- Doors and Seats
5 doors, 5 seats
- Engine
1.6i, 4 cyl.
- Engine Power
76kW, 145Nm
- Fuel
Petrol (91) 7.6L/100KM
- Manufacturer
FWD
- Transmission
Auto
- Warranty
3 Yr, 100000 KMs
- Ancap Safety
NA
Holden Barina 5-Door
What's it about?
Holden has released an updated Korea-sourced Barina with improved safety, freshened styling, revised cabin and a host of other minor changes.
What do you get?
At $14,790 for the three-door hatch, or $16,290 for the sedan or the five-door hatch tested here, the Barina is still at the sharp end of the light-car price fight.
It also boasts a 76kW, 1.6-litre engine where some rivals - notably Honda's Jazz and Toyota's Yaris - make do with 1.3-litres.
Like other entry-level hatches it has air, power windows, remote central locking and CD player but it also has a leather-clad steering wheel. Automatics cost $2000 more.
How safe?
The new Barina is a better bet than its dubious predecessor, which received a poor two-star NCAP rating. Now it rates four stars. NCAP tested the three-door version but the five-door and sedan pick up the same improvements, which include the addition of side airbags to take the standard airbag count to an above-average four, which is still worse than the five-star ratings of other light cars.
You also have to pay extra for anti-lock brakes, a big minus when most rivals get it standard. Stability-traction control and curtain airbags are not available.
What's inside?
The Barina's redesigned dash looks good with its rounded style and contemporary plastics. New switches also contribute to the classier ambience.
The Holden has plenty of space up-front but the upright driving position won't be to all tastes, with only tilt-adjustable steering and limited seat adjustment. There is plenty of space in the back but seats are flat and lack under-thigh and back support.
The cabin's small-item storage is in tight supply and the boot fills quickly. While the seats fold to improve things, they don't form a flat load-space like smarter set-ups.
Under the bonnet
With a 1.6-litre engine, the Barina keeps pace with urban traffic. On the highway it's a relaxed cruiser, not affected unduly by hills. It also manages some semblance of responsiveness in 4-speed auto form, even if the gearbox isn't the slickest.
Good low-rev power and flexibility seem to be the only real attractive points. Push harder and it feels unresponsive, slow-revving and wheezy with a boomy soundtrack above 4000rpm.
We averaged 7.7L/100km on test, admirably close to Holden's 7.6L/100km claim. That's not especially thrifty by class standards but it's still not very thirsty.
On the road
With its good low-rev power, diminutive footprint and all-round agility, the Barina feels right at home around town. On the open road the ride is supple and well controlled, even on corrugated dirt, but not especially quiet. Wind noise is constant at highway speeds and the roof-mounted aerial is sensitive to crosswinds, making a noticeable racket at highway speeds.
The Barina, too, despite all of Holden's suspension nous, remains steadfastly uninspiring to drive. While the handling is capable and eminently predictable, it lacks the poise, steering response and driver involvement of models such as Mazda's sweet-driving 2.
Verdict
The new Barina might be a better thing but buyers looking for a cutting-edge light car will continue to be disappointed. While its performance is respectable, it doesn't come close to setting class benchmarks. It still has plenty of room for improvement.
For more on the competitors, go to drive.com.au/competitors.