Holden Barina 2017

It’s here and I like it.  The price of a new Holden Barina isn’t all that much for the car that it is.  One would have to say that the solid looks are stylish – racy in fact.  Having had the crash testing done, you can rest assured that this little car has the five-star tick. These are fun small hatchbacks to drive, well sorted on the road, and the equipment is generous.

A more rounded appearance gives the car its familiar chunky Barina looks, yet Holden have reshaped the headlights into a broader design that looks balanced and more in common with its larger Commodore brothers.  Raised crimped bonnet lines look good, giving the new Barina a muscly look that is athletic and sporty – definitely, another enhancement here.  Cast your eyes over the new Barina’s back haunches, and Holden have adjusted the taillight design to a leaf shaped outline.  I, also wonder if I saw a bit of Volkswagen Polo in the new Barina lines and detailing.  Overall, the exterior is clean and attractive.

Jumping into the hot seat, the driver enjoys a comfortable seat that adjusts well to accommodate a range of human body shapes.  The chunky steering wheel is comfortable in the hand and houses multi-function switches for communications and audio.  A very easy to function 7-inch colour touchscreen sits charmingly in the centre of the dash and boasts Apple CarPlay and Android Auto phone projection technology.  Parking sensors and cameras mean it’s a doddle to park in busy city environments.  The car’s smaller dimensions is also an advantage in built up areas.  Light, confident steering around town becomes slightly heavier and accurate as the roads open up to motorway speeds.  This is an easy car to drive, so if you have teenagers learning to drive the Barina is an ideal car for the job.

Both new Holden Barina models come with the familiar responsive 1.6-litre engine that has the option of a 6-speed auto or a 5-speed manual in the LS.  Power is laid down on the road via FWD.  The 85 kW is powerful enough, while the 155 Nm of torque is plenty for most everyday driving tasks.  You will be pleasantly surprised at how easily the new Barina stays at motorway speeds without any fuss.  Active safety features include: ESC, ABS, EBD, TCS and BA – rather comprehensive in my book, adding to the car’s value for money and driving ability.  Slippery surfaces are kept under control nicely.

Entertainment and the ability to stay in touch are taken care of with Holden’s MyLink Infotainment system and six-speaker surround sound.  Live audio streaming and a USB port enhance the musical talents.  Air-conditioning and power windows are also standard.

So, there are two models: the Barina LS and Barina LT – the LT being the premium model.  Holden Barina LT models offer heated front seats, the standard six-speed auto, passive entry and push button start, 17-inch rims, sportec seat trim, leather wrapped steering wheel and gear lever, an advanced trip computer with digital speedometer, a storage tray under the front passenger seat, sunglasses holder, exterior body coloured door handles with a chrome strip and exterior chrome highlighting.

Up against the Ford Fiesta and Suzuki Swift, the Holden Barina stacks up well for driving pleasure, safety and practicality.  You are going to smile all the way to the bank with the entry-level Barina LS five-speed manual model starting at around $14,990 before on-road costs, with the six-speed automatic version costing around $17,190.  LT variants are automatic only and are priced from $20,390.

Holden Barina 2017 Rear

A pleasing small hatch.

The 2017 Holden Barina models include the:

• Barina LS
• Barina LT

For any more information on the Holden Barina models or, for that matter, any other new car, contact one of our friendly consultants on 1300 303 181.  If you’d like some fleet discount pricing (yes even for private buyers!), we can submit vehicle quote requests out to our national network of Holden dealers and come back with pricing within 24 hours.  Private Fleet – car buying made easy!