Holden Barina Spark CD 2010 review

For a start, this is not the new Barina as such. That comes late next year to play against the Mazda2, Ford Fiesta, Hyundai i20 and - at some point - a sub-Polo sized Volkswagen.

This, on the other hand, is a newer notion for Holden, an even smaller (though handily roomy) car to which the familiar Barina name has been appended as a blatant localised marketing ploy - the rest of the General Motors world calls it the Spark. The latest South Korean (and soon to be South African) made "Barina" is meant to play against the driveaway and eventually chuckaway likes of Suzuki's Alto and Nissan's Micra.

Value

The manual only gambit keeps the starting price of the entry CD variant down to $12,490, for which it gets fruit including 14-inch alloys, body kit, front fog lamps, rear spoiler, power adjustable exterior mirrors, vanity mirrors, CD player, iPod/iPhone AUX input and a USB input for MP3 players, steering wheel-mounted audio controls, remote keyless entry operates doors and rear tailgate.

Yep, the econo-car motif has moved on a bit since the original Hyundai. The CDX adds 15s, more exterior bling, and nicer paint options.

Technology

You're not burdened with tech at this end of the market, save for the standard audio and safety fixtures. The steering is hydraulic, MacPherson struts up front, torsion beam at the back and, really, you can't complain. The diminutive 1.2-litre four cylinder engine puts out a seemingly feeble 59kW/107Nm, but also only 128 grams of C02 per kilometer while using a claimed 5.6L of unleaded per 100km.

Design

This is where Holden hope, rather than reckon, objections to having to move the left foot and hand to change gear will be overcome. The Alfa Romeo-like hidden rear door handles suggest a coupe's lines. There are so many sharp angles you want to watch cutting yourself.  With only 3.5m in length to work with, design cues have been fairly crammed in.

The exterior either works for you or it doesn't. Less equivocal is the interior, and the most impressive aspect of it is the space.

In the unlikely event two men ever occupy this car at the same time, a tall burly one can sit behind another with room to move. More funky - and don't Holden abuse that word - is the motorcycle-like instrument cluster mounted on the steering column which includes an green illuminated analogue speedometer with digital tachometer (so you greenline rather than redline) and trip computer.

Safety

The Spark won only four star in European crash safety testing due to the stability control being optional in that market. Here ESC goes with anti-lock brakes and six airbags as standard, which should aid its quest to win five sparklers from forthcoming round of ANCAP tests.

Driving

Well, you have to change gear yourself, babe. A lot if you want to maintain progress. Though not quite so much as you might have expected.

The 1.2's output, while hardly neck-snapping, isn't exactly snore-inducing. Though our exposure was limited to 85km with two adults on board, the Spark didn't exactly fizzle when called upon to haul up hills or even cut through a few mildly interesting twisty bits of bitumen. It is borderline fun, in fact, though carrying four adults - or too great a haul from the seasonal sales - will tax it.

Road noise is minimal, suggesting that boasts about insulation aren't empty. The CDX probably shades the CD when hustled along a bit, but who are we kidding here with talk of dynamics?

The Spark will get you to the next Mimco clearance and back, girlfriend, no problem. Just as long as Mum and Dad made you get a manual license.