Toyota Yaris vs Suzuki Swift vs Holden Barina 2009 review

New car report: Three little giants

Back in the days of endless summers, quarter acre sections and school milk we rode around in big 6 or 8 cylinder cars unconcerned about the price of fuel or the damage we were doing to the environment. After all, petrol only cost a couple of bob a gallon and small cars were considered dangerous so the more hard metal around us the better.

But times have changed. The endless summer was just a myth, the quarter acre sections have long since been sub-divided and school milk went out with the black and white TV. Petrol is now an expensive commodity and we've discovered seatbelts and airbags provide better protection than even the hardest steel dashboards. And smaller cars are now roomy, fun and safe.

In many congested European cities big cars have been seen as anti-social for a long time. We've been a little slow to see the sun set on big heavy metal in this part of the world, but the sales statistics show we're increasingly considering small cars.

Just a few years ago, in 2004, the small (AB) segment accounted for just 9% of the total new vehicle market. By 2008, that total had almost doubled to a 17% market share, and there's every sign that 20% is in sight.

Many small cars are now achieving 4 or 5 Star safety ratings. Fuel efficiency and CO2 emissions are increasingly becoming high considerations for car buyers and our traffic congestion problems are rapidly catching up with those overseas.

Small cars are starting to make a lot more sense. With this in mind, we have put three popular small cars to the test, the Suzuki Swift GLX Auto, Toyota Yaris 1.5 Auto and Holden Barina.

So, how did they fare?

We've all heard it said that there are no bad cars these days, and that is probably true. Even looking at some of the smallest and least expensive cars on the market, they're all pretty good today.

But life is full of compromises and no one car can be all things to all people. Getting three competing models together, we were always going to like certain aspects of one car, but prefer other features of its rivals.

So which car offered the best overall package across all criteria?

When comparing the Yaris 1.5, Swift GLX and Barina, the Yaris offers the most equipment and it's a lively performer too.

However, we didn't like some of the characteristics exhibited by the automatic transmission. Lift off the throttle and the car wants to nose dive into the tarmac, creating something of a see-saw action.

Also, the centre mounted digital instrument cluster arrangement has never really appealed, although it does make way for a second glovebox where the instruments would normally be.

The Yaris is a good car but we struggle with the price tag, which reads closer to thirty grand than twenty, at $27,800.

With value for money and sharp pricing being at the front of everyone's mind in this economic climate, it's hard to justify this amount of outlay when the other cars can be bought for considerably less.

So, if we eliminate the Yaris on price, how did the other two match up?

The Swift is perhaps the prettiest car of the bunch. There are good levels of equipment and safety features, and we like the way it drives.

Seating is supportive and cabin ambience impressed. Switchgear and instruments are simple and well laid out, and low intrusive noise levels combined with a comfortable ride quality would have to put the Swift in the running here.

On the deficit side of the ledger the engine is a little short on power but at $21,800 complete with a very capable automatic transmission, pricing is not unreasonable.

The Barina was the cheapest of the bunch. For $19,990 you're getting new car peace of mind motoring, with a 3 Year warranty and a decent level of specification.

But if there's one single thing to inspire confidence in a car, it is for knobs, switches and levers - anything you touch - to have a quality feel about them. We felt the Barina had the mix wrong, with the dash top being soft to the touch, but some of the switches and the gear lever feeling fragile and brittle.

So on that basis, the Barina is a little outclassed here. The Yaris and Swift have more of a quality feel about them.

However, all things considered, if your budget tops out at $20k, the Barina will do everything you need it to do.

If price is no object and you particularly like the Yaris, you will end up with a very good car. With Toyota's bullet-proof reliability and long lasting qualities, you can't go wrong with a Yaris.

But if you take price, build quality, specification and all round likeability into account, the Swift is the car we'd most like to live with and just pips the others to the post.

Specifications