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Holden Barina Hatchback

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Holden Barina Hatchback Review

Price range:

$14,790 - $18,290

Car Verdict rating:

Good:

Low price, improved looks and four airbags as standard.

Not so Good:

Feels like a cheap car; the Manual gearbox is below par; far from class-leading.

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Holden Barina Hatchback Competitors

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Holden Barina Hatchback Review

Design and Engineering	Good	The August 2008 Holden Barina mid life facelift improves the front-end looks; styled by Italian design house Giugiaro.
Design and Engineering	Not so good	Look past the styling updates and the overall shape (which arrived in Australia back in December 2005) of the Barina is getting a little bit dated...
Interior and Styling	Good	The new and improved dashboard with an integrated audio and a new instrument cluster.
Interior and Styling	Not so good	Where are all the storage options? Updated dash still lags behind leading competitors in both materials used and the 'fit and finish'; front seats are wide but too flat and lack support. Rear seat room is nothing to shout about; it feels cheap in here.
Performance	Good	We found that with a driver and one passenger aboard, the 1.6L engine has ample power for city driving.
Performance	Not so good	Slightly disappointing 1.6L engine feels like its working more than it should at highway speeds; five-speed manual doesn’t like to be hurried (the 4-speed auto is a better bet).
Ride and Handling	Good	The ride and handling balance sits about mid-field compared with other light cars.
Ride and Handling	Not so good	Power steering is not the best, a touch too heavy in heavy traffic; too much cabin noise at speed; tyres lack grip. No sports hatch.
Buying and Owning	Good	ANCAP has rated this model with a 5 star safety rating. The additional 2 airbags compared to previous models is a big tick; the Holden Barina nameplate is well known to Aussie car buyers so resale should not be a problem.
Buying and Owning	Not so good	Having to pay extra for ABS (Anti-Lock Braking System); No Electronic Stability Control (ESC), not even as an option; fuel economy is close to the back of the pack for a light car.