REPRINT FROM ISSUE #7 1984
COMPARISION TEST: HOLBORN ALBION GTI vs. IP COLIBRI TURBO
DUELLING TURBOS
Are small turbocharged hatchbacks the performance cars of the future, or are they a passing fad? We tested the Albion GTI (silver) and the Colibri Turbo (yellow) to find out!
If we were asked to mention just one big advancement in automobile technology in the last 10 years, turbocharging is a hot candidate. Ten years ago, it was something that was used mainly on big diesels to improve the grunt, or maybe on some (few) exotic sports cars. Today it seems like every manufacturer is slapping a turbo on whatever they can find, sometimes with good results and other times maybe more bark than bite, more of a marketing ploy than an actual improvement on the car.
One thing you can’t deny that makes turbos a good idea, however, is to improve the performance of small engines. Small engines that does fit in small and light bodies, meaning that, at least in theory, you can combine high levels of performance with low purchase price, owning costs and fuel consumption. Two examples are the IP Colibri Turbo and the Holborn Albion GTI. Even though they look quite different on the outside, they are among the closest competitors on the market. Both are front wheel drive hatchbacks around 4 metres in length, for just above $17000, similar in performance and using turbocharging on their relatively small engines (1.5 litres in the IP versus 1.75 litres in the Holborn). But how do they stand up against each other? That was the question we asked us, and decided on doing a comparision test.
DRIVING CHARACTERISTICS
Here is the proof why testing cars is much more than just looking at numbers on a paper. In theory, the IP should beat the Holborn, it corners better (1 G compared to 0.93), it brakes better (100-0 in 35.8 m instead of 38.7 m), and then the verdict is clear, right?
Fact is that it is not that easy. The cornering ability and braking capacity of the IP is amazing, no question about it, but that doesn’t take away the fact that the Holborn is still really great when it comes to pure number crunching. And probably the more refined suspension (double wishbone all around, while the IP is still using the tried and true Mc Pherson/solid coil setup that was first used on the mark 1 Colibri in 1970) is adding a more sophisticated feel to the driving. It’s easier to drive while still feeling more nimble. The IP is more of a brutal beast, that requires more of the driver with its firm suspension and greater amounts of wheelspin and torque steer. Also, the turbo lag is much worse.
When pushed hard the cars behave remarkably alike though. A feeling of oversteering that gradually switches to understeer when the speed raises. A great compromise that gives safe and predictable handling without sacrificing the driving experience.
It’s impossible to decide which one is the winner, since it’s a matter of personal taste here. We would like to say the Holborn, but the fact is that the IP outbrakes and outcorners it by great margins - if only looking on paper. And both of the cars are great, really.
VERDICT: Holborn **** - IP ****
PERFORMANCE
When buying a hot hatch, this is probably where most of the buyers will be looking. And once again, when looking on paper, it’s easy to claim the Holborn as the winner. An 1.75 litre 137 hp engine using a somewhat odd SOHC 4V layout, versus 1.5 litres, 114 hp and 2V. On the other hand, the 1.75 litre has to haul around more mass, even if we’re only talking about 70 kilograms (one light passenger in the IP would even the weight out). And the IP is marginally faster when it comes to accelerating to 100 km/h from standing still, 8.5 seconds vs. 8.8. But the lower gearing and boxy shape of the IP is probably taking its toll in the other end. The Holborn breaks the magical 200 km/h barrier with a great margin, theoretically it will not stop accelerating until it reaches 221 km/h, while the IP has a 30 km/h lower top speed. On the other hand, unless you’re planning to drive on the Autobahn in Germany, that is not the most important stat. On the quartermile the IP is marginally faster (16.39 vs 16.62 seconds), but when it comes to the maybe most interesting stat in everyday traffic, 80-120 km/h, the IP is 0.6 seconds slower (5.52 vs 6.12).
All in all, we would call the Holborn the winner. But both of the cars offer decent performance, and are worthy of the hot hatch moniker.
VERDICT: Holborn **** - IP ****
COMFORT
It is an utopia to think that cars of this size will offer big car comfort, and the firm suspension setting and low profile tyres are kind of ruining the little that was left. The Holborn has an advantage over the IP with its lower unsprung weight and softer suspension setting. But the 65 profile rubber on the IP marginally compensates for that when coming to soaking up the bumps. The Holborn engine has a pleasant burble on idle that changes into a more annoying wheezing as you climb up into the rev range while the IP engine is more muffled. On the other hand the Holborn has a more pleasant gearing on the highway that evens it out. The sports seats of the IP offers somewhat better side support than the more plain standard seats in the Holborn, and for rear seat passengers the contoured seat offers better comfort than the bench in the Holborn (but at the expense of the possibility to take a third passenger). On the other hand the padding is more firm in the IP than in the Holborn, good or bad is a matter of taste. The leather steering wheel in the IP might prevent sweaty palms during hard driving compared to the foam grip in the Holborn, and the steering is slightly lighter due to the lighter front end (none of the cars has power steering).
We would call the IP the winner, but with very slight margins, and if comfort is on your priority list, none of the cars will be suitable for you.
