2011 Holden Barina Reviews

The Holden Barina is a small car that's generally tough in its build and put together to a good standard. It has a good reputation for being simple to drive and park and long lasting if driven and serviced correctly.It was the smallest car sold in Australia by Holden for many years, an even smaller model, called Barina Spark and later just plain Spark was sold from 2010, but isn't the model being surveyed here.The first Barinas were made by Japanese Suzuki and introduced here in 1989, then from 1994 they came from German car maker Opel. These are at or past their use-by date so won't be covered here.From December 2005, Barinas have been produced by the South Korean company Daewoo, now called GM-Korea, it has quite a few Australian engineers and designers on site so there's Aussie tuning in them. The car used some of the underpinnings developed by Opel and was very much a global machine.A virtually all-new model, tagged the TK series Barina was introduced in October 2011. Considerably more sophisticated than its predecessors it had electronically stability program, as well as infotainment technology that included GM’s MyLink system.Holden Barina is sold as a three-door or five-door hatch, or a four-door sedan, the latter not offered at all times.Occupant space in the front seats is fine for a car of its size. Rear seat legroom is restricted unless those in the front are prepared to give up some of their space. Most Aussie Barinas are used by single or couples, but we have seen some working as small family cars.Boot space is marginal, but the rear-seat backrests can be folded down to increase luggage room when required.All Barinas have four-cylinder engines. Though the engine is small, performance is reasonably good because of the light weight of the car. Try for yourself if you are likely to be carrying largish loads or driving in hilly conditions.Five-speed manual gearboxes are probably the best bet unless you are going to be doing a lot of heavy-duty commuting. Automatic transmissions are not too bad, particularly in six-speed format installed in the TK series. Again, test drive it yourself.Spare parts prices are generally favourable and there are Holden dealers in virtually all areas of Australia. Those in remote country areas are unlikely to stock every Barina part, so you may have to wait for parts to be shipped from a major city.Barinas are reasonably easy for the amateur mechanic to service and repair, though the underbonnet area is on the crowded side and work can be frustrating at times. Having a workshop manual on hand before you lift the bonnet makes a lot of sense.Insurance charges are generally reasonable and there doesn't seem to be a major difference in prices from company to company. As always, it's smart to shop around, making sure you're comparing apples with apples.The engine should start reasonably quickly and idle without too much movement.After the engine has been idling for a minute or so, hit the accelerator pedal and look for a puff of smoke from the exhaust. This could indicate serious engine wear.Make some fast gearchanges and listen and feel for a manual gearbox that baulks or crashes. The problem usually shows up in the critical third-to-second downchange before any others.Automatics that are rough in their changes or which change too frequently, may be due for an overhaul.Look for front tyres that are worn unevenly. This could be caused by something as simple as poor wheel alignment, but it could also mean the body has been twisted in a prang.Expect to spend from $1000 to $2500 for a 2005 Holden Barina; $2000 to $4000 for a 2005 SRi; $3000 to $6000 for a 2009 Barina; $5500 to $9000 for a 2012 Classic; $7000 to $11,000 for  a 2013 CDX; $8500 to $13,000 for a 2014 CDX; $10,000 to $15,000 for a 2014 RS or a 2016 CDX; and $12,500 to $19,000 for a 2016 RS.Look first at that left front wheel for signs of damage, it's generally the one to suffer if a driver stuffs up while parking.

Holden did much to improve the fitness of the Barina but some horror stories persist. New Holden had a lot of ground to make up when it launched the TM Barina in 2011 — the previous model had been widely panned for its poor quality, reliability and safety. About the only positive thing you could say about the TK

NEW The Korea-built TK Barina got off to a rather rocky start when the Euro NCAP people could only give it a miserable 2-star rating. At a time when carmakers were making great strides in the area of safety the littlest Holden stood out for all the wrong reasons. But by 2008 things were looking up when it was given it

