Holden Colorado: the Thai-built Holden pickup

The Holden Colorado was a range of compact and mid-size pickup trucks sold by Holden from 2008 to 2021. It was essentially a rebadged Chevrolet Colorado built in Rayong, Thailand, and it replaced the Isuzu-based Holden Rodeo after General Motors and Isuzu parted ways.

Holden Colorado at a glance

History of the Holden Colorado

RC: replacing the Rodeo

The Colorado was released in Australia and New Zealand in 2008, replacing the D-Max-based Holden Rodeo after the split between General Motors and Isuzu. The RC model was a rebadged version of the facelifted Thai-specification Chevrolet Colorado: it kept that truck’s front styling while the rest came from the Isuzu D-Max. Like the Rodeo it was offered as 4×2 or 4×4 and in single-cab, space-cab and crew-cab bodies, with a choice of petrol and diesel engines. The petrol units were a 2.4 four-cylinder and the Australian-made 3.6-litre Alloytec V6; the diesel was Isuzu’s four-cylinder 4JJ1-TCX of 3.0 litres. It was replaced by the second-generation Colorado in 2012.

RG: the 2012 model

The second-generation Colorado was revealed at the 2011 Australian International Motor Show and went on sale in June 2012 in Australia and New Zealand, again sourced from Rayong. Only one engine was offered, a 2.8-litre turbo diesel built by GM Thailand. The range ran from the basic LS and LT through the LSX, LTZ and LTZ+ to the Z71: LSX and Z71 were aimed at off-road use, LTZ and LTZ+ at luxury, and while the LT was rear-wheel drive only, the LSX, LTZ+ and Z71 came only with four-wheel drive.

Facelift and the end

For the 2016 model year the Colorado was facelifted as the RG II, keeping the front end but gaining a Chevrolet-designed interior in place of the Isuzu design, more power and better build quality. The Brazilian-built Chevrolet S-10 dual-cab became the 2017 facelifted model, and the Colorado and the Colorado 7, rebadged as the Chevrolet Trailblazer SUV in 2017, were built in Thailand for Asia and Australasia. Both were discontinued in 2020 with the demise of the Holden brand and the closure of the GM Thailand plant.

The pre-facelift LTZ was criticised by CarAdvice for its interior, ride, automatic gearbox and build quality, though the review praised its fuel consumption, practicality and servicing costs. Comparing it with the Isuzu D-Max on which it was based, the same publication called the Isuzu the better choice.

Design and features

• Thai production: every Colorado was built at the GM plant in Rayong, Thailand.
• Three body styles: single-cab, space-cab and crew-cab, in 4×2 or 4×4.
• Diesel only in RG form: the second generation offered just the 2.8-litre turbo diesel.
• Trim spread: from the basic LS to the off-road Z71 and luxury LTZ+.
• Colorado 7: an SUV version of the same truck, rebadged as the Chevrolet Trailblazer in 2017.

Holden Colorado versions

• RC (2008–2012): 2.4 and 3.6 petrol or 3.0 Isuzu diesel.
• RG (2012–2016): 2.8-litre turbo diesel, LS, LT, LSX, LTZ and LTZ+ trim.
• Z71: off-road focused trim added for the 2020 model year.
• RG II (2016): facelift with a Chevrolet-designed interior.
• Colorado 7: SUV derivative, sold as the Chevrolet Trailblazer from 2017.

The Colorado replaced the Holden Rodeo and was the largest commercial vehicle in the range below the Holden Commodore. More cars are in the Holden collection.

Video: 2014 Holden Colorado LTZ Crew Cab 4WD manual review

Video by CarsGuide on YouTube.

Sources

• Holden Colorado, English Wikipedia: generations, engines, trims, production