Holden Colorado
| Company type | Vehicle model |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive |
| Predecessor | Holden Rodeo |
| Founded | 2008 |
| Defunct | 2021 |
| Headquarters | Australia |
Area served | Australia, New Zealand, Asia, Australasia |
| Parent | General Motors |
The Holden Colorado lineup consists of compact and mid-size pickup trucks offered in both 2- and 4-door configurations. Manufactured for Australian brand Holden, a subsidiary of General Motors, production spanned from 2008 until 2021. All units were assembled at the General Motors Thailand facility located in Rayong, Thailand. This model is essentially a rebadged version of the Chevrolet Colorado, introduced as a successor to the former Holden Rodeo, which had been based on the Isuzu D-Max. The transition to this new model followed the end of the GM-Isuzu partnership.
Colorado I (RC; 2008)
Introduced in Australia and New Zealand in 2008, the Colorado replaced the D-Max-derived Rodeo following GM's split from Isuzu. It closely mirrors a facelifted Thai-market Chevrolet Colorado, retaining its front-end styling while incorporating other elements sourced from the Isuzu D-Max. The vehicle was available with either 4x2 or 4x4 drivetrains, and offered in single-cab, space-cab, and crew-cab body styles. Engine options included petrol and diesel variants: a 2.4L inline-four, an Australian-produced 3.6L Alloytec V6, and a 3.0L Isuzu 4JJ1-TCX turbocharged diesel four-cylinder. Transmission choices encompassed both manual and automatic gearboxes. This first generation was eventually replaced by the second-generation Colorado in 2012.
| Engine | Output | Torque | Transmission |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4 L inline-four | 92 kW (123 hp) | 207 N⋅m (153 lb⋅ft) | 5-speed manual |
| 3.6 L Alloytec V6 | 157 kW (211 hp) | 313 N⋅m (231 lb⋅ft) | 4-speed automatic 5-speed manual |
| 3.0 L Isuzu 4JJ1-TCX turbo-diesel | 120 kW (161 hp) | 360 N⋅m (270 lbf⋅ft) (manual) | 4-speed automatic 5-speed manual |
Colorado II (RG; 2012)
The second-generation Holden Colorado was unveiled at the 2011 Australian International Motor Show and launched in mid-2012 across Australia and New Zealand, continuing production at GM’s Rayong plant in Thailand. This iteration featured a single powertrain: a 2.8 L turbocharged diesel engine manufactured by GM Thailand. For the 2020 model year, trim levels ranged from entry-level LS and LT to off-road-focused LSX and Z71, as well as luxury-oriented LTZ and LTZ+. Notably, the LT trim was only offered with rear-wheel drive, whereas LSX, LTZ+, and Z71 trims came exclusively with four-wheel drive.
In 2016, an updated version known as RG II was introduced, showcasing a redesigned interior styled by Chevrolet that replaced the previous Isuzu-inspired cabin design. Alongside this interior overhaul, improvements were made to the powertrain and overall build quality.
The facelifted model released in 2017 corresponded to the Brazilian-made Chevrolet S-10 dual-cab variant. Both the Colorado pickup and Colorado 7—rebranded as the Chevrolet Trailblazer SUV in that year—were produced at GM’s Thailand facility for distribution throughout Asia and Australasia. Production ended in 2020 due to Holden’s discontinuation and closure of the GM Thailand factory.
Earlier LTZ versions prior to the facelift faced criticism regarding interior materials, ride smoothness, automatic transmission responsiveness, and assembly quality; however, they were commended for fuel economy, practicality, and low maintenance expenses. Comparative assessments tended to favor the Isuzu D-Max platform over the Holden Colorado.
| Engine Details | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Model | Code | Engine Type | Power Output | Torque | Transmission Options |
| 2.8 | 'Duramax' | 2,776 cc turbocharged diesel inline-four | 197 hp (147 kW; 200 PS) @ 3,600 rpm |
440 N⋅m (45 kg⋅m; 325 lb⋅ft) @ 2,000 rpm (manual) 500 N⋅m (51 kg⋅m; 369 lb⋅ft) @ 2,000 rpm (automatic) |
6-speed manual 6-speed automatic (available only with AWD) |