The Star: April 20, 2017

The Star 47
Driven
FREE WEEKLY MAGAZINE
in stands every Friday
Latest Christchurch news at www.
.kiwi
Thursday April 20 2017
OVER 1000
VEHICLES
FOR
SALE
Popular Colorado
up for a challenge
• By Ross Kiddie
NEW ZEALAND has
become quite the
ute-buying nation.
That doesn’t surprise me,
Kiwis are following trends
out of North America and
Australia.
In the last few years ute
sales here have shot up to
record levels. While it’s
fair to say most buyers
are choosing Ford and its
Ranger, all manufactures
which ply that part of the
market are claiming success.
None more so than
Holden with its Colorado,
it is selling hard on the
heels of Ranger, a new
model was launched last
year and as I reported
in these columns in
November, it is a standout
in terms of refinement and,
of course, practicality.
That evaluation focused
on the mid-spec LTZ; five
days with the range-topping
Z71 has done nothing
to alter my affection for the
popular four-wheel-drive
double cab.
Clearly, the Z71 is aimed
more towards the recreational
buyer, it has decals,
stripes, body kit and a
level of specification which
wouldn’t work for many
industry roles.
However, I found the
deck cover functional and
useful for low loads, I took
a deck full of foliage to the
green recycling centre, to
be able to pack it down
and hold it secure with the
fibreglass cover was simply
brilliant. I also used that
area to transport the cricket
gear I use as year 4 coach,
to have it locked secure
when I was away from the
vehicle was also another
bonus.
These tasks were no
match for the Colorado’s
1000kg load capacity, but
they did serve to prove how
adaptable the modern ute
has become, and if you add
in a 3500kg tow rating the
Colorado is right up there
in terms of load carrying
performance.
At the other end sits
a 2.8-litre, four-cylinder
twin-camshaft turbocharged
diesel engine. It is
rated bay Holden at 147kW
HOLDEN COLORADO Z71: Genuine off-roader.
and with 500Nm of torque
available at just 2000rpm it
is a powerhouse, easily on a
par with all of its competitors.
Drive is harnessed
through a six-speed automatic
transmission. A
manual is available, but
it won’t compete with the
auto in terms of sales figures.
• Price – Holden
Colorado Z71,
$66,990
• Dimensions –
Length, 5361mm;
width, 1872mm;
height, 1800mm
• Configuration
– Four-cylinder, fourwheel-drive,2776cc,
147kW, 500Nm, sixspeed
automatic
• Performance –
0-100km/h, 11sec
• Fuel usage –
8.7l/100km
Shifts are smooth and the
gearing is such that it provides
relaxed motoring at
highway speed along with
the ratios needed for slow
speed, off-the-seal travel.
Backing up that theory
is the fitment of a true
low ratio transfer box, it is
manipulated electronically
by a console-mounted dial
switch, at the driver’s command.
It’s fair to say I didn’t
take the Z71 off-road.
When Holden launched
the new series, it included
a traction-challenging offroad
excursion in North
Canterbury. I felt I didn’t
need to replicate that given
all vehicles completed the
undulating and muddy hill
sections without drama.
VERSATILE:
The Z71 has a
high level of
specification.
Instead, I spent most
of my time with the Z71
at highway speed and my
regular commute. In those
conditions it seems more
car-like that ute-like. Sure,
there is a lot of bulk to
manoeuvre in close confine
situations, but it’s no worse
than any other vehicle of its
type. And if you take into
account the number which
are being sold, buyers quite
obviously don’t rate that as
a challenge.
On the open road, the
engine turns over slowly
at 1550rpm at 100km/h
in top gear. At that speed
it returns a 6.2-litre per
100km (46mpg) instantaneous
fuel usage figure,
that accounted for
an 9.4l/100km (30mpg)
average figure during my
time with the ute. That
correlates well with the
8.7l/100km (32mpg) figure
Holden claims for a combined
cycle average.
Road and wind noise are
both kept to a minimum,
and the Colorado, as a
series, imparts a smooth
ride. Of course, it is better
with a bit of weight in the
back, but the reality is the
load bearing suspension is
relatively absorbent and the
cab doesn’t jiggle unnecessarily
on uneven surfaces.
That’s an area where local
research and development
pays dividends. Holden
Australia places a huge
emphasis on developing
vehicles for down under
conditions and it certainly
shows in Colorado. The
ride is acceptable and the
entire in-cabin experience
is comfortable.
I guess, it would need to
be. The Z71 isn’t cheap at
$66,990, but for that money
you do get a lot of kit.
Even though the Z71’s
flashy bits disguise its traditional
ute look, make
no mistake, it is still the
quintessential Colorado
which has carved out a
huge reputation as a tough,
go-anywhere worker.
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