Holden Barinas come from a variety of backgrounds. From 1989 until April 1994, Barina was a Japanese Suzuki Swift with a different name, though it sold in fewer variants than did the Swift. From April 1994, Barina was built by German car maker Opel.Then from December 2005, Barina was produced by the South Korean company Daewoo. These days Daewoo, now GM-Korea, has quite a few Australian engineers and designers so there's plenty of local expertise in them.To further increase confusion, Opel Corsa entered the Australian market for the first time in September 2012 and is the ‘grandson’ of the Barina that used to be built for Holden by Opel.It’s still early days for the Corsa in Australia, but owners of the German Barinas are paying close attention to them. Not only do Corsas have sportier dynamics than the Korean Barinas, the importer is closely related to Holden in back-office operations.Holden Barina is a small car that’s generally tough in its build and put together to a good standard in any of the factories just mentioned. It has earned a good reputation for being simple to drive and park.However, some older models didn’t have power-assisted steering as standard so can be a handful at parking speeds. If you do come across one be sure to road test it at very low speeds to see what you think.The Barina is sold as a three-door or five-door hatchback, or a four-door sedan, the latter not offered at all times. Occupant space in the front seats is fine. Some drivers complain the pedals are too close together in the German versions, others don’t have a problem.Rear seat legroom is rather restricted unless the front occupants are prepared to give up some of their space. Hardly unusual in a car in this class. Boot space is marginal in the ‘Suzuki’ Barina, better in the ‘Opel’ and ‘Daewoo’ versions. Naturally the rear-seat backrest can be folded down to increase luggage room when required.In their Suzuki and Daewoo formats the Barina is mainly aimed at suburban running. The German Opel Barina isn't out of place on country roads provided they are not too rough; corrugated roads can knock them around. They are designed to cruise at 140 to 160 km/h in their home country so dawdling along at 110 km/h in Australia sees them barely raising a sweat.The current GM-Korea Barina isn’t too bad on the rough stuff, but is still better left to the suburban areas. Handling in the European-sourced Barinas is enjoyable and will appeal to the enthusiast. The Suzuki and Korean models can be on the soft side, though a decent set of tyres can make them reasonably pleasant to drive.All Barinas have four-cylinder engines. The Suzuki engine is a 1.3-litre unit (three-cylinder engines used in some Suzuki Swifts but were never installed in Barinas). Though the engine is small, performance is reasonably good because of the light weight of the car.The European-built Opel Barina comes with several different engine sizes. The 1.2-litre engine was sluggish and a poor seller, it was discontinued midway through 1997; the 1.4-litre is the most common engine and provides on-road performance that’s fine for most people.There's also a hot GSi motor in the Opel versions of the Barina. It had 1.6 litres until the 2001 model, then 1.8 litres (re-tagged as the Barina SRi) made it a genuine hot hatch at a pretty modest price.Engines in the current Barina, the South Korean one, have a capacity of 1.2 litres in the low-cost Spark model and 1.6 litres in the others. The 1.2 is on the dead side but the 1.6 provides reasonably peppy performance. These days there’s no high-performance option on Barina, but the Opel Corsa OPC, launched early in 2013 is a great little hot hatch.Five-speed manual gearboxes are probably the best bet unless you are going to be doing a lot of heavy-duty commuting. The automatic in the ‘Suzuki’ Barina is a three-speed unit, that in the German Opel and Korean models a four-speed. The automatic option isn’t offered in all versions of the Opel-based Barina.From November 1997 until late 2000 some three-door hatches were converted into two-door cabriolets by HSV in Melbourne. They are great fun to cruise in when the weather’s right, but their extra weight makes them sluggish in acceleration and handling suffered because of the removal of the roof.The cabriolet is even smaller in the back seat than the others, so is really a two-plus-two not a four-seater. Spare parts prices are generally favourable and there are Holden dealers in virtually all areas of Australia. Those in remote country areas are unlikely to stock every Barina part, so you may have to wait for parts to be shipped from a major city.Barinas are reasonably easy for the amateur mechanic to service and repair, though the underbonnet area is on the crowded side and work can be frustrating at times. Having a workshop manual on hand before you lift the bonnet makes a lot of sense. Insurance charges are generally reasonable, some companies will ask extra for the higher-performance Barina GSi and SRi.WHAT TO LOOK FORThe engine should start reasonably quickly and idle without too much movement. Listen for a rattle when it first kicks over, even if the rattle dies away after a couple of seconds it probably means the engine is badly worn.After the engine has been idling for a minute or so, hit the accelerator pedal and look for a puff of smoke from the exhaust. This could indicate serious engine wear.Make some fast gearchanges and listen and feel for a manual gearbox that baulks or crashes. The problem usually shows up in the critical third-to-second downchange before any others.Automatics that are rough in their changes or which change too frequently, may be due for an overhaul.Check that the brakes don't pull to one side under hard application. If ABS is fitted, feel for a pulsing through the pedal when you push it very hard.Look for front tyres that are worn unevenly. This could be caused by something as simple as poor wheel alignment, but it could also mean the body has been twisted in a prang.Rust is not normally a problem in Suzuki-built Barinas, but if it does get a hold it can make a real mess of the body in a relatively short time. Be wary of this because rust repairs can cost big bucks.Opel cars are significantly better for rust protection and the only problems we have seen are in cars poorly repaired after a crash. Korean cars look to be well rust proofed and are standing up well.To be on the safe side, check for rust in all lower areas of the body, doors and hatchback, as well as the surrounds of the front and rear windows and the petrol filler flap.CAR BUYING TIPSmall cars with low kilometres on the clock have probably spent most of their lives in heavy-duty traffic with their engines cold. This is not good for longevity of mechanical components.

