Road Test and Review: Datsun GO Probably by now, most of us have heard and read so much about the reincarnation of Datsun and their...
Showing posts with label Datsun. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Datsun. Show all posts
Auto Expo 2014: 10 launches to watch out for
The 12th edition of the Auto Expo is all set to begin on 7th February. With as many as 70 new cars expected to break cover during the even...
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Showing posts with label Datsun. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Datsun. Show all posts
Monday, 16 June 2014
Road Test and Review: Datsun GO
Road Test and Review: Datsun GO
Probably by now, most of us have heard and read so much about the reincarnation of Datsun and their first car for India – the GO. Some of us have even seen the car at the Auto Expo or at the showroom previews. Expectations run high when a brand returns after almost 33 years with a mass-market car. I recently spent a day with the Datsun GO to find out if the car lives up to the high expectations.
Design
Datsun Go has a flawless styling, with some smart touches and neat proportions. The hexagonal honeycomb grille with chrome surround looks handsome without being edgy. The sharp and angular design of the headlamps and the airdams add to the chiseled look of the car’s face. The profile is clean, but marred by the skinny 155/70R13 tyres. The rear, though bland, doesn’t disappoint with raked windshield and bulging taillights. GO’s simple yet elegant exterior design is certainly among the best in the A segment.
Although the Datsun GO is based on Nissan Micra’s V-platform, there’s no resemblance between the two on the exterior. Stepping inside, though, you’ll promptly notice the air-con vents and the stalks are lifted from the Micra. However, the biggest advantage of the V-platform is the generous cabin space. Dashboard-mounted gearstick and slim seats have helped in effective space management. Although the shifting action is notchy, the gear lever is ergonomically placed and is comfortably within reach.
The umbrella type handbrake is oddly located on the dashboard and you are bound to smack it with your knee every time you dip the clutch. On the flipside, the car gets connected front seats similar to the Ambassador’s. While offering liberal space, the seats lack significant side bolsters and neck support. Yet, back support is optimal because seats have been designed using technology from Nissan’s luxury brand Infiniti.
The steering wheel is placed a little too high and is uncomfortable for long drives. Instrument cluster is basic but gets a digital display for tachometer, fuel gauge, trip computer, distance to empty and real time fuel efficiency.
Instead of an audio system, the GO gets a smartphone docking station. Don’t get your hopes so high; the swanky smartphone shown in the picture is not part of the standard equipment. While the docking station allows you to play music from phone using aux-in, it doesn’t support USB, CD or memory card.
Boot space is commendably huge at 265-litres, which is certainly the best in the segment and even better than many of the bigger cars. The GO also comes with speed-sensing wipers and follow-me-home headlamps as segment-first features.
Major shortcomings, rather cost-cutting measures, include the boot without a lock (you need to open it from inside), non-adjustable outside mirrors and lid-less glovebox.
Performance
The GO’s three-cylinder, 1198cc petrol engine makes a maximum power of 67bhp at 5,000rpm and peak torque of 104 Nm at 4,000rpm. It clearly has power advantage over Alto 800’s 796cc and Eon’s 814cc engines. Even with the AC turned on, the engine responds swiftly to the touch of the pedal and has near-flat torque curve across the rev-range. Third gear offers a wide enough power band and hence great "around town" flexibility. The GO is capable of doing a 0-100 kmph run in 13.3 seconds and can cross 140 kmph effortlessly. Datsun claims a fuel economy of 20.6 kilometres to the litre.
Ride & Handling
A tight turning radius, light steering and great visibility make the Datsun GO easy to drive in city. The ride, handling and overall refinement aren't up to muster, though. Poor sound deadening means the cabin isn’t calm, with noise from the road, wind and engine all contributing.
The car suffers from substantial bodyroll, but at low speeds, the suspension is okay at taking the sting out of potholes and humps. The ride gets slightly nervous when you’re going faster but it’s not unsettling.
Biggest disappointment could be the inevitable idling vibration of the three-cylinder engine, but things get better once you're on the go.
Safety
When it comes to safety, GO doesn’t tick all the right boxes. ABS and airbags are not even an option with this car. However, GO is the only car in its segment to get ventilated disc brakes. Although lack of ABS makes the car slightly unconfident under panic braking, ventilated disc brakes displayed great capability during the test.
Conclusion
Datsun is all set to launch the GO later this month with a sub-Rs. 4 lakh price tag. While not too rich on features, the car has the advantage of a no-nonsense design and best in class space and performance. Datsun offers 2-year/unlimited mileage warranty, too. As you may already be aware, Datsun is owned by Nissan and the latter will be responsible for distribution, sales and service of the GO. Now that Nissan has dumped Hover Automotive and decided sell its cars on its own in India, aftersales is also expected to improve. In short, Datsun GO is great value for money and has all the potential to woo first time buyers.
