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Ford Fiesta vs Holden Spark

What's the difference?

VS
Ford Fiesta
Ford Fiesta

2023 price

Holden Spark
Holden Spark

$8,999 - $14,990

2016 price

Summary

2023 Ford Fiesta
2016 Holden Spark
Safety Rating

Engine Type
Turbo 3, 1.5L

Inline 4, 1.4L
Fuel Type
Premium Unleaded Petrol

Unleaded Petrol
Fuel Efficiency
6.3L/100km (combined)

5.8L/100km (combined)
Seating
5

5
Dislikes
  • Noisy cabin
  • Huge turning circle
  • Firm ride

  • Not cheap for its segment
  • Lacks niceties for backseat passengers
2023 Ford Fiesta Summary

The original Ford Fiesta ST from 2013 was a modern classic. The combination of appealing pricing, point-and-shoot driving dynamics and a sweet turbocharged engine ensured it won a legion of fans. 

Its follow-up from 2020 continued that formula and brought with it a refinement missing from the original. But it was just as fun to drive.

Ford has launched a mid-life update for the sprightly hot hatch, which despite arriving in Australia halfway through 2022, is still officially an MY22 model. This latest version introduces upgrades to interior tech and exterior styling, as well as a 30Nm bump in torque.

But given it’s facing a ballsy competitor from Hyundai, has Ford done enough to keep its B-segment hot hatch crown?

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2016 Holden Spark Summary

Andrew Chesterton road tests and reviews the updated Holden Spark LT with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

The micro-car segment in Australia has driven off a cliff. We are shunning our smallest cars in a way we never have before, and nobody seems to be entirely sure why.

The strength of the second-hand market is one suspected culprit, while another is the tempting price point of vehicles that are one size bigger, with city-car shoppers able to upsize for relative peanuts.

Whatever the reason, the segment is stuck in neutral and halfway along Struggle Street. It needs a spark. And Holden's hoping theirs is just the ticket.

Now you might recognise it as a Barina, but Holden dropped that part of the moniker when this new model launched in March. It is now simply known as the Holden Spark, tested here in top-spec LT guise and wearing a sticker price of $18,990. It sits above only the entry-level, bargain-basement LS ($13,990 manual, $15,690 automatic) in the two-model Spark range.

Designed and built in Korea, the Spark seems to have little to do with our unique marketplace, but Holden promises us this new model couldn't be more dinky-di if it ran on vegemite. Australia had crucial input into its design in Korea, while Holden's Aussie engineers put the new model though its paces on the company's proving ground, tweaking the suspension and steering for Australia's road surfaces.

So the question now is, is the Spark bright enough to lure buyers back to the micro-car segment?

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Deep dive comparison

2023 Ford Fiesta 2016 Holden Spark

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