HOLDEN’S evergreen Barina bounced back in a big way in early 2001, bolstered by an all-new design that included a roomier body, improved quality and significantly better dynamics. However price rises and fierce new competition has rattled it lately, so Holden has struck back with re-adjusted prices and a small facelift. But is it enough against the class-leading Honda Jazz, Ford Fiesta and Mazda2?

Holden XC Barina hatch
Released: February 01
Ended: December 03
Family Tree: BarinaOfficially dubbed the MY04.5 by Holden, the Barina tested here is a mildly reworked, price-reduced version of the all-new XC Barina (pictured) that went on sale in February 2001. XC replaced the long-running SB model, which appeared in April 1994 as the first Opel-built Barina. Before that, the MF/H model also doubled as a Suzuki Swift.
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