Holden Barina sedan released

By Alborz Fallah | February 01st, 2012

Holden has released the Barina sedan to complement the existing hatch model, which hit the market in November last year.

Starting from $16,490 ($500 more than the new Barina hatch and $200 more than its predecessor), the Holden Barina sedan features all the same technology and drivetrain as its hatch sibling but offers a more traditional bodystyle for different buyers.

The recently launched Holden Barina hatch has been a big hit for Holden, finishing December with 1,343 sales (which put it third behind Toyota Yaris and Mazda2). Although sales of light cars in sedan bodyshapes are generally much lower than in hatch, the Barina sedan will no doubt lift sales that little bit more.

Holden’s Executive Director for Sales, Marketing and Aftersales, John Elsworth, said “the addition of the sedan variant adds a new dimension of practicality and flexibility to the Barina range. Offering 502 litres of boot space, while maintaining the excellent driving characteristics, style and standard equipment of the hatch, I’m sure the sedan will continue to build on the Barina’s popularity.”

It’s becoming the norm for new cars aimed at younger buyers to come standard with bluetooth phone and audio streaming, USB input and iPod connectivity, which is the case across the Barina range. As is cruise control and “follow me home” headlights that remain on for a certain amount of time after the car has been locked.

Although it’s rather difficult to make a good-looking light sedan, we think the Barina isn’t too bad compared to its rivals, but that’s not saying much.

Powering the tiny sedan is the same 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine from the hatch (85kW and 155Nm) available with either a five-speed manual or a six-speed automatic. Fuel consumption is rated at 6.8L/100km for the manual and 7.3L/100km for the automatic.

The Holden Barina sedan maintains the same five-star ANCAP safety rating as the hatch.

Holden Barina Hatch with 5-speed manual transmission $15,990
Holden Barina Hatch with 6-speed automatic transmission $17,990
Holden Barina Sedan with 5-speed manual transmission $16,490
Holden Barina Sedan with 6-speed automatic transmission $18,490

vin

Thirsty little sedan. 7.3l/100 is terrible for such a small car when my diesel AWD Territory which is more than twice the weight is averaging 9.4l/100. Car makers should be looking at the fuel consumption of small cars, a car the size of the Barina should be below 5l/100.

Guest

9.4L/100 in Territory when you driving like 90-yo grandma….

Sydlocal

I think the key word there Guest is that it was a DIESEL Territory. That figure should be quite easy to obtain without having to drive like, as you put it, a 90-yo Grandma.

Guest

My Diesel Terry average:
• low to high 8L/100 on highway
• low 10L/100 on urban with light traffic
• mid 11L/100 on urban high traffic

Only agree with your statement “easy to obtain” if you driving pattern more on highway. But now, you got traffic also in highway during peak hours

nickdl

There was a 90 year-old booked for doing 160 in a 100 zone last week….

nickdl

Well if you can afford it a Cruze is so much better in every conceivable way. Even better fuel consumption. This looks Chinese from the back and all wrong from the front.
Anonymous

Don’t know why you wouldn’t pay a bit more for a cruze. Fiesta is much better though.

Jayden

The Barina is better looking, though, and it has a bigger boot to boot. But yes a Cruze is much better, or just get the sedan. There isn’t enough room in the back of a light sedan to carry four people and their luggage.

Sydlocal

That is interesting that it even has a bigger boot than a Commodore and the LPI Falcon, even without the spare tyre. Some of those small sedans do have quite large boots. I suppose something has to make up for the strange designs!

nickdl

But that 503 L is severely affected by those stupid gooseneck hinges. At least the Falcon and Commodore have hinges on the outside so you can completely fill up the boot.

Sydlocal

But at least the boot on this Barina is not “severely affected by the stupid” multi level floor in the boot of the Falcon with lumps/bumps and spare wheel mouldings everywhere rendering some of that space useless and unable to be used efficiently unless you follow the art of “soft bag” packing… Plus if you have the spare tyre fitted in the LPi Falcon at least 1/3 of that space is pretty much rendered useless, especially if you option the full size spare.
(please note nickdl this is TIC)

Anonymous

Yuck – why are Holden still using exposed windscreen washers on the bonnet, when hidden ones have been used for well over a decade already. Same goes for that ugly rear antenna, when integrated antennas (in the windows) have been used since the 90s. Other than that, it’s a great looking small sedan.

Sydlocal

Gee, where have I seen that post before?! Looks like hardly any words were changed
I agree about the bonnet washers, however there a still a few brands/cars around that still use them.

Just so you know though, integrated antennas have been used since well before the 90s. My parents had a car from the early 70s that had an integrated antenna in the windscreen. Just so you know it wasn’t from a “European” brand, of all things it was on a Mazda!

