The entry level hatchback segment in India has never really been one of those competitive kinds. The Maruti Suzuki Alto has been ruling this segment for over a decade and only last year did it see some competition from French car maker Renault which came out with the Kwid. It instantly became a hit with buyers and opened up this segment like no other car before. Nissan has now entered the entry level hatchback segment with the introduction of the all new Datsun redi-GO. Datsun is the budget car brand from Nissan but the new redi-GO feels anything but budget.
The Datsun redi-GO is built on the same platform as the Renault Kwid but it is extremely difficult to tell any similarities between the two. It has a very contrasting tall boy stance and has been positioned as an ‘Urban Cross’ by the company. The front of the car looks futuristic with the bold hexagonal grille and sharp looking headlight cluster. Datsun has not offered foglamps but in their place come LED DRLs which is a first for its segment and gives an upmarket look.
The sides have loads of creases and busy lines which all merge back at the rear. The rear too looks idiosyncratic and gives it a sense of individuality. The redi-GO can be customised with different accessory kits that include up to 50 different accessories like roof rails, side body mouldings etc. to further enhance the crossover look.
The interior of the Datsun redi-GO looks pretty basic but well put together. The grey theme might not appeal to everyone but plastic quality on the dashboard is good. The infotainment system is a single-DIN CD player that supports USB and AUX connectivity. The instrument cluster gets a digital tachometer which also houses the trip computer.
The front seats of the redi-GO get fixed headrests and comfort you well. The rear seats are equally comfortable with good amounts of headroom and adequate legroom though the rear is meant only for two full size adults due to the extremely narrow cabin. At the end of the day, this is a budget small car and cost cutting is evident in places like the exposed metal sheet in the C-pillar and door pockets. The boot area is deep and rated at 222-litres.
As you set to drive the Datsun redi-GO, you feel pretty confident as you sit higher up and visibility all around is excellent. It shares its drivetrain with the Renault Kwid and predictably feels similar to drive. The 799cc 3-cylinder motor feels adequately powerful for city usage due to the extremely short gear ratios on the 5-speed manual gearbox. Combined together it promises an impressive fuel efficiency of 25.17 kmpl under standard testing conditions.
Ride quality on the redi-GO feels supple but this clearly isn’t the car you would like to go corner carving. The steering system for example feels extremely light and easy to use at parking speeds but up the pace and you get a constant feeling of over assistance which does not inspire confidence required at higher speeds. The car rolls while cornering due to its high ground clearance and overall height too. Straightline stability though is good and never does it feels bouncy or nervous, so is the braking performance. The Datsun redi-GO is offered with a single driver airbag but no ABS on the top variant.
The Datsun redi-GO is a very important car model for the Japanese car manufacturer. This car could facilitate as an image changer Datsun has been long looking for. The redi-GO looks like a million bucks and half of the battle is won their itself. It is priced at a mouth watering price tag undercutting its main rivals, the Maruti Suzuki Alto and Renault Kwid. The Datsun redi-GO is a desirable car and could prove to be the dark horse in this high volumes hatchback segment.
Specs
Length x Width x Height 3,429mm x 1,560mm x 1,541mm
Engine Displacement 799cc 3-cylinder
Power & Torque 53 BHP & 72 Nm
Fuel Efficiency 25.17 kmpl
Boot Capacity 222-litres
Price (ex-showroom, Goa) Rs. 2.39 lakhs “ Rs. 3.37 lakhs
