Browse over 9,000 car reviews

Honda Civic vs Holden Barina

What's the difference?

VS
Honda Civic
Honda Civic

$47,200 - $72,600

2024 price

Holden Barina
Holden Barina

$6,499 - $19,994

2018 price

Summary

2024 Honda Civic
2018 Holden Barina
Safety Rating

Engine Type
Turbo 4, 2.0L

Inline 4, 1.6L
Fuel Type
-

Unleaded Petrol
Fuel Efficiency
8.9L/100km (combined)

6.6L/100km (combined)
Seating
4

5
Dislikes
  • Price, maybe
  • Limited availability
  • Likely a swansong

  • Not fun to drive
  • Underwhelming engine
  • Feeling its age
2024 Honda Civic Summary

Before we dive in, this isn’t your typical road test. 

That’s because there’s no road, per se. Instead, the majority of what you’re about to read comes from The Bend Motorsport Park in South Australia.

You’ve read the headline, though, so you’re probably putting it all together: a Honda Civic Type R on a well-liked race track must be bliss. Let’s find out.

A very quick catch-up for those not in the know. The Honda Civic Type R (or CTR if you like) is the brand’s only performance model on sale after the demise of the NSX supercar. 

The current (FL5) CTR is a little over a year old, having been launched internationally in late 2022, but has only been on Aussie shores for a little while. In fact, we’ve already reviewed it for the road, back in April.

But Honda Australia was keen to get media behind the wheel in a setting it says the CTR thrives in - a racetrack. Its predecessor was a car loved almost universally, can this one live up to the new standard?

View full pricing & specs
2018 Holden Barina Summary

The Holden Barina is a nameplate that is arguably better known than many of the others in the company’s line-up. It has been around longer than Trax, Equinox, Colorado, Trailblazer, Spark… in fact, longer than everything but Astra and Commodore.

The current-generation Barina itself has been around for a while, too: it launched way back in 2012, and it’s fair to say the market has moved on a long way since then. But so has the Barina, following a refresh late in 2016 - and it remains one of the roomier offerings in the segment, and one of the keener-priced cars, too.

In fact, it managed to run eighth in terms of sales in the declining light-car segment in 2017… and yet, with nearly 4000 cars sold, there are still plenty of people interested in the Barina model. 

So, does it still stack up?

View full pricing & specs

Deep dive comparison

2024 Honda Civic 2018 Holden Barina

Change vehicle