March 28, 2024

Moblin Contest

Automotive Car

Datsun Go – The Little Car With Big Dreams

Nissan’s budget brand Datsun has finally launched its first car in India, the Go. The car has been strategically placed by Datsun with intent to dent the market share of entry level cars like the Hyundai Eon and Maruti Suzuki Alto 800 and even higher segment cars like the Maruti Suzuki Wagon R and Hyundai Santro.

The Datsun Go is available in three trim levels namely D, A and T; out of which only the T Variant is equipped with modern features like power steering, air conditioner and front power windows (no rear power glasses). This top trim level also comes loaded with features like central locking, full wheel covers, body coloured bumpers and an aux compatible audio system with two speakers and mobile docking station. This music system does not even feature a radio, so don’t expect much out of this system and even the available USB port can only be used for charging.

However, all variants of the Go come stuffed with features like follow-me-home headlamps, speed sensing wipers, gear shift indicator, an engine immobilizer and a digital trip computer. Apart from these features, you also get an air conditioning system in the middle variant.

The Datsun Go’s specifications however remain the same for all its three variants as the car is only available with a petrol engine in our market. The car is powered by the Nissan-sourced, 1.2 litre, three cylinder, DOHC petrol engine with a power output of 67 bhp at 5000 rpm. The peak torque output of this engine is 100 Nm and it is available at 4000rpm. This engine is tuned for efficiency and is mated to a five speed manual gearbox. Nissan claims an ARAI-certified mileage of 20.6 kpl for the car.

If you go by the Datsun Go price bracket (which ranges from INR 3.12 lakhs to INR 3.69 lakhs (ex-showroom, Delhi), there is no car in its competition which offers as much power, features and comfort as the Go. This new Datsun behaves nicely on our roads and gives you a far more stable feeling than while driving cars like an Alto 800 or an Eon at high speeds.

Any Datsun Go Review will be incomplete without complementing its interiors and packaging. The car is, so far, the most spacious in its segment and it features a first-in-class integrated front bench seat making it capable of taking more passengers in comfort. The AC vents and few other things inside the Go have been lifted from the Micra Active and looks better than what you get in the Maruti Suzuki Alto 800. The interiors are surely not as sporty as the Hyundai Eon’s interiors but, the space and packaging inside the Go definitely gives it an upper hand over most of the entry level cars in India.