The Star: July 21, 2016

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Thursday July 21 2016 39
Driven
Baby Holden provides a Spark
• By Ross Kiddie
THE UNDER $20,000 segment
of the new car market has shown
some resurgence in recent years.
In recent decades it was an
area where manufacturers didn’t
place a big emphasis on – the
margins were small and finding
product wasn’t always easy.
But being able to buy a new
car at the same price as something
pre-owned certainly has
appeal, and there’s now a wealth
of hatchbacks available here
fresh from Asia – especially
China, Japan and South Korea.
One of the latter is Holden’s
Barina Spark, which has been
quite successful for GM Holden,
with a new-generation model
just landing.
It arrives here in three variants
starting at $16,490 for a manual
LS variant (automatic $17,990),
while an LT model tops out at
$19,990 as tested.
Although the Barina Spark
shares its name, it is engineered
a little differently to Barina; the
Spark gets a 1.4-litre engine and
continuously variable transmission,
as opposed to a 1.6-litre
unit and six-speed auto, and it
sits on a floorpan with wheelbase
and track just a little smaller
than Barina.
Nevertheless, the Spark
appeals in other ways, it is most
certainly designed to capture the
imagination of the young, those
buyers who want something
new, as well as being trendy and
funky. It comes with vivid colour
schemes and an interior package
which is bright and breezy,
yet will also lure those from all
generations who don’t have a
big budget. The test car often
captured attention, and not just
from the younger set.
Standard fitment on the high
grade model is respectable given
its price point. Major items
include single-zone air conditioning,
leather-like trim, keyless
entry and ignition, electric
windows all round, and Holden’s
sophisticated MyLink infotainment
system.
The latter has been upgraded
to include Android Auto
and Apple CarPlay, the latter
interacts with Apple product
through a central dash panel
screen. All of the mobile
functions are available from
there along with navigation and
music accessibility.
More importantly, the
Barina Spark gets a fivestar
Australasian New Car
Assessment Program safety rating.
There are five overshoulder
seat belts, no fewer than six air
bags, ISOFIX child seat tethers
and ABS which is aligned to a
traction and stability control
system. The latter all operate on
a front disc/rear drum brake system,
one of the few mainstream
hatchbacks left in today’s market
using a rear drum.
The designers have put in a
huge effort to make the car userfriendly
and desirable in terms
of kit and functionality. Not only
does it have a bold, eye-catching
exterior appearance, there’s a
host of internal elements that are
there to tempt.
And, what’s more, the Spark
is easy on fuel. Holden claim
an Australian Design Rules
combined average figure of
5.5-litres per 100km (51mpg).
The fuel usage readout was constantly
listing around 6.2l/00km
(46mpg) with 5l/100km (56mpg)
INTERACTIVE:
The Apple Car
Play links with
Apple product for
infotainment.
available at a steady 100km/h
cruise (engine speed 2000rpm).
Powering the Spark is a
brand new, four-cylinder, twincamshaft,
16-valve unit which
displaces 1298cc. Holden claim
power outputs of 73kW and
124Nm, both reaching their
maximums at traditional points
of the rev band, 6200rpm and
4400rpm respectively.
Consequently, it’s no powerhouse,
and this is reflected
in slowish acceleration times
– 11.2sec to make 100km/h
from a standstill and 7sec to
reach 120km/h from 80km/h.
Realistically, I wouldn’t have
expected anything quicker,
the Spark is not here to scorch
along, but to provide economical
and comfortable travel like small
cars are meant to do.
However, you can stir the little
engine up if you wish, the
seamless gearing of CVT allows
access to the upper rev band
providing the sensation of sporty
motion.
The engine is a willing worker,
it emits a cheery, lively sound,
which doesn’t appear strained,
mid-range throttle response is
• Price – Holden
Barina Spark,
$19,990
• Dimensions –
Length, 3595mm;
width, 1595mm;
height, 1476mm
• Configuration
– Four-cylinder,
front-wheeldrive,
1399cc,
73kW, 124Nm,
continuously
variable
automatic.
• Performance –
0-100km/h,
11.2sec
• Fuel usage –
5.5l/100km
HOLDEN BARINA
SPARK: .Appealing
design.
relatively eager, there’s no point
where it falls off-cam.
One of the big surprises is the
Spark’s handling and feel from
behind the wheel. A lot of that
has to do with the development
work Holden has done in
Australia for down under conditions.
The steering and suspension
calibration has been tuned
for the type of roads we have
down under, including acceptability
when presented with
gravel surfaces.
When it comes to tackling
corners, the Spark has
reasonable steering accuracy
and front end precision. It must
be mentioned that the frontstrut/rear
tube beam suspension
isn’t sophisticated, yet it does a
reasonably good job of soaking
up the uneven road surfaces
and containing body movement
against the force of gravitational
change.
The Spark deserves to do
well here, it’s a tough market
to compete in but it stands out
for its design appeal. It is the
quintessential easy-to-drive, easyto-
park vehicle and comes with
all the benefits of buying new.
We’ve brought
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2016
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