Holden offered the Barina on various platforms, but after GM bought the Daewoo, it produced the small-segment vehicle based on a Korean platform. Holden used the Barina nameplate since 1985 for a Suzuki-licensed vehicle. Later on, it used the Opel/Vauxhall Corsa platform, and after General Motors bought the Daewoo, the T100 platform was used for the Daewoo Lanos/Chevrolet Aveo/Kalos. The 5-door version was a practical little car, good for young families with small children and not too tall friends. It was easy to park, reliable enough, and with a low purchase price. Italdesign signed the car's look, and GM rushed to apply a "Design by Giugiaro" on the sides of the bodywork. It might not have been the best result from the Italian styling company's, but it worked quite well on the Australian market. With its big, angular headlights, the Barina tried to look more convincing, at least from the front. The five-door version featured an additional fixed window behind the rear door, and that gave it an edge over its competitors in the small segment. 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. The AC was available as an option for the base trim-level and fitted as standard on the upper ones. For the engine compartment, Holden offered a choice of three engines paired to a 5-speed manual gearbox. The Barina scored just 2-star protection in the Asian NCAP crash-test. The result was improved to four stars after the 2008 facelift.