Datsun is ready with redi-GO to hit the sweet spot

Finally, Datsun has realised that Indians love small cars. The small hatchback segment caters to the large chunk of the demand in the Indian automobile market. Unfortunately, Datsun’s products, the GO hatchback and GO+ compact 7-seater couldn’t create much demand.

Let’s find out how the new baby redi-GO will change the fortunes of Japanese carmaker Nissan. The Datsun redi-GO is based on the CMF platform. The common module family (CMF) is a modular architecture concept jointly developed by car manufacturers Nissan and Renault through their Renault-Nissan Alliance partnership.

First look
At first look, I loved the lime (parrot green) colour redi-GO which looks very appealing. The top-end is equipped with segment-first LED (light emitting diode) DRL (daytime running lights) on bumper, which is the highlight of the car. DRL will be helpful on a dark cloudy day or a mild foggy day. The Datsun redi-GO showcases a new Japanese design philosophy called YUKAN — which stands for brave and bold.

Good interiors
The best part of the car is its interiors. When it comes to practicality, the redi-GO offers lots of space with two bottle-holders in the centre, big tray and a small tray below the AC, where you can keep your wallet and phone. You also get a tray on the driver’s right side. It comes with basic audio system radio/CD/USB/AUX input and front two speakers only. On safety aspect, the driver’s airbag is only available in the top-end version. The arm rest on each door helps passengers to relax. It comes with front power windows.

The rear seat offers good headroom, and it is quite easy to get in and out. Boot volume is 222 litres which is very decent. The rear seat can be folded to enhance the space further. I am surprised that there is no boot opener. You can’t open with key. Every time you need to bend and unlock the boot.

Noisy engine
When I switched on the engine, there was a slight feeling if the car sported a diesel engine, for the sound it emits is very noisy. The company executive claimed it is because of its three-cylinder engine. I leave it to you to decide. However, the car’s air-conditioning is fantastic, with the AC vents being placed in the middle and corners, which air directly hitting the face of the passengers.

Let’s drive
With the first u-turn which I took on MG Road, I could realise the turn was so easy, thanks to superb electronic power steering. However, you have to be careful, it is very light and responsive. After steering in the city, I head towards Nandi Hills. With frequent gear changes, I could manage to reach on top. However, while climbing down it started raining.

With one wiper, I had tough time. The windshield right side corner distracted me, as single wiper doesn’t touch far ends. I have to lean towards my left side, because it is not clearly visible owing to heavy rain. I hit the highway towards Hyderabad. Ride quality is good with suspension absorbing the bumps.

The redi-GO has a best-in-class ground clearance of 185 mm. Even on highways, the road humps are more frequent and very big. The high ground clearance could be your saviour while driving even on uneven roads.

The combination of blue, white and red makes the instrument panel well lit-up. Datsun claims that the redi-Go has best braking in the segment. However, I feel braking could have been more efficient.

The new Datsun redi-GO claims the fuel economy of 25.17 kmpl. The all-new 799 cc three-cylinder i-SAT (Intelligent Spark Automated Technology) engine mated to a five-speed manual transmission helps it accelerate from 0-100 kmph in 15.9 seconds. It produces 54 hp at 5,678 rpm and 72 Nm of torque at 4,386 rpm. It achieves a top speed of 140 kmph.

Verdict
I loved the exterior and interior styling packaging. Moreover, the pricing is very aggressive. The base model D is priced at Rs 2.46 lakh and the top-end model S is priced at Rs 3.43 lakh (ex-showroom Bengaluru). With such pricing, the redi-GO is very tempting in this segment.