Over almost three decades since its introduction as a Holden-badged Suzuki, the Holden Barina has grown into a sporty small car, with impressive looks similar to both its cheap and cheeky Spark and mature mid-size Holden Cruze siblings.Ondrej Koromhaz, an Australian design team member seconded to the GM Design studio in South Korea, was given the task of reshaping the small car into a truly global car that’s sold in more than 60 countries, as the Chevrolet Aveo and Sonic.Producing a car with a more masculine look than before, Koromhaz has drawn inspiration from the motorcycle with headlamps flanking a double-decker radiator grille designed to keep under-bonnet temperatures at optimal levels.Wheels have been shifted to the four corners of the car producing not only a solid stance but a strong contribution to driving stability through ten-spoke 15-inch alloys that add to the sporty ambience.The Barina flexes its design muscles with formidable flanks and broad shoulders leading the way to rear doors that include concealed handles giving the car a hint of a sporty coupe. Rear lights also take their cues from the motorcycle.The theme extends to the cabin interior with motorcycle-inspired instruments at the centre of which is a digital speedometer incorporating an analogue tacho.The new Barina is no mere well-oiled muscle flexer. The overt masculinity is backed up by power in the form of one of the biggest powertrains in the segment.  A 1.6-litre four-cylinder DOHC petrol engine puts out 85 kW of power at 6000 rpm, plus torque of 155 Nm at 4000 rpm and is mated with a standard five-speed manual transmission or optional six-speed automatic transmission with Active Select.Holden says the manual returns a fuel economy figure of 6.8 litres per 100 kilometres on the combined urban/highway cycle with the manual and 7.3 with the auto. The best we managed was 6.1 on a mainly motorway run in a manual, with numbers in the sevens around town.Among a raft of engine upgrades a redesigned cylinder head, block and crankshaft give greater structural strength, improved heat management and an overall weight reduction of three per cent. There’s a toothed timing belt that requires change intervals every 10 years or 160,000 km, whichever comes first, while piston-cooling oil jets enhance lubrication, resulting in increased engine longevity and extended maintenance intervalsElectronic stability control is standard and incorporates anti-lock braking, traction control, electronic brake force distribution and emergency brake assist should brake pressure need to be boosted in an emergency.All this, plus six airbags – dual front, front side and side curtain – the driver and front passenger with seatbelt pretensioners, and pedal release system has led to the new Barina winning the maximum five-star safety rating from the Australasian New Car Assessment Program.Inside the Barina cabin – one of the biggest in class – there is stretch out room for the front occupants, with good legroom for those in the back, though it’s better suited to two adults than three back there.The boot takes an average load – 290 litres with the rear seat backs up but, this is doubled to 653 litres with the 60:40 backs folded flat. Storage includes pockets on both sides of the centre stack and upper instrument panel for smaller items. The double-storey glove box has two concealed areas complete with USB and auxiliary outlets, with a recessed channel to take an MP3 player cable.Though no hot hatch, the new Holden Barina is a thoroughly pleasant car to drive, with the 1.6-litre five-speed manual offering above-average performance for a car in this class. A firm but comfortable ride elicited no complaints from occupants, while favourable comments on the car’s design were forthcoming from more than one onlooker.

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.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.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.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.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.

