IT’S big and ballsy on the outside, but sort of soft and gushy on the inside – much like a Picnic chocolate bar really.
We’re talking about the 2015 Holden Colorado SpaceCab 4×4 LTZ (as opposed to its Colorado 7 stable mate), with the popular work and recreation utility (are we calling them pick-up trucks yet) getting a bit of love from manufacturer Holden – both inside and out.
Maintaining its easily recognisable exterior, but gaining some mild styling updates and an improved suspension package to soften its previously overly rough ride, the Colorado SpaceCab has a lot to offer the tradie or utility fan looking for better comfort than your run of the mill tray back.
Inside though, the improvements are vast. Better interior materials, improved style, more comfortable seating and driving position, which along with the exterior changes, make the beefy looking Holden a nice vehicle to drive – to a point.
There’s drawbacks here and there, hangovers from the partnership with Isuzu that created the Colorado, including interior noise levels – road and wind noise in particular – which, while significantly improved, seem to have taken on an industrial tractor note.
It’s skittish over rough sealed roads too (more than we expected), the result of its light rear end, but settles much faster than previous incarnations of this vehicle have. Ironically, it’s 4×4 capabilities are exceptional and its low speed ride on off-road terrain is better than we thought it would be.
As for the rear seats in the SpaceCab, well there aren’t really any (not that it’s meant to house big bulky workers on long drives). They’re there, but they are flip up hard flat pads, which is great for stacking stuff on the back seats, but pity the poor person who has to sit back there.
Powered by a 2.8L turbo diesel producing 147kW of power and 500Nm of torque, the Colorado LTZ has a 3.5 tonne towing capacity (untested), and comes in manual or auto (tested). The tray no longer has a 1 tonne load capacity (a sacrifice of the improved suspension and running gear), but is still capable of 825kg (and up to 950kg depending on the model variant).
The 2015 Holden Colorado SpaceCab 4×4 LTZ has a 4-star ANCAP safety rating, and hits the market at $47,990 (plus on-roads). Fuel consumption (unloaded and with nothing on the tow) sits at a reasonable 9L/100km, and purchase includes Holden’s fixed priced servicing offer.
Our test vehicle was provided by Holden Australia. To find out more about the 2015 Holden Colorado SpaceCab 4×4 LTZ, contact your Holden dealer.
