Low-dollar runabouts weighed up.
Holden Barina Spark CD
THE Holden Barina Spark has no excuses for not winning outright – it’s the second-cheapest car of the 2000-odd we put through the wringer, and uses just 5.2 litres of 91-octane petrol per 100km. But, while its resale is not bad at 65 percent, it’s bettered by our top three light-class contenders. It seems that, while sub-light cars appeal as cheap new cars, they’re not quite so hot second-hand. Well, not as good as a light car, or a used small car, which is what we’d buy for 13 grand. But then you wouldn’t get that new-car smell, or a three-year warranty, which is where the little Lion comes firmly back to the fore.
Suzuki Celerio
SUZUKI’S sub-light hatch costs just 100 bucks more than the Barina Spark, sheds a similar amount over the first three years (about $4600) and is even thriftier at 4.7L/100km.
Nissan Micra ST
THE Micra straddles the sub-light and light classes on price – and personality – yet it puts up a fight against cheaper rivals here thanks to a stout 67 percent resale figure.
City Cars | Holden Barina Spark CD hatch man | Suzuki Celerio man | Nissan Micra ST man |
Purchase Price | $12,890 | $12,990 | $13,490 |
Combined cycle fuel (L/100km) | 5.2 | 4.7 | 5.9 |
Fuel RON (min. rec.) | 91 | 91 | 91 |
Three-year fuel cost | $2968 | $2683 | $3368 |
Redbook resale (%) | 64.7 | 64.3 | 67.0 |
Three-year depreciation | $4550 | $4637 | $4452 |
AAMI insurance premium | $627 | $627 | $642 |
Service interval (months) | 9 | 6 | 6 |
Warranty (years) | 3 | 3 | 3 |
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