a Japanese based GM company. Instead of such an American sounding name as Colorado, why not give it a name that would be at home anywhere or better still something Australian. Colorado is a good name, but surely it's better suited to a vehicle that is either made or marketed in the US. I know it's been used before, so it would need to be something a bit different this time around, but Holden Jackeroo wasn't a bad name....

 

[TKR]

Lipstick on a pig.

Considering your tag line about research, I guess you have driven one then.....

 

[TKR]

Are they going to call it Colorado? I mean it's being sold in Australia and it's made in Thailand by a Japanese based GM company. Instead of such an American sounding name as Colorado, why not give it a name that would be at home anywhere or better still something Australian. Colorado is a good name, but surely it's better suited to a vehicle that is either made or marketed in the US. I know it's been used before, so it would need to be something a bit different this time around, but Holden Jackeroo wasn't a bad name....

Because GM is in the process of designing a new 'global' mid-sized pickup to replace the Colorado in the US and also other GM markets globally and it makes sense to have a common name around the world. I personaly like the name as it does sound tough - better than BT50.

Colorado footwear sell shoes in places other than the US and the name doesn't seem to hurt them...

Also, Isuzu is not a Japanese based GM company.

 

[Ssom]

I'm sorry, but Global names just don't work, Colorado means nothing to me (As well as most other Antipodeans) except Snowboarding and South Park. There's got to be a better name out there for it (Granted Rodeo wasn't much better, sounded more ***** than anything).

Still this is not supposed to be chasing Hilux for market dominance, that became apparent when I learned just what kind of discounts Toyota gives to tradies.

 

[commodorecoops]

I drive Navaras, BT-50s and Hiluxes at work on a daily basis and, well, they're all crap. Test drove a Colorado the other day. Can't say I like the front end, would prefer the Chevy front, but seriously, anyone that buys a Toyota, Nissan or Mazda over the Holden clearly knows nothing about driving. Smoother, quieter, less body roll, more steering feel and generally better build quality than even the Hilux. It's just a shame that many people will buy small trucks based on the badge and nothing else.

 

[ZHDesign57]

I don't think it would do bad at all over here in the US as the next Colorado, so bring it GM! The face kind of looks like a Tahoe/Silverado mix if you ask me.

 

[mikmak]

Lipstick on a pig.

So you like trucks to look pretty?

Here's some research that was done to investigate how these vehicles operate in the environs for which they were designed.
Pick Up Comparison

 

[FenwickHockey65]

is there any chance of us getting this?

 

[MisterMe]

is there any chance of us getting this?

Yes. It is called the Chevrolet Colorado and is built in Shreveport, LA.

 

[TKR]

I'm sorry, but Global names just don't work, Colorado means nothing to me (As well as most other Antipodeans) except Snowboarding and South Park. There's got to be a better name out there for it (Granted Rodeo wasn't much better, sounded more ***** than anything).

Still this is not supposed to be chasing Hilux for market dominance, that became apparent when I learned just what kind of discounts Toyota gives to tradies.

What does Hilux or Ranger mean then? If GM actually stick with the Colorado name for global markets, let it build a good solid reputation and do not chop and change the name then one day it should mean a lot.

I have never been to the US but Colorado to me means rough, rocky, snowy terrain - exactly what this vehicle is aimed at. Watch a Warren Miller movie some day and you will understand .

 

[ford&holden]

I drive Navaras, BT-50s and Hiluxes at work on a daily basis and, well, they're all crap. Test drove a Colorado the other day. Can't say I like the front end, would prefer the Chevy front, but seriously, anyone that buys a Toyota, Nissan or Mazda over the Holden clearly knows nothing about driving. Smoother, quieter, less body roll, more steering feel and generally better build quality than even the Hilux. It's just a shame that many people will buy small trucks based on the badge and nothing else.

Really!?

Personally i prefer the rodeo front end than the colorado's. I've had a good look over them at PD and it seems to have less of an impact styling wise, more bland.

 

[salbracht]

is there any chance of us getting this?

We already have it ... it's the Chevy Colorado with a new nose and hood. (Kindof a reverse of how we got the G8 by putting a Pontiac node and hood on the Holden Commodore.)

 

[ColinOpseth]

Considering your tag line about research, I guess you have driven one then.....

Yes, I used to sell them at Rancho Chevrolet in Victorville, California. Thank you, drive through.:

 

[TKR]

Yes, I used to sell them at Rancho Chevrolet in Victorville, California. Thank you, drive through.:

And I used to sell the NZ version which is a good truck, complete with GM V6 or 3.0l Diesel (which is what the article was discussing).

Maybe the US versions are not as good?

 

[ColinOpseth]

So you like trucks to look pretty?

Here's some research that was done to investigate how these vehicles operate in the environs for which they were designed.
Pick Up Comparison

I've driven them many times. I've also driven the last generation S10. Loved the S10. It feels like the materials in the Colorado are cheap, the seats are too close to the floor and the gauges are too plain.

I do like the styling but the truck feels very underpowered at lower speeds even with the 5 cylinder. It needs a hefty torque boost. Horsepower seems adequate and I'm sure towing capacity is fair.

I didn't say I wanted the truck to look pretty. I like the looks of the Xtreme but I think the truck is a bit bland. The dash is horrid.

 

[ColinOpseth]

And I used to sell the NZ version which is a good truck, complete with GM V6 or 3.0l Diesel (which is what the article was discussing).

Maybe the US versions are not as good?

That's probably the difference. The truck in the US is only available with a 4 cylinder making about 175 horsepower or an inline 5 cylinder making 220 horsepower. No diesel is available and no V6. The previous generation came with a 2.2L or a 4.3L V6. Both were good engines.

The I5 lacks the gusto of the previous 4.3L V6.