GM built the Holden Barina sedan for the Australian market as a rebadged version of the European Chevrolet Aveo/Kalos sedan.
Daewoo developed the car before General Motors took it. It was just one of the projects that could have helped the Korean carmaker dodging the bankruptcy bullet, but it came too late. On the bright side, the American company found a way to use those projects in various countries, under different badges such as the Holden Barina, available in three styles: three and five doors hatchbacks or a four-door sedan.

Italdesign signed the car’s look, and GM rushed to apply a “Design by Giugiaro” on the sides of the bodywork. With its big, angular headlights, the Barina tried to look more convincing, at least from the front. The raked-forward rear windscreen connected the greenhouse with the trunk area. At the same time, at the back, a set of triangular corner-mounted taillights with a clear horizontal lens for the reversing lights completed the car’s image. It was an econobox, all right, but at least it looked decent.

Inside, the Barrina offered enough room for the front occupants, with regular seats and a few adjustments. It was cramped with virtually no legroom in the back, especially if the front occupants pushed their seats to the back. The simple dashboard design with four dials in a binocular styled instrument cluster offered enough information for the driver. A four-spoke steering wheel with three buttons for the audio system was on the options list.

Under the hood, GM offered the small-segment vehicle with three engine choices paired with a five-speed manual. Its main weakness was the result at the Asian NCAP crash-test, where the Barina managed just two stars.