Holden Barina Car Review

The new Holden Barina is retailing at an extremely low price of $13,490, which is about $500 cheaper than the ever popular Hyundai Getz. However, even though the car is priced quite cheap that doesn’t mean that the car itself is cheaply made. The new Barina does all the tasks you would need it for without running into any problems. The reason for the low price was strictly done for strategic reasons. The Holden manufacturer wanted to put a car out there to compete with the lower end of the market that could succeed in it. The previous model of the Barina was a great car, but at the same time it was having trouble competing in the price range they had initially wanted it to be in. With that said they decided to take the Barina and turn it into a decently priced light car that would be a lot more budget friendly. This was definitely a wise decision on their part. Now the new Holden Barina has a better opportunity to make an impact on the market where high prices can be a deal breaker.

With gas prices constantly bouncing up and down, it is important to own a vehicle that can save you some money here and there. That is the reason for the recent jump in popularity for light cars since the lighter the vehicle, the less gas and power it takes to get it going and keeps them moving. Holden wanted to capitalize on this and push out an entry level light vehicle of their own to compete for their piece of the pie in this constantly growing market. With a stylish and well rounded vehicle that comes with a decent price they are sure to find plenty of success on this venture. The small price does not come at the cost of losing performance or any other attributes. I can honestly say that I couldn’t find any major flaws with this vehicle and that Holden obviously did not want to sacrifice any of their quality standards.

The main target they chose to market the Korean made Barina is the younger crowd. Focusing more on first time buyers and drivers they are sure to please them by offering a car that can get you around where you need to go without spending a bundle on gas, and without having to give up stylish looks as well. The car is actually quite attractive and features wheel guards, a European style rear end, angular headlights, and the infamous Holden grille that many have come to love. All of these features blend seamlessly to create a great looking vehicle for the younger generations. When buying their first vehicle many are looking to stretch a dollar as far as it can go. That is exactly what will draw many people to the new Holden Barina. Not only will you save a few bucks here and there on gas, but you will also be able to enjoy low maintenance costs as well. This car is very well built so unless something drastic were to happen I wouldn’t think anyone would have to do much work on the vehicle in the future.

No matter if you are cruising through the city or down an old country road, the Holden Barina is a comfortable and easy car to drive. However, it is absolutely wonderful for driving downtown in the city because of its size. You can easily zip around town squeezing yourself into almost any parking spot with ease. This was a huge positive for me since I hate driving in the city with a bulky vehicle. It just causes a lot more problems when you are driving around a big box rather than a lightweight, small, and fast car. If you want to get technical with the facts, the car is a mere 1.6 meters in width and 3.9 meters in length, which is pretty small! Unfortunately, the car doesn’t hold up as well when you take it out on the freeway. It’s not that the car is horrible or has any major problems, it just feels a little awkward and isn’t as good as I would like it to be. The quality of the ride is great no matter what, but it exceeds the handling of the vehicle by far. This is certainly not an issue, especially for the type of buyers they want to reach.

The inside of the Holden Barina is actually quite spacious though it may not seem like it from the exterior view. You and all of your passengers will have no problems getting in and sitting comfortably throughout the ride even if you are a taller person. When dealing with a car as tiny as this I was assuming interior space would be a bit crammed, but I was definitely glad they proved me wrong. The steering wheel is sensible and comes equipped with mounted audio controls to help simplify your tasks with the radio/CD-player. As for the engine, I have no complaints. It holds its own and does the job well without any issues and that is really all I ever ask of an engine. The clutch works and operates smoothly; however the gear shifter could use a little bit of work to encourage swifter changes. The interior looks great and gives you the feeling that you got yourself quite a deal getting a car like this for such a low price.

Now on to the fun stuff, features! You will get standard features such as driver and passenger airbags, power steering, immobilizer, electric windows, electric mirrors, air conditioning, and remote central locking. You also get a stylish 6 speaker CD player that is also MP3 compatible. Being they are going for the younger buyer, this will certainly draw the needed attention. The trunk of the car is a little small, but you have to keep in mind that this is meant to be a small hatchback. At the same time though, the seats in the rear fold down 60/40 to expand trunk space and to help with storing and toting odd sized goods.

In conclusion, the new Holden Barina is quite a catch, mainly because of its price tag. Sure, you can find a more attractive and faster vehicle, but this vehicle was designed and produced for one thing- value. With a price this small mixed with all the great standard features, you are getting your moneys worth without a doubt. For more advanced drivers it may seem a little boring, but this would be the perfect car for a first time buyer/driver to own. You get more than you pay for and that’s a pretty rare thing to say in the car business.