KEY POINTS:
Pick-ups/utes are second only to the Commodore passenger car line in Holden New Zealand's sales, so news the company is introducing a new nameplate to its light commercial range is a big deal.
That's a new "nameplate", mind, not a new car. The Colorado is simply a facelifted
version of the Rodeo that came before it.
Why mess with such a long-running and well-respected badge? Well, you don't do it deliberately.
This particular truck is and always was an Isuzu, and the split between the Japanese company and General Motors means GM has lost the right to use the Rodeo name.
But it can still buy the pick-up from Isuzu's Thailand plant.
"Colorado" is a familiar name for GM pick-ups, especially in the United States.
The Chevy Colorado (no mechanical relation) actually forms the base for the Hummer H3 sold here.
What's new? Very little. The front has been restyled, there's a new cloth trim on the seats and the rear lights and tailgate have been tweaked.
The 3.0-litre turbo diesel engine and mechanical package are unchanged from Rodeo. Prices carry over as well.
The petrol V6 version has, however, been dropped. And there's a new dressed-up flagship model, the LT-R, which should appeal to the townies - it gets fancy stuff that you don't necessarily need on the farm, such as Bluetooth cellphone connectivity and rear parking radar.
The company line
Holden New Zealand marketing boss Matthew Woodley says: "We now have had the opportunity to take a step back and reassess the requirements of this highly competitive light commercial segment. We're in no doubt there is no better product to fill that gap than the new Colorado.
"The Colorado nameplate is truly global and it represents the ultimate mid-size truck in many different countries. As you have no doubt seen from our Colorado advertising, 'Tough has a new name.' The Colorado stands for toughness, durability and reliability."
What we say "Reassess" or break into a cold sweat at the prospect of losing one of your best-known badges?
The truck might be the same, but there's little doubt that Holden will be nervous about establishing the Colorado as its light commercial star when so many customers will be asking, "Where's the new Rodeo?"
On the road Whatever name is on the tailgate, the Rodeo/Colorado is indeed a tough truck. The 3.0-litre turbo diesel engine is a mighty thing, making 120kW and 360Nm in manual form or 333Nm as an automatic. The 4x2 versions can tow 2500kg - go for the 4x4 and you can haul three tonnes.
There's nothing remotely car-like about the Colorado's on-road handling, there never is with pure pick-ups such as these.
But it cruises easily at 100km/h and it's predictable in corners.
So what's stopping you? Only the knowledge there's very little that separates one 3.0-litre pick-up from another in practical terms, and you might get a better deal - or bigger discount - elsewhere.
But that's the nature of this market.
As it stands, the Colorado is still a pretty cool truck.