The charge of the light car brigade has picked up pace with Holden's new Barina hatch. It leads the charge with a five-star safety rating, a host of standard features and keen pricing.Holden spokesman John Elsworth says it will change people's perceptions of their light cars. When it arrives in November it will come in one trim level only to make it easier and simpler for Holden, dealers and customers, Elsworth says.The new TM Barina is built in South Korea, but is part of a global GM platform that included Australian design and testing input. The car will be sold under various names such as Chevrolet Aveo in more than 60 countries. A sedan version arrives here early next year.While the Barina Spark will continue to be sold as a bargain basement model, the new Barina hatch is targeting the over-$15,000 light car segment where buyers expect a little bit more. So Holden has thrown a lot of standard features at its one-trim hatch including Bluetooth with audio streaming, cruise control, rear spoiler, USB/iPod connector, follow-me-home lighting, and 15-inch alloy wheels. An obvious omission, though, is parking sensors.The five-speed manual transmission is listed at $15,990 and at launch will sell for $16,990 drive away. The six-speed auto adds $2000 to the price. Marketing manager Emma Pinwill says motorists would have to buy the second or third trim level in other models to match the Barina's feature package."There are more than 30 brands in this segment - it's one of the most competitive in the world - and consumers demand more advanced value-packed products," she says.Holden lead development engineer Adam Shaw says their engineers have injected Holden DNA into the Barina hatch. By that he means the car was tested on our roads and in our weather conditions to calibrate the transmission, ride and handling to suit Australian customer standards for noise and vibration, as well as local standards for fuel economy and emissions.It is powered by a 85kW 1.6-litre petrol engine. While a diesel engine is available in other markets, Holden is adopting a wait-and-see approach. The automatic transmission has Active Select adaptive shift controls, with a wide ratio spread featuring a long first gear for rapid acceleration and a tall top gear for highway cruising with low fuel consumption. Shaw says it has 11 per cent more power than the TK Barina and 7 per cent more torque.Yet fuel economy has improved from 7.2 litres per 100km for the manual TK Barina (7.6 auto) to 6.8 (man) and 7.3 (auto). Likewise, CO2 emissions have been reduced from 171g/km (182 auto) to 162/174. Despite the use of lightweight materials and suspension components, the car uses thicker and heavier glass to reduce noise.Holden designer Richard Ferlazzo says their designer, Ondrej Koromhaz, was sent to South Korea a few years ago to lead the exterior design project for the Barina. "It's a truly global car and we're proud to say that Ondrej is one of our designers," he says. "The objective we gave him was to design a serious small car with a fun spirit."While most of the cars in the light segment are cute, Feralzzo says the Barina is a bit more "masculine and robust", featuring motorcycle inspiration in the headlights and instruments. "Most small cars have a cheap and cheerful happy look," he says. "This has a little bit of a frown and assertiveness. For a small car it's tough and nuggety."The cabin features more than 12 storage spaces in the front passenger compartment, including cubby holes above and beside the centre stack, on top of the dashboard, in the doors and centre console, and a two-part glovebox. It comes in seven exterior colours with metallic paint costing an extra $500.Pinwill says accessories include "lots of bling" such as chrome light surrounds and alloy pedals. "This is a style-conscious market," she says. "It's no secret that this segment is skewed to females, but the sporting orientation gives us the chance to market at males as well."The Barina has scored a maximum five stars in the latest ANCAP safety ratings. Shaw says this is due to the structural integrity of the body and chassis which includes high-strength steel, crumple zones, tubular door beams, a protected fuel tank and reinforced A and B pillars. There are also five seatbelts with pretensioners in the front, six airbags, collapsible pedals and pedestrian protection in the bonnet and bumpers. It also has stability and traction control, plus a suite of braking safety technology.The photos show a wide-legged, muscular hatch, but the wide-angle lens shots accentuate the features. It's not that macho in the flesh/metal. However, it is a tidy design with an aggressive set of "teeth and eyes".Inside, the plastic trim looks a lot softer than it actually is, but it's still good quality with a lot of handy receptacles to store mobile phones, iPods, wallets, coins, etc. The iPod connector plugs are conveniently located in the upper glovebox. Fit and finish is every bit as good as its Japanese and Korean colleagues.However, the levels of wind and road noise are much better. This feels a refined and civilised car to drive in the city and no less harsh on the open road.  It hits potholes without fuss and feels solid and unshaken. The five-speed manual is a slick gearbox with a light clutch that is easy to use in heavy traffic.The auto tends to flare and hunt around a bit too much, especially under acceleration or up hills. Steering is light enough for carpark situations with an assured feeling on the highway. The brake pedal feels firm and the stoppers are responsive even though it has drums on the rear like many of its kinfolk.It may only be a small car, but it feels big inside. The outer limits of the body are difficult to see, so parking sensors would be handy. The front seats have plenty of adjustment and the steering wheel is adjustable for reach and height, so it is easy to get a suitable position for any driver. Rear leg and head room is ok for adults, but boot space is tight. The rear seats fold down and have a 60-40 split for cargo flexibility.