Holden names and replacements still available overseas, but are these really the modern Holden Colorado, Holden Captiva and Holden Trax being denied to Australians? – Automotive News

Holden – RIP – has long been vehemently regarded as Australia’s brand, along with football, meat pies and kangaroos. Which is of course absurd given its affiliation with General Motors (and that of this old advert).

The nostalgia also extends to evocative names like Premier, Kingswood, Monaro, Statesman, Torana, Gemini and – let’s all embrace its 80s new wave genius – Camira.

These are all true Australian classics, rooted in time and forever, Holden.

But what about the many other badges that have marked the lion brand’s portfolio over its 72-year history? Many of them, like the Scurry, Tigra, Epica, Volt and Cascada, are flops that are best forgotten.

Yet, as Opel/Vauxhall’s recently announced Frontera reminds us, it’s clear that a handful of old names live on, adorning other, inevitably newer, models both within and beyond the larger GM family that once, of course, also included Holden.

What do they look like today? Would fans of their Australian namesakes recognise any connection? It’s time to reveal the Holden badges (and some models) still present overseas.

And who knows? Some of them might even come back to Oz! Here we go.

Colorado (Chevrolet): a sequel

After the Commodore’s sales gradually collapsed, the Colorado became Holden’s last big seller.

Based on the previous-generation (RG) Chevrolet Colorado/GMC Canyon twins, it is a GM/Isuzu co-development that also spawned two iterations of the pre-2020 D-Max.

But with the split of GM and Isuzu, the 2023 Colorado/Canyon successors have moved to the full-size Silverado platform. One might assume that, had it survived, this utility vehicle could have continued to be Holden’s best-seller today.

Given the Silverado’s continued success here, don’t be surprised if we see the Colorado badge return to a Chevrolet to challenge the likes of Ford’s Ranger Raptor. Watch this space.

Captiva (Chevrolet via Baojun): a sequel

Quite possibly Holden’s worst car and one of the likely contributors to its demise despite strong sales, the infamous Captiva name remains in circulation overseas.

But instead of emerging from GM Korea (formerly Daewoo) as before, the all-new Captiva II released in 2018 is based on the 530 midsize SUV from Chinese budget brand Baojun and is the product of a long-standing SAIC-GM-Wuling joint venture.

But beware: SAIC owns MG, and there is also an MG Hector version. The Captiva curse could well continue in Australia…

Astra (Opel, Vauxhall): a sequel

How did the Australians manage to keep up with Holden’s chameleon-like little car?

Born as a Melbourne-built Nissan Pulsar clone (1984, 1987) and commissioned by the government, then as a Toyota Corolla copy (1989, 1994), before returning stealthily from 1996 as an Opel-built Holden that eventually dominated its class in the form of the TS (1998), then being axed again after the AH (2004) for the Korean Cruze (2009), only to return again, first as a failed Opel (2012) and then wearing the lion logo (2015 PJ, 2016 BK) until the end… The Astra has a complicated past.

But that’s not the end of the Astra. Born in 1980 as Opel’s British subsidiary, Vauxhall’s version of the Opel Kadett has remained a Corolla rival ever since, even after GM sold its European operations to Peugeot/Citroën in 2017, which became Stellantis after its merger with Fiat/Alfa Romeo/Abarth/Lancia/Maserati/Chrysler/Dodge/Ram/Jeep.

Eight generations later, here is today’s Astra L, released in 2021, made in Germany and based on the excellent Peugeot 308. There are petrol, diesel, hybrid and electric vehicle (EV) options, making it a world leader in small C-segment cars.

It’s unlikely it was ever a Holden, but it could one day return to Australia as an Opel or even a Vauxhall. And Australian consumers would probably think: “Oh, the Astra is back!”

Insignia (Opel, Vauxhall): a sequel

2025 Opel Insignia Preview – Opel Experimental Concept

There’s also an all-new third-generation Insignia that’s apparently set to arrive in Europe next year.

If you’re struggling to remember the Holden version, remember its short-lived Insignia VXR performance sedan from 2015, which was supposed to prepare Australians for the second-generation Insignia-based Commodore ZB after production ceased in 2017?

The Insignia III is set to be built in Italy as Opel/Vauxhall’s electrified flagship model alongside a Lancia sibling… but don’t expect it to attempt another Commodore nameplate revival here!

Trailblazer (Chevrolet): no link

2024 Chevrolet Trailblazer

Remember the Holden Trailblazer? A rival to the Ford Everest, based on the RG Colorado Series II facelift, replacing the disappointing (and agricultural) Colorado 7.

Today’s Chevrolet Trailblazer couldn’t be further from that, being a lightweight car-based unibody crossover developed and built primarily by GM Korea for city dwellers.

