Holden Barina manual 2011 review

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. 

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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.