Holden Problems

Getting to the halfway mark on the gauge in five minutes doesn’t sound like a problem, providing it sits there and doesn’t go any higher. The gauge will move up relatively quickly while the thermostat is closed during warm-up, but once the thermostat opens the gauge should remain steady. If it continues to climb it could be that the thermostat is stuck and not opening.

Others things to check are the coolant level, coolant leaks, and make sure the thermo fan is working.

Holden updated the Colorado for the 2017 model year so it will likely be a few years before the current generation is updated with large scale improvements.

If it makes you feel more comfortable then buy it, but I don’t believe it’s necessary.

Get it now if you do want it.

Like any car, there is potential for Holden Captivas to have mechanical or electrical problems. Modern cars are full of delicate electrical sensors and complex mechanical components, and if not properly serviced or maintained, even generally reliable cars can suffer breakdowns. You can help protect yourself by having a professional pre-purchase inspection carried out, and buying a vehicle with low mileage and a full service history.

Sales of the Equinox have been slow, even Holden admits that. Just 364 were sold in February, which left the Equinox trailing the class-leading Mazda CX-5 by a huge 1817 and leaving it in 11th place for the month.

Of those you list I would go for the Mitsubishi ASX. You could also try the Kia Sorento or Mazda CX-5.

Holden's Captiva wasn't a locally produced vehicle. Instead it was made by the Korean General Motors brand Daewoo in their home country and imported as a complete vehicle.

The two I would suggest are the Ford Ranger and the Holden Colorado.

Since its introduction in 2006 Holden has sold the Daewoo-designed and built Captiva crossover SUV in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive. Although they have sold a range of different engine and transmission options there has never been a rear-wheel drive layout offered.

Being new there’s little history to tell you about any issues, it’s simply too early to make any predictions. When Carsguide reviewed the Colorado it was rated at 7.5/10, a pretty good score. It’s clearly on the money when it comes to utes. One thing I would point out is that the diesel engine has a cam timing belt, and while Holden says it’s maintenance-free I remain sceptical. Overall, I don’t think you have anything to be concerned about.