In June Holden announced a series of upgrades and enhancements across the new Model Year 20 Colorado range. The Colorado is the most popular novated lease vehicle for Holden and Matthew Morrison, National Fleet Manager at GM Holden, believes the upgrades make it even better for salary packaging.
Chief among these is the permanent addition of the robust and practical LSX as a brandnew model to the MY20 Colorado line-up. Combining rugged simplicity with bold looks and formidable off-road capability, and having proved itself as a limited edition special in MY19, the Colorado LSX is Holden’s new entry level ute for working or playing hard.
The top of the line Z71 Colorado also hardens its stance in MY20 with rugged fender flares and a bash plate now standard on the flagship model. A convenient new ‘soft drop’ tailgate is also exclusive to the range topping Z71, while the mid-range LTZ 4×4 gains leather trimmed seats with the front ones now heated.
A new fleet customer focused, tow bar equipped LTZ+ variant is also available with its payload re-rated to just under 1000kg – meaning it is now accessible to customers seeking to acquire a Colorado via novated leasing.
Both Colorado Z71 and LTZ also gain a premium DuraGuard spray on tub-liner as standard equipment. A Holden instigated development on the RG series Colorado resulted in the DuraGuard spray on tub liner, a first for the company with this technology and one that will result in extra convenience and utility for customers.
“Just over 60 per cent of Z71 and LTZ customers fit tub-liners,” said Andre Scott, general manager LCV marketing at Holden, “so we took the initiative to factory fit a premium product that delivers a quality fit, and a more functional and better-looking solution for our customers.
“The new DuraGuard tub-liner surface minimises cargo slipping and sliding around in the rear, and it’s a seriously tough and durable liner that produces fewer warranty claims according to US experience on large pick-ups.
“The addition of the DuraGuard tub-liner means that MY20 Z71 and LTZ Colorado are the only pick-ups that retail for under $70,000 to feature this premium technology as standard equipment,” Mr Scott said.
In an environment where a ute is rapidly becoming an Aussie’s best automotive friend, Holden has introduced an accessory pack strategy for Colorado owners designed to make it as easy as possible for them to customise their utes precisely to their needs and how they actually use them.
Painstaking research into customer preferences has produced Holden’s range of factory backed Colorado accessory packs known as Tradie, Farmer, Black, Rig and the range topping Xtreme.
“These enable Colorado to connect effectively with potentially a much larger customer base,” said Mr Scott.
Take the Tradie pack for example. It includes a towing package, side and rear steps, a roof tray, 12V auxiliary power, floor mats, canvas seat covers, weather shields, bonnet protector and cup holders – it’s enough to make sure any jobsite is done and dusted.
Many tradies will add further equipment to the MY20 Colorado to suit their particular trade, but the Tradie pack is a great start right off the showroom floor.
“The combination of these new enhancements for MY20 Colorado, along with the carefully specified accessory packs, will add a definite edge to what is already one of the best offerings in the light commercial segment,” said Peter Keley, executive director sales for Holden.
“Colorado is currently eight per cent up in a tough and ultra-competitive market that is eight percent down overall. The ute segment is up one per cent and Colorado represents half of that growth which is a great indication of just how competitive an offering it is.
Making a great product even better is hard, but that is precisely what Holden has achieved with the MY20 Colorado – and it’s been done for the same price as the previous model. All the extra content across the range is for exactly the same recommended retail price,” Mr Keley said.
