Holden Colorado LTZ Space Cab 4x4 2017 review

I like a ute that looks like a ute – chunky, blunt nosed and capable. Sculpted, sweeping lines may be all the rage, but in my mind at least, are best suited for those cute little cars unlikely to ever rev an engine chord in anger.

Sure, these days most four-wheel drives (4WD) never leave the tarmac but we still want them to look the part, and with its new straighter dual grille, aggressive stance and refreshed headlight arrangement, the Colorado ticks that box. It has considerable presence in the metal, sheer bulk enhancing its formidable stance.

A softer approach has been reserved for the interior space where it's evident care has been taken to ensure the Colorado no longer lags behind in terms of the creature comforts offered by competitors. The dash itself offers clean lines with hardy dials and buttons, and surprisingly, soft touch materials where you would expect them. Instruments are simple and unfussy – this is an intended work ute after all – with the digital speedometer a nice bonus.

This new Colorado sees the windows lower (2.5cm) automatically when the door is opened to lessen the sound in the cabin after you climb in and slam the door shut. It can be eerie at first and takes a bit of getting used to, and because it can't be disabled we were none the wiser as to whether it makes a difference at all. As a talking point though, it's pretty nifty.

It's evident care has been taken to ensure the Colorado no longer lags behind in terms of the creature comforts offered by competitors.

So, one of the reasons for the ute's rapidly growing popularity is its versatility. Dual-cabs are leading the charge here – their ability to act as a work and play vehicle and carry the family in some comfort, undeniable strings in the bow.

While the Space Cab may satisfy the first two criteria, it's far from a family wagon. Not that it has ever made any claims to that mantle, mind you. The second row, and I am using that term loosely, is actually a hard storage bench of sorts with two flip-top padded rectangular jump seats on which to settle the tush.

My girls love a ute but the look on their faces when they realised how the back seat worked is one I will dine out on for months, the whining that followed a 200km round trip, though, not so much.

Access is courtesy of rear-hinged doors that can only be opened if the front doors are ajar, which further complicates the back seat proposition. It is a different story for those in the front, with suitably shaped and supportive seats, headrests that don't push your neck forward and room to stretch out the legs. You will have to niggle around a bit to find the perfect driving position as the steering wheel adjusts for height but not reach.

The tray is nicely proportioned and does as well with surfboards and palm fronds as it does with serious work toolboxes.

Still, the cabin feels quite comfortable to be in, with grab handles and side steps assisting entry and exits, and the higher driving position and large side mirrors offering great visibility. Storage is a bit on the stingy side with space for a coffee cup or two, a usable centre console bin and shallow door pockets. It is a bit underwhelming for someone whose vehicle doubles as a mobile office, however, and one can't help but think a place to dump a diary or phone wouldn't go astray.

There is one USB input – two would be better – and a couple of 12 volt sockets in the cabin for electronic devices. The tray is nicely proportioned and does as well with surfboards and palm fronds as it does with serious work toolboxes, but it does miss out on a 12 volt and a tub liner as well which feels poor form at this price point. The Colorado's towing capability remains at 3500kg braked and 750kg unbraked with payload at 1086kg, and the towbar an optional extra.

The tray is nicely proportioned and does as well with surfboards and palm fronds as it does with serious work toolboxes.

According to Holden, this Colorado is one of the most feature laden they have offered with standard inclusions in our $51,190 LTZ test vehicle  including things like an integrated 8.0-inch colour touchscreen that fronts the satellite navigation and reverse camera systems and supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, digital radio, auto headlights and wipers, front and rear parking sensors, electrically adjustable driver's seat and 18-inch alloys with tyre monitoring system.

The multimedia system is easy to navigate, even on the go, and the Bluetooth pairing simple to connect.

Our LTZ test vehicle included 18-inch alloys with tyre monitoring system.

All Holden Colorados are powered by a lusty 2.8-litre turbo-diesel engine paired with either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission, which is a $2200 option. In our test vehicle this translated to 147kW of power and a hefty 500Nm of torque, with the manual having to do with 60Nm less.

In the auto, that torque is available from around 2000rpm, so only the slightest of urging is needed to get it going.

A dual-range 4WD means you use two-wheel drive in most everyday driving situations but you have the option of selecting 4WD when you need the extra grip.

Fuel economy hovered around 9.8L/100km during our week in the Colorado with a fair few longer trips and some towing thrown in for good measure. A bit more than Holden's claimed 8.6L/100km but that is to be expected.

Thankfully, the changes made to the new Colorado do not end with a shiny chrome grille and Smartphone technology. The best work lies under the skin, with serious adjustments to the suspension and the introduction of new insulators and mounts to help with noise and vibrations.

Tuned to Australian conditions, the Colorado delivers a composed, comfortable drive.

Progress is steady from start-up, warming up quickly and then really showing verve once the torque kicks in. This is a more than willing beast, the reconfigured steering ratio allowing for easier handling and delivering a more car-like feel.

The Colorado is settled along bumpy stretches, absorbing irregularities with surprising ease.

Electronic steering assistance (rather than hydraulic) makes for lighter steering when parking for example, but also offers more feedback than the previous Colorado on secondary roads or at higher speeds.

The Colorado is settled along bumpy stretches, absorbing irregularities with surprising ease. It keeps its head even without a load in the back, a telling sign of the work that has gone into smoothing out the suspension set-up.

Of course, it is at its best while laden – balanced and efficient – and seems to relish the addition of a trailer too.

The Colorado is able to handle most regular off-road challenges, helped of course by the abundance of electronic aids. Without a lockable rear diff, however, off-roading is best kept to the path most travelled.

Lane departure warning and forward collision alert headline a five-star ANCAP safety suite that also includes seven airbags, hill-start assist and trailer sway control.

Like most Holden offerings, the warranty for the Colorado is three years/100,000km with lifetime capped-price servicing. Cost for the first three scheduled services is $349.