WHEN Holden’s second-generation Colorado ute launched June 2012, it was a decent effort but the game-changing Volkswagen Amarok, impressive Australian designed and engineered Ford PX Ranger and its under-skin twin Mazda BT-50 had arrived the year prior, making the comparatively agricultural Colorado look underdone from day one in terms of ride, refinement, road manners and interior.

Against the backdrop of a complete ute segment renewal, Holden’s minor tweaks here and there did little to convince us of the Colorado’s competitiveness but the big 2016 mid-life facelift – with plenty of Australian engineering input this time – marks an almost miraculous turnaround and puts this truck right up there against the benchmark-setters.

Indeed, after a week living with an almost-top-spec LTZ Crew Cab 4x4 variant of the refreshed Colorado, Holden’s offering in this extremely hard-fought segment has earned its way onto our list of favourites.



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