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Barina offers plenty of kit with cruise, aircon', trip computer, full size spare, Bluetooth 15-inch alloys and other goodies thrown in. Photo Gallery
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Peter Barnwell road tests and reviews the Holden Barina manual.
First it came from Japan, then Spain and it's been out of Korea for a while now. The Holden Barina has been around a long time - 26 years in fact and has sold up a storm particularly among young female buyers. Cheap to buy and run, Barina competes in the crowded light car class though it's slightly bigger than its rivals.
There's a new one out from this month in one hatchback spec' only but with a choice of five-speed manual (std) or optional six-speed auto with sequential change mode for a couple of grand more than the $15,990 manual.
VALUE
It's a good way to flog cars - no gouging, just "what you see is what you get" and there's a drive away price deal on the manual right now at $16,990.
Still, there are plenty of choices for similar (and less) money. Mazda3 starts at nearly a grand less, Hyundai i20, new Yaris, Swift and Polo spring instantly to mind. Barina offers plenty of kit with cruise, aircon', trip computer, full size spare, Bluetooth 15-inch alloys and other goodies thrown in.
DESIGN
The instrument pod looks like it's been lifted from a motorbike and features a LCD speedo read-out. Frontal styling looks intimidating and the truncated rear is cute. Steering wheel controls are for the phone, cruise and audio. OK upholstery and dash.
TECHNOLOGY
It's powered by a 1.6-litre petrol four pot with 85kW/155Nm output but it's too easy to find a torque hole (dull response) under acceleration if you are not in the right cog - accentuated with the aircon' activated.
It is a relatively high-tech engine with dual variable cam timing but no direct injection. The five-speed manual needs another cog to fully capture available power and reduce fuel consumption. And the disc/drum brakes should be upgraded to discs all round. Drum brakes? We though they stopped making them last century.
SAFETY
Barina hatch scores a five star crash rating boasting features like six air bags and stability control among an impressive safety inventory this far down the food chain.
VERDICT
Just a little more engine tweaking to get rid of that sock and Barina would be better.
HOLDEN BARINA MANUAL
Price: $15,990 (manual), $17,990 (auto), $16,990 driveaway (man), $500 (metallic paint)
Warranty: 3-year/100,000km
Service: 15,000km/1 yr
Engine: 1.6-litre 4-cylinder petrol, 85kW/155Nm
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Fuel: 91 RON ULP, 46-litre tank
Economy: 6.8L/100km (man), 7.3 (auto)
CO2: 162g/km (man), 174 (auto)
Safety: Stability and traction control, 6 airbags, 5-star rating, ABS, Brake Assist, Electronic Brakeforce Distribution
Brakes: ventilated discs (front), drums (rear)
Suspension: MacPherson strut, torsion beam
Dimensions: 4039mm (L), 1735mm (W), 1517 (H), 2525mm (WB)
