Returning after a 34-year hiatus isn’t the reason why the GO from the Datsun brand has become one of the most awaited cars of recent times. All the hype surrounding the car and the fact that India is the first market where the first completely locally produced Datsun car will be launched is also not the only reason for so much interest.
The fact is the GO will be a serious new contender in the entry small car segment and going by the package that was unveiled last year all that excitement surrounding it seemed justified. The GO will be officially launched within the next few weeks. It will take on the likes of the Hyundai Eon, the Maruti Alto, the Ford Figo and the other B-segment cars.
For us, after having been witness to the entire birthing process for this new car from the first sketch to the roll-out at the Renault-Nissan alliance plant near Chennai, last week it was time for the proverbial “Proof of the pudding…’.
While the front of the car reflects the new design language that has been adopted for the Datsun brand, some of the features like the large headlamps communicate the benefits of size and safety to the potential buyer.
Hexagonal elements with thicker D-Cut side bars in the headlamps and the D-cut bonnet grille introduce the onlooker to the car. The chrome lipping and the honey-comb grille also make a statement about the car’s quality. The stance of the GO is neither tall-boy nor that of a squat, low small car. The result is a stout presence on the road and easy access into and out of the car.
The design lines all around the car merge into the major elements and the general vibe one gets from the car is that of a well thought-out, focused design given its mandate. The GO’s surfaces are all clean and the build quality is above average for the entry B-segment.
Practicality and space maximisation are focuses that are also evident in the way the front doors cut deep into the A-pillar and the curved rear design helps maximise the volume inside the car. With the rear bench seat being used, the boot is one of the largest in the segments with 265 litres of space for luggage.
Interior Similarly, the GO’s cabin strikes you as being oriented towards practicality, starting from the way the centre console has been eliminated to ensure more space even for the driver and the front passenger. A pull and retract kind of hand brake on the dashboard and a gear shift stick that has been set right on the centre stack means that the floor has been freed of the restrictions.
The dashboard itself is a pleasing combination of three coloured panels, all in pastel shades of grey, light brown and mild biege. There are a lot of plastic panels all around, but, from no angle does it look like low-cost kit, focused on economising.
The amount of space available in the Datsun GO’s cabin will surprised you. There is enough shoulder room and legroom at the front and rear to even challenge the cabin volume stakes amongst some of the B+ segment cars. The GO’s seat squabs are thin, but the jacquard fabric (in the top trim) makes them quite comfortable even after we spent about five hours in the car. The overall symmetry of the layout and the fit and finish gives the cabin a quality feel, though clearly being that of a B-segment hatch.
The only element that sticks out as being a bit rough is the one that is being talked about by Datsun as a differentiator - the mobile dock. The holder a simple spring-loaded clamp feels too flimsy and a bit tacky. It also blocks the air-con vent when a phone is docked. Air-conditioner performance is good though, as is the functionality of the mobile connected music system, which features only a charging USB slot and a volume knob. If you want to play music it will have to be through your phone and you can receive calls hands-free.
The connected front seat is another unique feature in the GO. The rectangular squab extensions that connect the driver and passenger seats enable the user to leave a handbag or other object by the side. It will probably also allow passengers to slide across and exit on the other side of the car in case the parking slot is too tight. But our worry is the kind of violations that might happen, where buyers might unwittingly end up using the space for seating a child or small adult.
Performance The Datsun GO features a three-cylinder, double overhead camshaft (DOHC) engine that focuses on maximising efficiencies. But the engine managed to surprise us with its nimbleness and relatively refined performance. Compared to some of the other 3-cylinder engines in the market, the GO’s unit is quieter and less ‘vibey’. Yes, listen carefully and during hard acceleration one can easily figure out that it is a three pot burner, but inside the cabin during city driving and cruising, the engine is quiet enough.
During our test drive, we found that the 104 Nm of torque available to be a big plus in city traffic. The 64 PS of power seemed adequate for a car that weighs barely 800 kgs. Power delivery is also quite linear and the car sprints all the way to 70 kmph in second and 130 kmph in third gears respectively. Even at speeds of upto 140 kmph, the GO feels planted. ARAI rated fuel efficiency is 20.63 kmpl.
Handling The GO’s suspension has been tuned to please rear passengers, with the set up being copied from some Infiniti vehicles, Nissan’s luxury car brand. The suspension travel has also been increased to make it more pliant and at the same time capable of handling some really poor quality roads. The 13-inch rims, a pliant suspension and the raised stance, explain the bit of body roll, but it is not unsettling even at high speeds. The power steering is speed sensitive and stiffens up at higher speeds. Overall handling is on a par with cars in the B and B+ segments. Some nifty features in the Datsun GO include the speed sensitive automatic windscreen wiper and follow me home headlights that can be activated by simply toggling the high beam flasher when you exit the car.
Bottomline The Datsun GO is a complete package for the entry hatch buyer, even though some of the features seem to have been over thought. At the time of launch, the GO will be available only with the petrol engine in three trim levels. Safety features like ABS and airbags are also being considered as an optional addition to be introduced at a later date. The choice of an electronic throttle pedal and a hydraulic pressure type clutch (instead of cable type) are also good additions and the fact that they are easier to operate and maintenance-free will be appreciated by first time car buyers. It probably also hints at an automatic variant, which Datsun
Datsun will announce the GO’s price later this month, and could be in the competitive range of Rs 2.9 lakh to Rs 4 lakh (ex-showroom). Now, if only Datsun can get its distribution and service network story right and ensure better visibility to inspire confidence amongst prospective buyers, then they would have got more than just the product right.
UPDATE: The company anncounced the prices for the Datsun GO today and the price will range between ₹3.12 lakh and ₹3.70 lakh (ex-showroom, New Delhi).
Check out the walkaround video of the Datsun GO here .