The fourth generation of the Holden Barina was based on the European Opel/Vauxhall Corsa, and it proved to be a successful recipe.
While the first two generations of the Barina were based on Suzuki platforms, the third and fourth generations were based on the second and third generations of the Opel Corsa. The idea was to keep the manufacturing prices low and the money inside GM. It was a good idea, and the car was good for in-city use. It was available in three or five-door configurations.

The three-door version looked sportier but also appealing for delivery companies. It was cheap, reliable, and easy to fix if anything went wrong. Its sharp-looking headlights, with a small, black grille between them, gave the car a far better personality than its predecessor, a re-badged Suzuki Swift. The rear window was triangular, with a curved back-side, and inspired a sportier look for the car. Since the Europeans had a bigger experience with crowded cities, the high-mounted taillights were a good idea.

Inside, the car featured good amenities for its segment, even though the base model didn’t feature power-windows or air-conditioning. The Barina featured a long options list, including a CD-player, power-windows, or on-board computer, moving up to the trim level and options list.

The Barina was available with a choice of engines ranged between 1.4-liter and 1.8 liters. They were paired to a standard, 5-speed manual gearbox for the entire range.