Quick spin
Melbourne, Victoria
What we liked
>> European design
>> Ride/handling balance
>> Heavy on standard features
Not so much
>> Five-speed manual is a dog
>> Only one model grade
>> No spare wheel (it's optional)
An all-new Holden Barina arrives in showrooms in November 2011... So forget what you thought you knew about the 'Beep Beep' Barina - this is no longer a car strictly for the ladies. With a 'gender-neutral' image and Euro-styling, Holden is hoping to attract a few more blokes to the fold with this assertive-looking city car.
Priced from $15,990 for the five-speed manual and $17,990 for the six-speed auto, it's clear from our first drive of the new model that the automatic is well worth the premium. While there's nothing wrong with the five-speed manual model - it has a pleasantly smooth gear shift - the six-speed auto has a greater sense of urgency and makes better use of the 85kW at its disposal.
The auto Barina is more responsive to throttle input and accelerates away from traffic lights with more sizzle thanks to shorter gearing, yet is flexible enough to cruise on the freeway without using too much juice - Holden claims around 7.3L/100km on the city/highway combined cycle.
Highway driving is effortless thanks to cruise control, a feature that few others in this class can match. Electric windows and mirrors and keyless entry also make life a little easier.
Holden's new light car steers well and doesn't wallow too much through corners when pressed. But by the same token it manages to retain a good level of ride comfort - ideal for urban driving. Indeed, city driving is a cinch. It's effortless to park and while the C-pillars are pretty chunky, for the most part front- and rear-ward vision is pretty good.
It's a safer car too, awarded a five-star safety rating by ANCAP thanks to standard features such as six airbags, electronic stability control, traction control and antilock brakes.
Like the exterior, the new cabin is much improved too, boasting a premium look CD stereo system complete with Bluetooth audio streaming as standard. There's three cupholders, two bottle holders, and a split level glovebox, with the top tier designed specifically for phones and MP3 players. It's a surprisingly roomy car too, plenty of leg and head room for front occupants.
Bottom line? The edgier Holden Barina is much better than its predecessor with a standard features list matched by few. It's not quite as inspired as the Kia Rio, but it's not far off the mark.
Keep your eyes peeled for a full launch review of the new Holden Barina over the next few days.
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