NEED a ute? For years, both Ford and Holden have obliged. But since 2000 the latter has strayed from the traditional workhorse pick-up with a series of sleek, performance-orientated 'sports coupes' that have gained a strong male-dominated urban following. Now that the utility version of the $1 billion VE program is here, the Holden Ute has diverged even more from its humble beginnings, gaining car-like steering, handling, ride, comfort, refinement and safety qualities to match the rakish styling. Even in base Omega automatic guise, we expect you will walk away mightily impressed by how far the Aussie coupe-utility has come. Don’t expect an out-and-out workhorse, but its 794kg payload means that the cheapest Holden Ute is also the least lazy.