When it comes to a daily workhorse and family carryall there's nothing quite so practical as a dual-cab ute. The combination of a five-seater cabin, one-tonne payload, four-wheel drive with a healthy towing capacity is hard to dismiss when shopping for an all-purpose vehicle.

One of the most popular and well-known dual cabs is the vehicle tested here although you might not recognise it at first. This vehicle once wore the familiar Holden Rodeo badge, but since Holden's parent company General Motors sold its share of Isuzu - which designed and built the Rodeo - the Holden has enjoyed a facelift and she's now called a "Colorado".

LOOK AND FEEL
Despite the new nose and new taillight treatment, the latest RC Colorado is essentially the same shell and platform as the 2003 RA Series Rodeo. In 2007, the Rodeo received a new front-end styling and taillights as well as an upgraded dash, steering wheel, seats and a powerful new common rail 3lt turbo-diesel engine.

The 2008 Colorado carries over these improvements; plus, the new nose job, taillights, dual front airbags and air-conditioning across the range. We tested the popular Crew Cab version, in mid-spec LX trim with the 3.0-litre turbodiesel, four-speed auto and 4WD drivetrain. It costs $45,490 with optional four-speed auto as tested (but not including dealer delivery and statutory charges) and comes with a competitive list of standard features.

The LX Crew Cab comes with air-conditioning, power windows, power mirrors, central locking, radio/single CD/MP3 player with four speakers, tilt-adjust steering wheel, dual front airbags, 16in steel wheels and part-time 4WD. ABS brakes and cruise control are optional extras.

Unlike some of its competitors, the interior look and feel is more like a working ute than a family wagon. However, these competitors may look more stylish inside, but the Colorado is still spacious and extremely comfortable. The tray size is not exceptional for its class, but it’s a little deeper than similar vehicles.

NEW ENGINE
The 3lt turbo-diesel engine might be a common rail, intercooled, turbo-charged diesel, which on paper sounds just as good as the best in its class, but in reality power and torque are run-of-the-mill. We tested an automatic vehicle which gave us 120kW of power at 3600rpm and a maximum 333Nm of torque at 1600rpm. The engine gets the Colorado going really well, although its power delivery is subtle. Turbo lag is not terminal and once on boost the Colorado gets into its stride and performs well. It's responsive and has enough in it to get up and go for most situations.

One thing that stood out when comparing the Colorado with its competitors, was the noise and vibrations coming from the 3lt engine. It's something you'd get used to but it comes as a bit of a shock after driving something like a Hi-Lux turbo-diesel.

HANDLING
The Colorado’s automatic transmission is a simple four-speed with overdrive and manual lockout for the electronic lock-up torque converter. It rides well and has a safe chassis setup that would require a truly ham-fisted manoeuver to get out of shape.

It feels a little firm riding around town, but once you venture into rougher country it soaks up the bumps.

As is the case with many vehicles in this class, steering is vague and light, but it doesn’t require constant correction. Off road, it’s good with its low-range gearing and part-time 4WD. Underbody clearance is acceptable for the class, but some items like the sump are not all that well protected for serious off-roading. The limited-slip rear diff is strong enough for lifting wheels off the ground when offroad and the vehicle is blessed with good wheel travel. Low-range reduction could be better, even for an automatic, but engine response is good in the low-range.

EFFICIENCY
The Colorado is fairly fuel-efficient, with an average of 9lt per 100km combined city/highway running. With a hitched 1867kg caravan it achieved 13.5lt per 100km.

With a maximum braked towing capacity of 3000kg the Colorado turned out to be a good towing performer, with no issues towing the 1867kg trailer with a 195kg TBM used on the test. Holden recommends that load levelers be used “if vehicle attitude [is] compromised”. The rear dropped only 25mm, so we decided to test it without the load levelers fitted. The Colorado was pretty stable, but some slight twitching on the road suggested it may benefit from using the load levelers with some trailers.

The Colorado settles into a comfortable cruise between 90km/h and 100km/h at around 2000rpm. Climbing our test hill, it was a strong and noisy performer, but it held its speed well. Engine braking downhill was also quite good.

Holden recommends that trailer-towing be avoided during the 1500km run-in period. If towing is unavoidable this should be limited to 80kmh. When towing, the service schedule is 5000km for oil changes and lubricating joints and the sliding sleeve (this is usually every 10,000km). Normally not a service requirement, transmission fluid and differential oil should be changed every 20,000km.

Overall, the Colorado is a good and proven 4WD platform and a reasonable towing rig, although it’s not necessarily the best in its class. Being a Holden, you’ll never be far from a dealer, or a suitably stocked mechanic. The Colorado is a balanced all-rounder that could do with a more modern cabin and a quieter engine.

Thanks to Alan and Anne Blake of Blakes Marine – cnr Mulgrave and Windsor Rds, McGraths Hill, Sydney, NSW 2756 – for the loan of the test trailerboat.

For more information phone (02) 4577 6699.