Anonymous

Oh, and the Barina sedan has been available in Europe since last year (despite the fact that Europe is a not a big sedan market). As usual we’re always the last country to get it.

Able

When it looks like that, why the hell would we want it!?

Anonymous

Because we’ve had to put up with the old model up until now, which looks even worse.

http://www.facebook.com/antmindel Anthony Mindel

Not really my cup of tea…
vti07

Looks like a mini Lancer from the front.
Des

Thats a rather fugly design. Much rather the new Rio if I was after a little sedan. And the fuel consumption figure is embarassing for a small car these days.

Anonymous

The new Kia Rio sedan will be $18,990 when it comes out – $2,000 more than Barina. Kia has already stated that they are only bringing the sedan in Si variant with the 1.6L GDI engine. Currently, the 5-door SI GDI is $18,990 – so the sedan will certainly be no less than the 5-door. It could even be $500 or so more – $19,490 ?

Des

Ah yes DZ, I know it will be dearer but that’s understandable as it is much prettier, with a better GDI engine (more kw and nm), better wheel and tire package, 5 years warranty, and I would argue that the Rio is nicer quality product all round. To each their own of course.

Des

I forgot to mention the fuel economy of the Rio is 5.6L/100k Man and 6.1L/100k Auto compared to the 6.8 and 7.3 of the Barina. And that is a vast difference, heading towards 20% better fuel economy in the Rio.

Anonymous

In the USA, this car comes with a 1.8L engine. Maybe if they fitted it with the same engine here, it would be more efficient because it wouldn’t have to rev as hard. If anything, the fuel consumption would probably be the same, but at least it would have the extra power over it’s competitors. I don’t get why they didn’t go with the 1.8L here.

Kiran-sb

why would anyone buy this sack of garbage. the front looks cutesey stupid, the engine is stupid and the interior is cheap and poorly designed- if not for the 6 airbags this thing would be unsafe and alot lighter

a used 2005 ford focus is not only more fuel efficient and better to drive, it doesnt have those ugly exposed boot hooks either

I_am_tony_b

That has got to be the most idiotic comment all year. If not for the 6 airbags this thing would be unsafe and alot lighter. LOL. I will like to inform you that this is the safest small car of 2011 according to euro ancap, also if it was not for the brakes on the 2005 focus it would be a very unsafe and lighter car.

Kiran-sb

Well it shouldnt rely on 6 airbags to earn 5 stars- which do, i presume make the car heavier. especially when a 2006 yaris requires 2 airbags and no ESP for it’s 3.5 stars they should design the car body or whatever with more passive safety measures

but of course your can stop the car with airbags, after all they are so much lighter than brakes

Richard

What are you on about? Silly rant…

Jimmy

What a POS.
Tarquin, Hair Artiste

Eeeeekkk!!! My eyes hurt.
Anonymous

Better looking than the old one, but she’s still one UUUUUUUGLY cyster.
Gianni

Still ugly and probably drives the same way as the old one. MUCH rather buy a fiesta or spend the equivalent extra to get a Polo. (Manual NOT dsg)
Gjt6419

Any one seen the just released fuel consumption figures on the “new” 4 cyl falcon? Seems like it will be about 1/2lt per 100k’s better than the 3.6 lt Commodore. My question is, if this is the case why would anyone bother buying a 4cyl falcon? I hope Ford know the answer!

Joker

In my experience, Ford’s Consumption figures tend to be legit… Holden on the other hand tend to exaggerate. The only place the Commodore will get close to the Falcon’s consumption figure is on a highway..on cruise control
Goodfa

The Falcon 4 is about 1/2lt per 100k’s better than the 3.0l not the 3.6l. It also has much more torque so it will have much better acceleration than the Commodore 3.0l. Better fuel economy and acceleration. (Sounds like a win – win to me)

Gotme

I am a Holden man and I actually own a new Barina Hatch and I have to say I am really disappointed with it. The ride at low speeds is jittery and the suspension thumps and vibrations are felt through the steering wheel over only minor bumps.. Fuel consumption is not the best and there is a huge flat spot in the engine as well. I was told this is because it is a small car but I have taken a new Mazda 2(which is actually smaller) for a drive and it does not have any of these problems.On paper though it looks like it is good value though.

Richard

Didn’t you test drive the Barina before you bought it???

Ibc

I think he just bought on price.
Maybe Holden should start selling the GM-Ks on-line thru’ DealsDirect.

Eric Knutsen

Mazda 2 was sedan for a while. Did not sell, I think this will have the same 12/18m life span.

Eric
Chris

For this price you could get a fully specced Hyundai veloster in U.S..

Australian automotive industry; lower prices or die!
Pat

I like the look of this new Barina sedan, especially compared to the hideous Fiesta sedan, has anyone driven behind one of these? It looks like it has been squashed between two buses !!!!