Prediction. Holden is on to a winner with it’s new-look Colorado ute.

Seriously. After launching an – in retrospect – slightly underdone Gen 2 model (developed jointly with Isuzu) in 2012, the General has been playing catch up.

Looks and numbers-wise there was little wrong – at the brochure anyway – with the original Gen 2. But behind the wheel it was a different story. Steering was vague with at least one turn too many lock to lock, ride was jiggly round town but wallowy on the open road and the quoted 500NM of peak torque felt more like 425Nm in the real world.

A quick re-jig for the 2013 model year addressed some of the more pressing - largely engine and NVH related - issues, and though it was well-specced and presented, only the most avid and dyed-in-the-wool Holden fan (that’s you Duncan!) would argue that it was a dynamic match for arch-rival Ford’s all-conquering Ranger.

That was then however, this is now. And having driven the significantly upgraded 2017 model at launch in Australia there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that Holden now has a very serious challenger for top dog status in the booming double cab diesel turbo ute sector on its hands.

It has, because Holden has made the tough calls – and with them quantum improvements - in three key areas, steering, ride and NVH.

To read the full story in the October 2016 issue of NZ4WD go to Zinio.com (September 26) or purchase your own hard copy