Holden Barina 2012 Video Review

Price Room Safety

Noisy engine Cheap instruments Uneven folding seats

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?

Read the full Holden Barina 1.6L hatch 2012 review.