Holden Barina, Trax have star-is-born syndrome

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The heavily revised interiors are perhaps the most worthwhile upgrade. The outgoing Barina suffered from dowdy materials, while the Trax had pretty downmarket styling. Both cabins now have dramatically improved build quality, more interesting textures and a generally more classy ambience.

Barina badging has also been changed. Formerly CD and CDX, Barina is now available in LS and LT models, bringing it into line with Holden’s other small cars.

The entry Barina LS has gone up a wheel size to 16 inches, while the flagship LT now has passive entry and pushbutton start (that’s PEPS in Holden-speak), as well as some impressive-looking two-tone alloys.

Just as the Barina range has been rationalised, the Trax range has been expanded. The entry LS and LTZ models continue, but there’s now an LT variant in the middle. All have rear parking radar and reversing camera.

LT has some high-end features like 18-inch alloys, PEPS and cloth/ PVC upholstery, but the LTZ adds an extra information display on the instrument panel, blind-spot warning, cross-traffic alert and some visual difference in the form of turn-signal side mirrors and LED tail lights.

The Barina now has a more grown-up feel inside and out, and prices are pretty sharp: they’re unchanged at $23,990 and $25,990 for the two models. It’s a lot of car for the money.

But Barina is no ball of fire, either performance-wise or in the corners. Definitely nicer to the touch and still quite practical, but it doesn’t have the driver appeal of rivals like the Mazda2 and Suzuki Swift.

Trax is quietly impressive on the road, especially now that the 1.4-litre turbo engine is standard across the range. It remains a front-drive model only – Holden has never offered a 4WD version.

It’s sprightly and spacious, and the new interior really will lift your mood if you’re coming out of the current model.

But then, Trax is far from cheap. Like Barina, prices are unchanged: but they start at $32,990 for the LS, run through $35,490 for the new LT version and top out at $36,990 for the LTZ. Which is well-equipped, but when your small-SUV is climbing towards $40k it makes you stop and think.

It’s been a year of Korean upkeep for Holden NZ. It started 2016 with the launch of the all-new Spark, spruced up Captiva and has ended with this brace of facelifted small cars.