WITH its cheeky looks and diminutive proportions, Holden’s little Barina hatchback has always won over more female buyers than male, although this is starting to shift

Currently the ratio is more like 40:60, but in a bid to capture even more interest from the blokes, Holden has unleashed a fettled warmed-up version called the RS.

With a 103kW/200Nm 1.4-turbo under the bonnet, the new Barina RS is the most powerful version of Holden’s hatch to date, and with a tuned chassis and sporty interior to match the extra dollop of performance, the sporty Barina may well have the desired effect.

Starting at $20,990 before on-road costs it’s priced to steal the warm-hatch thunder from Suzuki’s $23,990 Swift Sport, and considering the small outlay, it’s a pretty mean effort.

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