The Datsun redi-Go is the most selling Datsun in the Indian market. The low-cost arm of Nissan, Datsun has been present in India since last three years but could not make its presence felt in the market. The redi-Go, which is the only product that is showing some signs of survival in the market, Datsun has decided to put a more powerful engine in the redi-Go. We have spent a few moments with the new, more powerful redi-Go and here are our thoughts.
Looks
Datsun has not done any cosmetic changes to the redi-Go. The tall boy design of the redi-Go instantly puts it in the eyes of the onlookers. It gets LED DRLs at the front, and the headlamps are angular. The body of the vehicle carries heavy creases giving it a strong look. At the back, the redi-Go is curved, and the tail lamp design is also integrated to go with the curvy shape.
The redi-Go also gets high ground clearance of 185mm, giving it a tall-boy look. It looks like a sporty Wagon-R. Datsun puts 13-inch steel rims with wheel covers on the vehicle. The redi-Go does not look premium, but it sure looks trendy and youthful. It is something different that will be highlighted in the sea of cars.
Interiors
The redi-Go 1.0-litre gets a darker shade of grey that makes the interiors more contemporary. The central locking button has been shifted to the centre console along with the remote locking for the doors. The redi-Go gets large windows, and the seating is quite high which adds to the airy feeling to the rear seat passengers. The redi-Go boasts of a lot of room inside the cabin. There is plenty of headroom and knee room in the vehicle. Even the rear seat passengers get one of the best space in the segment. The redi-Go also gets lots of cubby holes and storage space for keeping knick-knacks.
However, a few bits like the small glove box, painted sheet metal visible inside the vehicle, only two-speed wiper and lack of internally adjustable mirrors make it a bit turn off. The infotainment system does not get Bluetooth and is a basic system with aux-in and radio.
Engine and drive
The redi-Go 1.0 is powered by the same 67 Bhp and 91 Nm producing an engine that also powers the Renault Kwid 1.0. Datsun calls the engine i-SAT which stands for Intelligent Spark Automated Technology, which the brand claims is better on performance delivery. The 3-cylinder engine is quite loud though. We feel that the redi-Go is louder than the Kwid 1.0 and the Alto K10.
The power delivery is smoother is the engine feels less jerky than the 800cc redi-Go. As per ARAI tests, the redi-Go 1.0 returns 22.5 km/l, the Alto K10 returns 24.07 km/l, and the Kwid delivers 23.01 km/l. The car comes only with 5-speed manual transmission at the moment. The car only gets ABS with the top-end variant.
Should you buy one?
The Datsun Redi-Go 1,0 will be cheaper than all its competitors, but it has some downsides. The cheap quality and missing features make the vehicle avoidable. The features like a small glovebox, missing finish on the interiors and the outdated music system are a few things that customers will not ignore. Yes, if you want a basic car without any creature comfort, the redi-Go 1.0 will serve your purpose.
