Super TestCar reviews - Holden - Rodeo - diesel utility rangeHolden modelsResearch Holden Our OpinionWe like Power, torque, relative quietness, towing capacity, no-nonsense cabin Room for improvement Styling changes make for a less pretty face, shape now dated alongside newer rivals 9 Mar 2007 EAR, ear – it’s time to toast the best thing about the latest Holden Rodeo diesel. Gone is the almost deafening cacophony of the previous 3.0-litre turbo-diesel – a Rodeo mainstay for the best part of a decade – for a completely revamped version that is thankfully much quieter – as well as smoother, more powerful and less thirsty in manual guise – than before. So while you won’t mistake the busy (but not annoying) diesel drone of the new VCDi engine for the similarly-sized unit you’ll find in premium luxury vehicles like the BMW X5 3.0d, you will appreciate the new Rodeo diesel’s hugely capable power and torque characteristics, that – at 3000kg – now help it achieve equal class-leading towing capacity in 4x4 versions. In fact, the latter’s off-road prowess was effectively demonstrated to us at Holden’s Lang Lang Proving Ground, where the 4WD Rodeo that we sampled breezed through breathtakingly steep terrain, deep pools or water and a difficult sand track. On the road the Rodeo diesel didn’t feel too bad either, although we cannot accurately comment on whether it approaches – let alone beats – the well-executed Nissan D40 Navara on this front. The new nose treatment makes the truck look a little startled facially, when the outgoing model had a handsome generic General Motors look about it, but the interior changes all seem to add up to a pleasant and comfortable workplace environment. In this regard, the Rodeo perhaps cannot match the latest big-cabin look of the Navara, Toyota Hi-Lux and Mitsubishi Triton, but it seems ahead of the Mazda BT-50/Ford Ranger interiors for space, if not presentation. All in all, as a workhorse, the Rodeo facelift has ably addressed its RA turbo-diesel predecessor’s weakest link. If you’re upgrading from old to new, its relative quietness, effortlessly punchy demeanour and handy braked towing capacity upgrade will be music to your ears. All car reviewsAlfa Romeo Abarth Alpine Alpina Audi Aston Martin BMW Bentley Chevrolet Chery Citroen Chrysler Dodge Cupra Ferrari DS Ford Fiat FPV Foton GWM Great Wall Holden Haval HSV Honda Hyundai Hummer Isuzu Infiniti Jeep Jaguar Lamborghini Kia LDV Land Rover Lotus Lexus Maserati Mahindra McLaren Mazda Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-AMG Mini MG Nissan Mitsubishi Peugeot Opel Proton Porsche Renault Ram Rover Rolls-Royce Skoda Saab SsangYong Smart Suzuki Subaru Toyota Tesla Volvo Volkswagen |
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