VERDICT: Holborn ** - IP **
ROOMINESS
Despite being built on a shorter wheelbase, the Holborn is a slightly larger car, but on the inside the difference is even bigger. The passenger space is incredibly big for such a small car, and the luggage room is almost even more impressive. The IP feels cramped in comparision, and the luggage room with the rear seats folded up is nothing to brag about. Meanwhile, the Holborn can take five passengers, the IP only four. We would go as far to say that the Holborn is suitable as a family car (even though the two door body might be impractical) while the IP is mainly a car for two, that has to take the occasional passenger at mainly short trips.
VERDICT: Holborn **** - IP **
EQUIPMENT
The Holborn has what you could expect from a compact hatchback, nothing more and nothing less. Things that are considered standard today like carpeting on the floor, comfortable cloth upholstery, digital clock, rear wiper/washer and defroster, to name a few. The stereo has an 8 track player but a somewhat tinny sound. IP went a step further and added some gizmos to make the car feel more “sporty” like fake aluminium panels on the dashboard, a full instrumentation, leather sports steering wheel and contoured bucket seats. Also the sound system in the IP sounds much better and has a more modern tape player. IP clearly wins this round even if you, honestly speaking could do without most of that equipment.
VERDICT: Holborn ** - IP ***
ENGINE AND DRIVETRAIN
We prefer the Holborn engine over the IP, it is impressive how they almost have eliminated the turbo lag, while IP still has the infamous “horse kick” that plagues too many turbo cars. The 5 speed gearboxes in both of the cars feels so similar when it comes to operation that you would think they were twins, but the close ratio box in the IP is more suitable for a sporty car than the wide ratio box in the Holborn. A limited slip would have been welcome in the IP though while you don’t really miss it in the Holborn. And the gearing on the highway is a bit on the short side in the IP compared to the Holborn. The close ratio gearbox can’t really compensate for the lack of harmony and refinement in the IP, the Holborn is simply the most well thought-out car here.
VERDICT: Holborn **** - IP ***
QUALITY
The IP Colibri is a completely new model for the year so it is hard to tell anything about the reliability yet. Older models have shown about average reliability, and the same could be said about the Holborn. But things like the paintwork shows that some more care has been put into the manufacturing of the Holborn, the IP was showing some orange peel in comparision, and the “TURBO” cladding on the door certainly looked cheap. Also, the Holborn has a slight advantage when it comes to rust protection. Older Colibris have been rustbuckets and the third generation will probably not be an exception, using plain old steel with no galvanizing, which the Holborn does on the outer panels but at least the underlying structure is galvanized. The Holborn is the winner here, maybe it will not hold up any better, but the feeling of quality is more genuine and it will cope with the swedish climate better than the IP.
VERDICT: Holborn *** - IP **
ECONOMY
One major drawback that is overshadowing almost everything in the Holborn is its less than impressive fuel economy. Even if it can cope with cheap regular fuel, it’s gulping it at an alarming rate for such a small car, 11.3 litres per 100 km is simply too much. 8.7 litres in the IP is a more sane value for the class, let go that it needs more expensive premium fuel, that still doesn’t even it out to the Holborns favour. Also, the IP is $500 cheaper, while offering more equipment, albeit a smaller, less powerful engine and less refined technology. Considering that, it is almost unbelievable that the IP has slightly higher service costs, and we believe that the second hand value of the Holborn will be better. But that doesn’t weigh up for the fuel consumption that is something that needs to be fixed urgently in our opinion.
VERDICT: Holborn ** - IP ***
SAFETY
The Holborn has larger, better crumple zones and are slightly heavier, which gives it an advantage. It also has more extensive padding of hard surfaces, the seat belt buckles are anchored to the seats instead of the floor meaning that the belt will always have the right geometry, and it has side impact bars in the doors which is missing in the IP. Even if a small car will never be as safe as a large one, the Holborn is probably about as safe as it can get in this class nowadays. The IP is probably not worse than average, but an average safety record in this class is not much to brag about in comparision.
VERDICT: Holborn *** - IP **
A symbolic photo, the Holborn passing the IP. It is actually not always true performance wise, but overall, in most aspects the Albion GTI has an advantage over the Colibri Turbo.
FINAL VERDICT: Holborn 28/45 - IP 25/45
The IP looks like, and is, a boy racers dream. It is easy to fall for things like the spoilers and big “TURBO” badging, sports seats and steering wheel, tire shredding performance from standing still, road hugging handling and impressive braking capability.
But for grown up people, there is a clearly more grown up car. The roomier, safer, more well built Holborn. That is much more harmonic to drive and still offers decent performance that actually outshines the IP in some aspects. Clearly the better car, and even though it is lacking some of the equipment from the IP, it is well worth the extra money. And even if taste is something that is individual, we think that the futuristic, sleek exterior will be more satisfying in the long run, than the boxy IP with all its unnecessary warpaint.
If it wasn’t for the almost unacceptable fuel consumption, it would leave the IP far behind. Now, that is a big drawback that is hard to overlook when comparing the cars. So, we are a bit careful when it comes to recommend the Holborn over the IP.
On the other hand, if you can overlook the fact that the Holborn is small on the outside, it offers big car room and sporty performance, and considering that, it all of a sudden doesn’t feel as bad, especially not since it can cope with regular fuel.
Still, that does not feel like much of an excuse when it could, and should, be lower.
Thanks to @agj38 for the Albion!