Datson Go

The Datsun Go compact hatchback has been revealed by parent company Nissan. It is roughly based on the Nissan V platform that underpins the Micra but is a completely new vehicle and is the first one from a brand that has been revived after three decades. The car is aimed at emerging markets like India, Russia, Brazil and Indonesia and will be joined by an MPV as well as a compact sedan that will be unveiled later.

The Datsun Go is powered by the three cylinder 1.2-litre petrol mill that sits in the larger Micra. This engine produces 76PS and 104Nm of torque. We expect it to have better fuel efficiency than the Micra, either with taller gearing or a slightly lower power figure – maybe both. Power is transmitted to the front wheels via a five speed manual gearbox. It will be lighter than the Micra, because it is not a global model and as such doesn’t need to meet the strictest crash safety norms in places like the European Union and the US market, which the Micra can achieve as is.

The interior, while remaining bare essential, looks like it is from a car that is more expensive. Datsun has chosen beige as the predominant colour, something that should appeal to the Indian buyer. There is no lid for the glovebox much like the Evalia, which begs the question of where one will keep things like the documentation of the car and manual. Datsun has also chosen to place the gearlever at the base of the centre console much like the Hyundai i10. Where it deviates from the latter is in the placement of the handbrake: unlike a traditional car, it doesn’t sit between the seats; it is to the right of the gearshift lever like the Honda Civic, and the shape of the handle reminds one of the handbrake in the Chevrolet Tavera or Ford Endeavour. What has Datsun done with the space in between the front seats, you ask? Well, they’ve filled it with... seat. No, really. They’ve extended the passenger seat all the way to the driver’s seat, so if you’re someone who’s, er, horizontally ample, this is the seat for you. The seat base extension doesn’t encourage the occupant to sit offset to one side, so this is a puzzling thing for Datsun to do.

The Go is Renault-Nissan’s entry into one of the most competitive segments in the Indian market, the A segment which accounts for a significant chunk of the sales in the 45 per cent that constitutes the hatchback market. It will compete with the Tata Nano, Maruti Suzuki Alto 800, Maruti Suzuki Alto K10, Nissan Micra Active (in higher variants), Chevrolet Spark and the Hyundai Eon. It will be officially launched at the 2014 Indian Auto Expo.