Barina Hatch Crashes In Safety Ratings

[JoeT]

Barina Hatch Crashes In Safety Ratings

Cameron McGavin
10 May 2006
www.drive.com.au

Holden's Barina has the lowest small car safety rating since 2004.

Holden's entry-level light car, the Barina hatch, has received a lowly two-star rating in the latest round of crash tests by independent safety authority the Australian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP).

The rating follows a similar two-star result for its sedan sibling, badged as the Chevrolet Aveo, in European NCAP tests this year.

The results for the Barina are even more disappointing considering that the previous generation model - sold here between 2000 and 2005 - received a four-star rating against the same criteria. The latest Barina's rating is the lowest recorded by ANCAP for a small passenger car since 2004.

The Barina, sourced by Holden from Korean GM subsidiary Daewoo, was put through a 64 km/h frontal test and a 50 km/h side impact test. In gaining only two stars it falls significantly behind a host of four-star rivals, including Mazda's 2, Honda's Jazz and Ford's Fiesta.

The Barina was also put through a 40 km/h pedestrian impact test. Its one-star rating was on par for a segment in which most vehicles score one or two stars.

Michael Case, chief engineer of vehicles for the RACV, said he was disappointed by the Barina's poor showing.

"From our point of view, we would see a two-star rating in the current test program as being a poor result," Mr Case said. "It's not at the level of other vehicles in this category or any other vehicle we've tested in the program. It's the worst result in its market category."

Mr Case said consumers would be better choosing a second-hand vehicle that performs well in crash tests rather than a new one that doesn't.

"We're informing consumers so they can make an informed choice when purchasing a vehicle," Mr Case said. "Our recommendation is to look for at least a four-star crash test performance, whether it's a new vehicle or a second-hand vehicle where the crash test result is available.

"It's got to be an option for consumers to buy a second-hand car such as the previous model Barina that scored four stars as opposed to a new car that scored only two or three."

Ross McArthur, VicRoads manager of vehicle safety, echoed Mr Case's sentiments, saying the poor result for the Barina bucked consumer expectations that new models were better than their predecessor in all respects.

"Our surveys indicate that if it's a new vehicle most people think it's better than the previous model but in this case it's not," Mr McArthur said. "Most consumers would expect a newer model to be a better vehicle in all respects, including safety, but the Barina goes against the trend."

While Holden did not dispute the latest ANCAP test, it said the results were not consistent with the findings of its own crash-test regime.

"When the car has been tested in different crash tests it has actually performed quite differently," said Holden spokesman Jason Laird. "Any crash test scenario needs to take a large number of factors into account and if you vary the speed and angle then the car behaves very differently.

"We're not disputing the result, we're just saying you could only assume that car would behave like that if you are having a crash at exactly the same speed, angle and the same mass that you're hitting.

"We have a recent test from the US that says if you smash head-on into a block of concrete the car performs very well."

The next round of ANCAP tests is scheduled for announcement in July and will include models such as Mitsubishi's 380 large sedan, Ford's Territory 4WD, small cars the Toyota Yaris and Nissan's Tiida, and the Barina's Korean-built big brother, the Viva.

Related News Thread - Holden Defends Barina Sedan's Two-Star Crash Rating

Holden Barina Hatch

[TDi]

And that's the disappointing thing about it.

While Holden now has a cheaper small car to sell on the Australian market, it's also replaced the old Euro Barina, with the "new" Asian Barina, that's not as safe as the Euro Barina it replaces, which was tested under the same procedure's, as the previous Euro Barina was.

Safety was never really high on the list's of peolpe who were in the market for a small cheap car, but times have changed and it seem's Holden have hasn't moved with them.

It's OK to offer dual airbags on a car, but if the actual structure of the car can't stand up to the impact, then surely they, GM Daewoo and Holden, could have done something to solve the problem??

And turning around and saying that the car meet's all ADR's, (Australian Design Rules) so is therefore safe for sale on the Australian market, doesn't mean anything.

[paul8488]

Originally Posted by TDi

...the "new" Asian Barina, that's not as safe as the Euro Barina it replaces, which was tested under the same procedure's, as the previous Euro Barina was...

And that's the problem. You're totally right... a few years ago did GM say, when the old Barina got 4 stars, that because of possible testing differences it may really only have received 2 stars? I think not. Why does it work one way and not the other? I am super disappointed in the rating of this car. Already it had an uphill battle in the US against the Fit and whatever that upcoming Nissan is going to be called (and against many other vehicles around the world) what with the same old not-so-efficient-engines as before... but add to this a poor safety rating and they don't have much to tout with these cars.

[bdubsee]

Defending the ANCAP results using NHTSA results is misleading. The ANCAP test is done at 39.77 MPH (64 km/h) while NHSTA only tests at 35 MPH. The forces rise exponentially with speed. IIHS does 40 MPH offset but they haven't tested the Aveo (not a plug for them, just another potential source for data - I hate their hysterical antics).

[Butz]

And I thought I could consider it as a cheap, efficent subcompact!

Note to GM: FIX IT! OR YOU'LL LOSE SALES AND MARKETSHARE!!

[Kowalski]

Forget the Barina.

Get yourself a nice Honda Jazz.

[68Vette]

Originally Posted by JoeT

Barina Hatch Crashes In Safety Ratings


"When the car has been tested in different crash tests it has actually performed quite differently," said Holden spokesman Jason Laird. "Any crash test scenario needs to take a large number of factors into account and if you vary the speed and angle then the car behaves very differently.

"We're not disputing the result, we're just saying you could only assume that car would behave like that if you are having a crash at exactly the same speed, angle and the same mass that you're hitting.

I wounder if Jason Laird would buy this car for his son or daughter to commute in ???

[Whirling_Dervish]

I see Honda selling more Fits and Toyota moving more Yari'.

[69Firebird400]

It's a shame for the new Aveo. I really hope they are working overtime to come up with a solution, whether it be strategic reinforcements of the passenger compartment, additional airbags, or some other improvements - this has to get better ASAP.

I can easily see the appeal of the Fit in this class, but not the Yaris. IMO Toyota can't make an appealing "value" car (Scion tC excepted). The Tercel, then the Echo, now the Yaris - all boring and chintzy.

[mbukukanyau]

Which one is that. Can you post a picture of a nn crashed Barina?

[Kowalski]

Originally Posted by Whirling_Dervish

I see Honda selling more Fits and Toyota moving more Yari'.

GM makes crap little cars.

Toyota and Honda makes good ones and they move forward while GM fails miserably.

[Rex Raider]

Originally Posted by Kowalski

GM makes crap little cars.

Toyota and Honda makes good ones and they move forward while GM fails miserably.

Sounds a lot like trolling to me.

[Kowalski]

Originally Posted by Rex Raider

Sounds a lot like trolling to me.

Truth hurts isn't it?

[ZvetteGuy]

It's the old platform... hopefully the new 2007 Aveo will trump these tests and come out with 5 star ratings....

[CarShark]

Originally Posted by Kowalski

Truth hurts isn't it?

Why else do you think they have the "Trolling Policy" in the first place? Calling it the "You go against GM and we'll BAN YOU Policy" might scare people off.

At least their more honest about their unfairness. I will give them that.