2012 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

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.

Holden is using one of its cheaper cars to debut innovative communication systems that will put the world at its owner’s fingertips. The MY13 Barina CDX will gain the Holden MyLink infotainment system which operates by integrating the owner’s compatible smartphone and stored media, via Bluetooth, auxiliary jack or USB, with the radio.This allows owners to enjoy easy-to-use, personalised connectivity while their smartphone is stowed. Holden MyLink launches in the New Year with the Stitcher Smart Radio application. Thereafter, additional apps will be available, with Holden MyLink the first in-car system in Australia to offer full compatibility with Pandora Internet Radio.TuneIn Radio will also become available in 2013 and allow Barina drivers to stream radio stations from around the world. Holden MyLink will also bring innovative low-cost navigation to Barina drivers through BringGo, a navigation application which runs through the mobile device’s 3G or 4G service and is controlled and viewed on the MyLink seven-inch touch screen.VALUEThe Holden Barina CD manual entry-level hatch comes to the market at $15,990, while the range is topped off by the CDX automatic sedan at $20,990, both plus on-road costs. The new models are on sale now.Holden also took the opportunity to wheel out the 2013 Barina Spark for the first time, due to go on sale in January. The Barina Spark CD auto will go on sale for $14,490, the manual $12,490, plus on-road costs. The 2013 Barina Spark gains design updates, including new look front grille, side skirts, headlamps, tail lamps, 14-inch alloy wheels and body colour rear spoiler with integrated LED stop lamp. Air-conditioning is standard and it gets benefits of Bluetooth connectivity and steering wheel-mounted phone controls are on offer, while electric power steering, remote flip key, hill start assist and a fuel-saving neutral idle feature add some unexpected technological touches to an otherwise price-pinned car.DESIGNIn the cabin, hard plastic surfaces announce the Barina’s utilitarian light car character but this is balanced by a range of quality driving aids such as a modern motorcycle-inspired instrument cluster, home to a digital speedo and analogue tacho, plus trip computer recording average fuel consumption and speed, distance to empty and trip time. Initial impressions of the Spark are of body creases all round, while the rear lamp clusters dominate the back of the car almost to excess. The chrome tipped exhaust is a nice touch though, as are hidden rear door handles.SAFETYIt comes with dual front, side and curtain airbags, front seatbelt pre-tensioners, collapsible pedals and Electronic Stability Control help earn the Spark a four-star ANCAP safety rating.TECHNOLOGYThe new Barina offers fuel economy of up to 6.3 litres per 100 kilometres on the range topping CDX sedan thanks to its 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine (85 kW and 155 Nm) being matched with a new six-speed automatic transmission with Active Select, and electric power steering package.The new automatic transmission is also offered as an option for the Barina CD and gives fuel consumption of 6.6 litres per 100 kilometres, around 10 per cent better than the equivalent 2012 model. CDX ownership is further enhanced by a new 17-inch alloy wheel and tyre package and an updated steering calibration, the latter being part of development work undertaken by Holden engineers in conjunction with their Korean counterparts.The little Spark hatchback will come in CD five-speed manual and four-speed automatic form. And is powered by a 1.2 litre DOHC engine, putting out 63 kW of power and 113 Nm of torque, returning 5.8 litres/100km on the combined urban/highway cycle, the Spark automatic is happiest commuting around town where low fuel usage and manoeuvrability matter more than out-and-out performance. Emissions are to Euro 5 standard.DRIVINGOn the launch over a range of town, country and highway driving a Barina CDX automatic and Spark CD auto both came up with fuel consumption close to six litres per 100 kilometres. Cabin noise was low thanks to chassis-to-body interfaces designed to enhance stiffness, helping to reduce low frequency sound. Air/noise barriers are incorporated in the floor, instrument panel and inner body panels.Four acoustic resonators from low to high frequency on the intake system help to limit engine noise and the exhaust system incorporates a front and a rear muffler.VERDICTThe latest Barina CDX is driving the small car into new infotainment territory and an automatic transmission puts the MY13 Barina Spark at the forefront of light car appeal.Holden Barina CDXPrice: from $15,990Engine: 1.6-litre 4-cylinder, 85kW/155NmTransmission: 6-speed autoThirst: 6.3L/100kmHolden Barina Spark CDPrice: from $12,490Engine: 1.2-litre 4-cylinder, 63kW/113NmTransmission: 5-speed manual or 4-speed autoThirst: 5.8L/100km

