Audi A1 vs Holden Barina
What's the difference?

Audi A1

$18,998 - $29,990

2020 price

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Holden Barina

$6,534 - $14,996

2018 price

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Mercedes-Benz A-Class

Summary

2020 Audi A1

2018 Holden Barina

By Matt Campbell

Safety Rating

Engine Type

Turbo 4, 1.8L

Inline 4, 1.6L

Fuel Type

Premium Unleaded Petrol

Unleaded Petrol

Fuel Efficiency

5.9L/100km (combined)

6.6L/100km (combined)

Seating

Likes

Character-filled car
Sporty performance
City-friendly dimensions

LT looks cool
Good headroom
Decent boot

Dislikes

Fuel use a bit high
Expensive
Back seat lacks amenities

Not fun to drive
Underwhelming engine
Feeling its age

2020 Audi A1 Summary

The Audi A1 2020 range offers something for everyone, and in the case of this particular variant, it’s the one you buy if you want as much grunt and gear as you can get.

It’s the top-of-the-range Audi A1 40 TFSI model, which gets the zestiest engine, the lengthiest equipment list, and offers performance to match some hot-hatches out there. It’s essentially an Audi-ised version of a VW Polo GTI.

This test wasn’t so much about the wow-factor, though. We put it through its paces as an urban runabout to see how it coped as a real-world city car.

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2018 Holden Barina Summary

The Holden Barina is a nameplate that is arguably better known than many of the others in the company’s line-up. It has been around longer than Trax, Equinox, Colorado, Trailblazer, Spark… in fact, longer than everything but Astra and Commodore.

The current-generation Barina itself has been around for a while, too: it launched way back in 2012, and it’s fair to say the market has moved on a long way since then. But so has the Barina, following a refresh late in 2016 - and it remains one of the roomier offerings in the segment, and one of the keener-priced cars, too.

In fact, it managed to run eighth in terms of sales in the declining light-car segment in 2017… and yet, with nearly 4000 cars sold, there are still plenty of people interested in the Barina model.

So, does it still stack up?

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Deep dive comparison

2020 Audi A1 2018 Holden Barina

Verdict

If you’re eager for a sporty compact hatchback with premium design and luxury car badges, the Audi A1 40 TFSI is a very, very strong contender. It’s fast, fun, and functional for a little hatchback. It’s just very expensive, and for most people the $10K cheaper 35 TFSI model will tick most of the boxes. I’d recommend you drive it before signing on for the top-spec model.

Verdict

Would I recommend you buy a 2018 Holden Barina? In a word, no. There are better light cars out there for close to the money - cars that are more modern, more sophisticated, more refined, more efficient and better equipped.

At this point in time the Barina still has its place - if you just need a cheap set of wheels, I guarantee you will be able to score a good deal. But if it were me, and it was my money - but I had to buy a Holden - I’d be checking out the slightly smaller Spark (and saving a few bucks in the meantime) or trying to stretch the budget to the larger Astra.

Audi A1 vs Holden Barina What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

Audi A1 vs Holden Barina
What's the difference?