THE DATSUN REDI-GO

The Datsun Redi-Go is the third offering from Nissan’s sub brand in India. It is an entry-level car that will sit along side the Renault Kwid from the same group and take on the Alto and Eon. The idea of having a sub brand to an already budget brand like Nissan or Renault is something we don’t quite get, especially since Nissan itself is yet to properly establish here. The Indian car buyers haven’t quite taken well to the Datsun brand yet and things were only made worse last year when the Go performed poorly in the global NCAP crash tests. Well, it is time to claw it all back and the Redi-Go is their best shot yet.

The Redi-Go is based on the same low cost CMF-A architecture as the Kwid and shares a lot of mechanical bits with it including its engine. While the Kwid is designed to look like a mini SUV, the Redi-Go is styled very differently to be a city car. It is about 25cms shorter, a tad narrower and a bit taller than the Kwid. That makes it rather easier to park, get through gaps in traffic and easy to get in and out of. The styling is quite radical with big family grill at the front flanked on either side by elongated wraparound headlamps. Fake skid plates at the front and rear in contrasting silver, LED day time running lamps and multiple curves on the front bumper make for a dramatic front end. There is a character line that starts at the front bumper and forms a shoulderline around the car. Another crease starts lower down on the doors and rises sharply to meet the taillamps. These, along with the beefed up wheel arches are quite bold design elements for what is really an economy car. That said, the design isn’t for everyone, but it definitely helps the car stand out in a crowd.

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