Even smaller than the small Trax in North America, the Trailblazer is now GM’s smallest SUV, but not its least expensive.

Trax (Chevrolet): no connection

The original 2013 Trax was derived from the Opel Corsa/Holden Barina/Chevrolet Aveo-Sonic-based Opel Mokka, and was developed and built by GM Korea.

One of the first light SUVs in Australia, it proved to be a much-needed success at a time of real strife for Holden, and remained a strong sales performer until the end.

The second-generation Trax unveiled in 2022 for North America is actually a different kind of SUV altogether. Another SAIC-GM joint venture, it’s now Chinese-sourced and slotted below the smaller Trailblazer, albeit with a greater value proposition. Confusing.

Chevrolet reportedly considered changing the name to reflect the new Trax’s change of direction, but never bothered to do so due to its strong presence.

Frontera (Opel, Vauxhall): no connection

Like the Trailblazer and Trax, another – even older – ex-GM name has been exhumed, this time by Stellantis’ rival brands, Opel and Vauxhall.

The original GM Frontera was essentially an Isuzu Faster TF utility (1988 Holden Rodeo) with a ladder-frame station wagon body, like the popular Toyota HiLux-based 4Runner/Surf of the time. In Japan, it wore the cheerful initials MU – for Mysterious Utility.

Promising off-road adventure at the dawn of the SUV era, it nonetheless struggled as a Holden from 1995 onwards, being overshadowed by the larger, more civilised Jackaroo also made by Isuzu. The handsome 1998 facelift also failed and was replaced by the VY Commodore-derived Adventra wagon in 2003, but that’s a whole other tale of woe.

The 2024 Opel/Vauxhall Frontera, meanwhile, is a stylish and fashionable compact urban crossover with hybrid powertrains and based on a new Stellantis platform.

Acadia (GMC): a continuation

Launched in 2018 to compete with the Toyota Kluger, the Acadia was unique in that it was the only GMC ever sold in Australia. Handsome, comfortable and spacious, extensive investment was made in local re-engineering and factory right-hand drive development, earning the series the success it deserves. It has remained one of Holden’s best SUVs.

Unveiled in mid-2023, today’s Acadia is GMC’s third since 2007. It’s considerably longer, wider and roomier than the Holden version we knew, with room for eight. Think of it more as a competitor to the Hyundai Palisade now.

If Australians were to see this type of GM vehicle again, it would likely be its twin, the Chevrolet Traverse. Whether that will happen remains to be seen.

Equinox (Chevrolet): a sequel

Holden’s replacement for the Captiva was the third-generation Equinox from 2017. Already a hit in the US since the series began in 2005, Holden really needed this Mexican-built Toyota RAV4 rival to catch on in Australia, given the popularity of mid-size SUVs.

Unfortunately, the volume just wasn’t there, meaning the huge return on investment never materialised, and one has to wonder whether the failure of this particular model directly led to GM’s decision to end Holden in 2020.

The fourth-generation Equinox is all-new to North America, available in 1.5L turbo petrol or battery-electric guise, and has the looks to sell in greater numbers there. If only Holden could have held on for a few more years…

Malibu (Chevrolet): a sequel

Holden’s history of successful mid-size vehicles began with the 48-215 and ended with the last EH in 1965, while the HD’s successors grew in size, but not necessarily in stature.

The 1974 LH Torana was supposed to capture the spirit of the EH in terms of size, but it was a commercial disappointment, as were the initially popular Camira (1982), the Camry-based Apollo (1989, 1993), the mediocre Vectra (1997, 2003), the disastrous Epica (2007) and the almost invisible Malibu (2013). The latter two came from Korea via GM Daewoo.

A similar downward trajectory means that – aside from the Camry and Honda Accord – midsize sedans are also on the way out in America, with the 2016 eighth-generation Malibu set to be Chevrolet’s last when production ceases at the end of this year.

Suburban (Chevrolet): a sequel

In 1998, Holden launched the Suburban. At 5.6 metres long, 2 metres wide and 1.80 metres high, its size – and considerable asking price – were deemed too high for Australia. It offered up to nine seats, four-wheel drive and a choice of a petrol or diesel V8.

Launched in 2021, the world’s oldest nameplate is now in its 12th year^th generation since 1935, and shares much of the same GMT T1XX platform as the popular Silverado.

Ironically, given that Holden has sold fewer than 750 Suburbans in less than three years, its successor GMC Yukon will arrive in Australia in 2025, as part of GM Specialty Vehicles’ left-to-right-hand drive rebuild program in Melbourne.

Technically, this will make the Yukon the closest vehicle to a modern Holden.