Buying a new Holden Barina sedan is simple. You get hold of your $16,490, then you pick the colour and choose between manual or optional six-speed auto for two grand more.That's how to buy a car - no mucking around with endless options or "packages." Good one Holden. Barina sedan lobbed recently complementing the five-door hatch and we reckon it's a better thing.They're the same under the skin but the four door feels more substantial on the road and the engine feels better sorted too - with no annoying throttle flare between gear changes. Our drive car was a five-speed manual and to be frank, it could do with another cog for highway work but the shortish gearing translates into strong acceleration even if the engine is roaring away at 110kmh. And fuel economy is surprisingly good at around 6.8-litres/100km.It's out of a Daewoo factory in Korea but don't hold that against it. Look at Hyundai and Kia - they have some of the most desirable mainstream cars going around at the moment and the Barina is desirable too - in its own way, particularly value for money.Look at the fixed price servicing for example - $185 a pop for scheduled servicing for the first three years/60,000km which means no gouge from the service department thank you.And it has the largest capacity engine in the light class too, as well as being possibly the biggest "tiddler" in body size - more up into the small car class really. So you get plenty of metal for your money.Power comes from a relatively old-school, GM Family 1 engine - a 1.6-litre, petrol four banger with twin cams, variable valve timing and variable inlet. It's an old iron block unit traceable back decades but refined and revamped to the stage where it ticks most of the boxes. It's smooth and sometimes quiet running, reasonably fuel efficient and has easily accessible power and torque rated at 85kW/155Nm.Dynamics are surprisingly sporty - the word marshmallow doesn't even figure in the equation. It hooks around corners in a most un-econobox manner and then backs up around town and on the freeway as a competent all rounder.The manual change is good and the clutch is light to operate. It doesn't peg back on hills like the Holden Cruze 1.4 SRi-V manual we just drove while fuel requirement is only regular unleaded.Holden equips Barina sedan with plenty of cool kit including Bluetooth phone and audio, multi media connectivity, multiple steering wheel controls, a basic info read out, cruise, a/c and even 15-inch alloys. We like the motorbike inspired instrument pod but there's too much hard, acrid smelling plastic inside and no centre arm rest or bin. Storage provision elsewhere is ample and the boot is large. It gets a five star ANCAP rating with the accompanying six air bags, stability control and a raft of other safety gear. Do we like the look of it? Well, yeh...and no. The high boot is a bit jarring but the VW Golf look to the frontal area is pleasing. It's not ugly.

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.

Life throws some shockers at you when you least expect. I came home from overseas a while back and Australia had a woman prime minister. Holden gave me a Barina this week and it drove really well. I wasn't prepared for either of those.The Barina has previously been an awkward hatchback in the company of some red-hot rivals. Many people bought it purely because it is a Holden and - certainly with the old 2005-2011 TK Barina - probably live without knowing that it is spectacularly bad and originally came out of the factory with a you're-gunna-get-really-hurt two-star crash rating.But relax. The new Barina is completely different. It's still made in Korea but sits on a new platform, has the maximum five-star crash rating and is even good value for money. Do we still have a woman prime minister?It sits in the light-car category alongside the smaller Barina Spark. Do not confuse the two - the Spark is one of the worse cars on the market while the Barina, by comparison, sparkles. Pricing is very good so the hatch represents value. Go for the six-speed auto for $17,990 because it is a better drive than the manual. Good feature list, reasonable economy and a Holden dealer at every street corner makes a lot of sense for low-distance owners.Basically it's a chiselled box with a distinctive four-light nose. The design successfully makes it look more expensive than the $15,990 (manual) price tag so it's not something you'd be ashamed to park in your driveway.Cabin space is very good, though C-pillars are wide. Rear seats fold down but sit awkwardly above the floor. The motorcycle-inspired instrument panel is basic, simple and has a very temporary appearance.The six-speed lock-up auto comes from the Cruze and though gearshifts can sometimes jar, is a winner. The sequential manual mode is interesting but probably worthless given the car's market and the engine noise at high revs. The 1.6 engine has been around for ages, with modest upgrades this time around. It's strong, not bad on fuel and reliable but won't win at the traffic lights and is quietest when cruising under 3000rpm. Drum rear brakes look - and are - dated.This gets a five-star crash rating - up on the previous model's four stars after it originally scored two. There's stability control, brakeforce distribution and brake assist. It has six airbags - including full-length curtain bags - and a full size spare wheel.Forget some previous Barinas because this model is more like its original Opel version, with interest again by Holden in how the car drives and feels. It feels spacious, is comfortable - with long seat cushions - and has good visibility. Steering is sharp and it doesn't fidget on the road. It's no sportscar through the bends but is confident.Suspension copes well with rough roads and the ride is well dampened and noise free. But the engine is noisy and feels a bit rough at above 3000rpm. Here it falls behind most rivals. Treat it gently and it is fuss-free, especially at cruising speeds. The instrument panel is pretty ordinary but the rest of the driving experience is very good.

It's a better looking car that's for sure. But it will be buyers who decide whether Holden's new Barina cuts the mustard in this increasingly important section of the market. Although sourced from Korea like its predecessor, it's an entirely new car with no lingering links to the Daewoo franchise. The Cruze which is