Transformer

Holden has transformed its Colorado ute into a four-wheel-drive wagon.

Story By Matt Raudonikis

Holden has filled a hole in its new vehicle line-up with the launch of the Colorado 7. The company has been without a true four-wheel-drive wagon since the demise of the Jackaroo in 1994. The successful Jackaroo was a wagon built on the chassis of the Rodeo ute and Holden has repeated the recipe with this latest offering, adapting a wagon body on the underpinnings of its recent Colorado ute. With its seven-seat capacity the new model is simply being called the Colorado 7.
Other vehicles that use this formula of creating a wagon from a ute include the Nissan Pathfinder and Mitsubishi Challenger, and similar wagons are expected from Ford and Isuzu off their respective ute chassis in the coming year.
Colorado 7 is being offered in two specification levels with just the single Duramax engine and auto-transmission driveline. The engine is the now-familiar 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel from the Colorado ute, which makes 132kW of power at 3200rpm and 470Nm of torque at 2000rpm. It’s also backed by the same six-speed auto transmission and part-time 4WD system. In the wagon this package earns a 9.4L/100km fuel-consumption rating.
The bespoke wagon has plenty of room for passengers in the second-row seat with more recline to the seat than what is available in the Colorado ute. The third row is easily accessed via the back doors past roll-and-fold second seats. A genuine footwell for rearmost passengers creates adequate leg room for adults but the available height limits head room for taller folk. Rear seat passengers get their own air-conditioning controls and vents in both models.
Passengers are afforded five-star ANCAP safety thanks, in part, to full-length curtain airbags that protect all occupants. The front passengers also get front airbags while life-saving systems such as electronic stability control, traction control and anti-lock brakes are all standard equipment.
A safety feature of both the Colorado ute and wagon is its genuine accessories bullbar, which, when fitted, does not affect the vehicle’s five-star safety rating. Holden took the unique step of having the Colorado tested with the bullbar fitted and only the factory-supplied bullbar meets this requirement. The bullbar can be fitted as part of the Nullarbor Accessories Pack that also includes driving lights, roof cross bars, an air-intake snorkel and a 3000-kilogram tow-bar kit. This is a $4220 option and, like all Holden accessories, is covered by factory warranty.