Holden Barina 1.6L hatch 2012 review

Price Room Safety

Noisy engine Cheap instruments Uneven folding seats

Life throws some shockers at you when you least expect. I came home from overseas a while back and Australia had a woman prime minister. Holden gave me a Barina this week and it drove really well. I wasn't prepared for either of those.

The Barina has previously been an awkward hatchback in the company of some red-hot rivals. Many people bought it purely because it is a Holden and - certainly with the old 2005-2011 TK Barina - probably live without knowing that it is spectacularly bad and originally came out of the factory with a you're-gunna-get-really-hurt two-star crash rating.

But relax. The new Barina is completely different. It's still made in Korea but sits on a new platform, has the maximum five-star crash rating and is even good value for money. Do we still have a woman prime minister?

Value

Explore the 2012 Holden Barina range

• Holden Barina 2012 review
• Holden Barina 1.6L hatch 2012 review
• Holden Barina hatch 2012 review
• Holden Barina sedan 2012 review

It sits in the light-car category alongside the smaller Barina Spark. Do not confuse the two - the Spark is one of the worse cars on the market while the Barina, by comparison, sparkles. 

Pricing is very good so the hatch represents value. Go for the six-speed auto for $17,990 because it is a better drive than the manual. Good feature list, reasonable economy and a Holden dealer at every street corner makes a lot of sense for low-distance owners.

Design

Basically it's a chiselled box with a distinctive four-light nose. The design successfully makes it look more expensive than the $15,990 (manual) price tag so it's not something you'd be ashamed to park in your driveway.

Cabin space is very good, though C-pillars are wide. Rear seats fold down but sit awkwardly above the floor. The motorcycle-inspired instrument panel is basic, simple and has a very temporary appearance.

Technology

The six-speed lock-up auto comes from the Cruze and though gearshifts can sometimes jar, is a winner. The sequential manual mode is interesting but probably worthless given the car's market and the engine noise at high revs. The 1.6 engine has been around for ages, with modest upgrades this time around. It's strong, not bad on fuel and reliable but won't win at the traffic lights and is quietest when cruising under 3000rpm. Drum rear brakes look - and are - dated.

Safety

This gets a five-star crash rating - up on the previous model's four stars after it originally scored two. There's stability control, brakeforce distribution and brake assist. It has six airbags - including full-length curtain bags - and a full size spare wheel.

Driving

Forget some previous Barinas because this model is more like its original Opel version, with interest again by Holden in how the car drives and feels. It feels spacious, is comfortable - with long seat cushions - and has good visibility. Steering is sharp and it doesn't fidget on the road. It's no sportscar through the bends but is confident.

Suspension copes well with rough roads and the ride is well dampened and noise free. But the engine is noisy and feels a bit rough at above 3000rpm. Here it falls behind most rivals. Treat it gently and it is fuss-free, especially at cruising speeds. The instrument panel is pretty ordinary but the rest of the driving experience is very good.