Holden Barina Review

The Barina name made its ‘Beep-Beep’ debut in 1989 to give Holden a new entry level car. It was actually a Suzuki Swift with Holden badges and none the worse for that. Much has changed since then but the Barina remains Holden’s least expensive vehicle. The sourcing changed from Suzuki to Opel and is now with GM-Daewoo. Safety levels are now much improved over those of recent models with the latest version winning five stars in local safety testing and incorporating some innovative engineering including a collapsible pedal box. The Barina was styled by an Australian designer seconded from Holden.

Exterior and Interior Design

Looks will always rest finally in the eye of the beholder but this tester thinks the latest Barina is fussy and perhaps overdone. Curves and angles appear to run in all directions, while the instrument panel takes many of its cues from contemporary Japanese motorcycles. The concealed exterior handles for the rear doors might have represented a cute touch on the late ‘90s Alfa Romeo 156 but hardly fool anyone into imagining the five-door Barina might in fact be a coupe! But like it or not, Holden deserves credit for adding some flair and interest to its cheapest offering. This latest model is undoubtedly more visually interesting than any of its predecessors, including the Opel-sourced model offered in the 1990s.

Accommodation

The cloth upholstery is of impressive quality. Most drivers will find an ideal driving position, thanks to a wide range of adjustment for seat and steering wheel. There is quite generous room for four adults and good stowage solutions show how much design thought has gone into this latest Barina. The glovebox is a split-level affair that puts many larger vehicles to shame. You expect split-fold rear seats but these have the advantage of folding flat to liberate a total luggage volume of 653 litres and a reasonable 290 when upright. Alloy wheels are standard.

Performance and Economy
The Barina’s 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine develops 85 kW of power. Performance is quite good when teamed with the five-speed manual gearbox. But, as with most cars of this size demanding topography quickly has you reaching for the gearlever. The Barina could use more torque at lower engine rpm. The entry level ($12,490) Spark model makes just 59 kW from its 1.2-litre engine so we think it makes sense to spend the extra $3500. Fuel economy is the Barina’s best attribute and on the open road it uses about five litres per 100 kilometres driven normally and significantly less if fuel economy driving techniques are applied.

Ride and Handling

Regular readers will know how highly we rate steering feel when it comes to judging vehicle dynamics. The Barina scores quite well. It is quite an engaging little car to drive. Ride comfort is good and noise levels are low. There is something of a big car feel to this latest model which is much more refined than its predecessor.

Conclusion 
The new Barina is much improved and should win Holden a greater share of this market sector. Five-star safety in ANCAP testing is a strong point.