Holden Colorado 2020 Review

Holden Colorado 2020 - Staying Competitive with a Mild Facelift

The 2020 Colorado's mild facelift is designed to keep it competitive against other ute brands in the market.

The previously-finite LSX model now comes as a permanent fixture in the lineup. There’s also a new LTZ+ variant, which features a factory tow bar and a payload just under one tonne, which is perfect for novated leasing. Meanwhile, the entry-level LS now comes with an additional bit of black on the grille.

While the 2020 Colorado is mostly unchanged, prospective buyers can still get a solid, competitive ute with a gunty engine, good performance on-road and off-road, and great warranty. While it lacks any standout features, there are also major weaknesses in the lineup, with good performance on-road and off-road.

Holden Colorado 2020 Aggregated Reviews

CarAdvice.com.au - 8.1/10
CarsGuide.com.au - 7.2/10
WhichCar.com.au - 4/5

We Love

• Powerful engine
• Great road-holding
• Available smartphone connectivity
• Great dealer network
• Limited-slip differential beneficial on-road and off-road
• Gruff, grunty performance from the 2.8-litre diesel
• Slightly improved value for money

Pain Points

• Missing active safety tech
• One of the less able utes off-road
• Lacks any real standout features

Exterior

The new LSX dual-cab gets 18-inch Arsenal Grey wheels, fender flares, DAB radio, a tonneau cover and a blackened tailgate, grille and sports bar.

Going to the LTZ and you get a ‘Duraguard’ spray-in tub liner.

Top of the tree is the Z71, which is mostly a style pack over the LTZ. You get a sailplane-style sports bar and folding soft tonneau, along with some underbody protection, decals and embroidery. There’s also a soft-drop tailgate, roof rails and grey 18-inch alloys.

Optional automatic gearboxes are available across the range for an additional cost.

If you’re looking for extra gear from the factory floor, Holden offers five accessory packs for different users: Tradie Pack, Farmer's Pack, Rig Pack, Black Pack and Xtreme.

Interior

Inside, the Colorado is a pretty solid performer. Interior quality overall feels quite good. It’s mostly plastic, with a handful of different surfaces around, but it isn’t cheap-looking.

There’s no rake adjustment, but you can dial yourself in pretty well with seat adjustments. They aren’t the best in the segment, but are far from the worst in the segment, and good enough. Second-row comfort is good, with nice legroom.

Getting comfortable in the driver’s seat may remain a challenge for some people. The steering wheel is adjustable for height but not reach as it can’t be slid in or out. The front seats also seem flatter and less form-fitting than in rival utes.

Other features include:

• Leather-wrapped steering wheel with buttons for operating the cruise control, the sound system, and phone
• Headlamps that switch on automatically when it’s getting dark
• Electronic stability control
• Trailer Sway Control
• Hill-start Assist
• Electric power steering and electronic traction control
• Power-operated door mirrors
• Remote window activation, which allows the windows to be opened with the key fob
• Seven airbags
• Full-size spare wheel

Infotainment and Connectivity

Inside, all Colorados have excellent smartphone integration via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The 7.0-inch screen on low-spec models does feel a little bit underwhelming in the centre stack, but having smartphone connectivity helps with its functionality. The 8.0-inch system on the top-spec models, on the other hand, feels pretty premium.

The central touchscreen allows the screen to display and control apps from compatible smartphones. There are also Bluetooth phone connectivity, auxiliary and USB ports for electronic devices, and digital radio tuning for dozens of additional channels in cities.

On Colorado pick-ups, a reversing camera and rear parking sensors are installed. The cab-chassis variants have wiring that allows a camera to be connected easily fitted with the tray.

What's it like to drive a Holden Colorado 2020?

The Colorado is quite a potent off-roader, helped no doubt by the engine’s low-down torque and nice gearing. Suspension and steering tuning is unchanged for 2020, but it’s well sorted. You could argue the electric-assisted steering sometimes feels a little vacant but for a four-wheel-drive ute, you’re probably clutching at straws. It holds well in corners, and the suspension handles bumps and rough sections pretty well, without feeling overly firm.

When it comes to engine performance, the Colorado has a nice gruff. It’s far from offensive and doesn’t mind being revved out now and again. The high-mounted alternator under the bonnet is also a plus point. The engine's grunt is nicely handled by the six-speed automatic gearbox. It holds its gears at the right time and feels nicely matched, in both high range and low range.

The helical limited-slip differential in the rear end helps keep composure as torque flows through the driveline. The limited-slip differential also gives benefits off-road. It’s not as good as a locking differential but combined with good ground clearance and a decent underbody design, the traction control works well with the diff to keep you moving in the right direction when traction is scarce.

While 4WD Colorados are generally capable of off-road driving, they are not among the best utes when the going gets very difficult. For one, they do not have lockable rear differentials.

Who’s the Holden Colorado 2020 for?

The Colorado 2020 is ideal for tradies, business owners, and individuals whose day-to-day work involves a lot of towing. It is also great for those who need a ute with speed. It is significantly quicker than a 3.2-litre Ford Ranger although noisier and more gravelly-sounding from inside the cabin.

The ute is more about capability and load-lugging than dexterity through tight bends, however. While its off-road capabilities are generally good, the Colorado is not as able in extremely rough or slippery conditions as several alternative 4WD utes. It has less suspension travel than most utes, which means that it is less capable of keeping all four wheels on the ground where they can drive you forward.

Those who want to sell the car someday may also have trouble negotiating for a good price. Holden's demise could have an impact on resale values. The good news is there should be no negative impact on your rights as an owner when it comes to parts, servicing, warranties and recalls.

Features Summary

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