First Look Review

Datsun recently took the wraps off its new urban hatchback the redi-GO. It is the third car from the Japanese automaker’s budget brand and will be launched for the Indian market before the first week of June. The car was showcased in concept form at the 2014 Auto Expo and this production version has not strayed too far from the former.

Visually, the redi-GO is a major step up as compared to the GO and GO+. The face is defined by the large chrome grille as well as the blue Datsun logo. The top-spec model gets a contrast coloured bash plate element as well as LED DRLs. Moving over to the side we can see that the car gets a power lines, sloping roofline and skinny 155/80 R13 wheels.

The conservative and safe tail lamps of the other two Datsun models have been ditched in favour of boomerang shaped units that work well to accentuate the curves of the rear bumper. Noticeable elements include the chrome strip on the edge of the bootlid as well as the black cladding to add to the crossover image of the vehicle.

Stepping inside, we can see that the standard GO interiors have been carried over to this model. The seats have been trimmed out in a grey shade. The variant in our photos is in all probability a top-spec model as it gets a fully loaded 2-DIN music system, front power windows and AC.

In terms of practicality, the redi-GO does not score very high as it has no door pockets and the only storage spaces are an open glove box and a much smaller space that has a hinged door. However, one of the noticeable elements that has now been done away with is the empty space between the front seats and the dashboard mounted gear lever. Instead you get a conventional setup with a proper handbrake.

On the engine and gearbox front, the redi-GO will be offered with the 800cc three-cylinder petrol engine and five-speed manual gearbox. In the Kwid (with which this car shares the CMF-A platform) it produces 57bhp and 72Nm of torque and we believe that this will be the same output in the redi-GO.

When launched, the redi-GO will rival the likes of the Hyundai Eon, Maruti Suzuki Alto, Renault Kwid, Tata Tiago and the Chevrolet Spark. The arrival of this car indicates that Datsun is playing the strategy of collective volumes whereby multiple models contribute to the overall numbers.