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Hello and welcome to MotorBeam. The small hatchback segment caters for the major chunk
of the demand in the Indian automobile market. Nissan had revived the Datsun brand to get
more affordable cars on the road. After launching the GO and GO+, Datsun is ready to launch
the redi-GO. We are in Kolkata to find out more about it.
The redi-GO boasts of a tall boy design with some sharp and dynamic elements. The highlight
being the segment first daytime running lights.
The redi-GO's dashboard is different from its siblings but isn't as appealing as the
Kwid. Interior space is generous thanks to a cab forward design while the high driving
position gives a clear view of the road. The redi-GO gets a basic audio system with average
sound quality, digital tachometer and manual air-conditioning.
The rear seat offer good headroom and it's quite easy to get in and out. The seat is
wide enough for two adults. The only downside here is that all doors have a lot of exposed
metal which does make it look quite cheap.
Boot space is decent and the rear seat can be folded to enhance it.
The Datsun redi-GO is based on the CMF-A platform, the same one which is used for the Renault
Kwid. Both these cars use the same engine and the same transmission.
This 800cc petrol engine comes mated with a 5-speed manual gearbox. Power does feel
quite adequate on most occasions but at times it does feel a bit underpowered. And frankly
at this price, you really can't expect much more.
The steering is quite light, it offers decent amount of feedback in the city and its quite
manoeuvrable but as you speed up, it doesn't really give you the confidence to push that
much harder.
However, a buyer in this segment barely looks at something like this. For him practicality
is of utmost importance which the redi-GO offers in abundance.
Ride quality is quite good with the suspension absorbing most of the bumps. The redi-GO has
the segment highest ground clearance of 185 mm. Datsun claims that the redi-GO has the
best braking in the segment but we found the brakes to be too spongy.
The Datsun redi-GO comes across as a very well engineered product. We love the exterior
styling and the interior packaging. Definitely, this product is built to a price and coming
to price, we know that Datsun will be pricing it very aggressively undercutting the competition
by a good margin, thereby making this a very tempting buy in the entry-level car segment.