Design
Datsun Go has a flawless styling, with some smart touches and neat proportions. The hexagonal honeycomb grille with chrome surround looks handsome without being edgy. The sharp and angular design of the headlamps and the airdams add to the chiseled look of the car’s face. The profile is clean, but marred by the skinny 155/70R13 tyres. The rear, though bland, doesn’t disappoint with raked windshield and bulging taillights. GO’s simple yet elegant exterior design is certainly among the best in the A segment.
The umbrella type handbrake is oddly located on the dashboard and you are bound to smack it with your knee every time you dip the clutch. On the flipside, the car gets connected front seats similar to the Ambassador’s. While offering liberal space, the seats lack significant side bolsters and neck support. Yet, back support is optimal because seats have been designed using technology from Nissan’s luxury brand Infiniti.
Boot space is commendably huge at 265-litres, which is certainly the best in the segment and even better than many of the bigger cars. The GO also comes with speed-sensing wipers and follow-me-home headlamps as segment-first features.
Major shortcomings, rather cost-cutting measures, include the boot without a lock (you need to open it from inside), non-adjustable outside mirrors and lid-less glovebox.
The GO’s three-cylinder, 1198cc petrol engine makes a maximum power of 67bhp at 5,000rpm and peak torque of 104 Nm at 4,000rpm. It clearly has power advantage over Alto 800’s 796cc and Eon’s 814cc engines. Even with the AC turned on, the engine responds swiftly to the touch of the pedal and has near-flat torque curve across the rev-range. Third gear offers a wide enough power band and hence great "around town" flexibility. The GO is capable of doing a 0-100 kmph run in 13.3 seconds and can cross 140 kmph effortlessly. Datsun claims a fuel economy of 20.6 kilometres to the litre.
A tight turning radius, light steering and great visibility make the Datsun GO easy to drive in city. The ride, handling and overall refinement aren't up to muster, though. Poor sound deadening means the cabin isn’t calm, with noise from the road, wind and engine all contributing.
The car suffers from substantial bodyroll, but at low speeds, the suspension is okay at taking the sting out of potholes and humps. The ride gets slightly nervous when you’re going faster but it’s not unsettling.
Biggest disappointment could be the inevitable idling vibration of the three-cylinder engine, but things get better once you're on the go.
When it comes to safety, GO doesn’t tick all the right boxes. ABS and airbags are not even an option with this car. However, GO is the only car in its segment to get ventilated disc brakes. Although lack of ABS makes the car slightly unconfident under panic braking, ventilated disc brakes displayed great capability during the test.
Conclusion
Datsun is all set to launch the GO later this month with a sub-Rs. 4 lakh price tag. While not too rich on features, the car has the advantage of a no-nonsense design and best in class space and performance. Datsun offers 2-year/unlimited mileage warranty, too. As you may already be aware, Datsun is owned by Nissan and the latter will be responsible for distribution, sales and service of the GO. Now that Nissan has dumped Hover Automotive and decided sell its cars on its own in India, aftersales is also expected to improve. In short, Datsun GO is great value for money and has all the potential to woo first time buyers.
Saturday, 1 February 2014
Auto Expo 2014: 10 launches to watch out for
The 12th edition of the Auto Expo is all set to begin on 7th February. With as many as 70 new cars expected to break cover during the event, the 2014 Auto Expo will be the biggest India has ever witnessed. As we are gearing up for the comprehensive coverage, here’s a look at the 10 hottest launches to watch out for.
- Maruti Suzuki is all set to launch the Celerio hatchback at the 2014 Auto Expo. Expected to be the most popular launch of the year, the Celeriogets a 1.0-litre, 3-cylinder K-Series petrol engine that develops of 67bhp and 90Nm of peak torque.
Celerio will introduce Auto Gear Shift, which will have the flexibility of both manual mode and auto drive mode in the same car, with a simple shift of gear lever. Maruti claims a mileage figure of 23.1kmpl
Hyundai Grand i10 was one of the most popular launches of 2013. Hot on the heels of this grand success, Hyundai will unveil a sedan version of the Grand
Expected to be launched in February 2014, the Grand sedan will be priced aggressively to take on Honda Amaze and Maruti Dzire
Nissan has re-launched the Datsun brand after 32 years. Datsun will launch its first car early this year called the Datsun GO. The Datsun GO will be priced under Rs. 4 lakhs in India and will be powered by a 1.2-litre, 3-cylinder engine, paired to a 5-speed manual gearbox
The same engine does duty on the Nissan Micra Active, producing 68 PS and 104 Nm. However in the Datsun GO, the company might detune the engine in the interest of boosting fuel economy
Honda will re-launch the revised Jazz in 2014. Although the first generation Jazz had a much-loved design, poor pricing resulted in bad sales
The 2014 Jazz will certainly be aggressively priced and will also have the advantage of a diesel powertrain and a futuristic design
VW's Taigun is likely to be the first car on the Up platform (codename: PQ12) to come to India. The Taigun concept, based on a stretched version of the VW Up's NSF (New Small Family) platform, made its debut at the Sao Paolo International Motor Show in October last year and previews VW's future SUV face
With its bold, clean styling, the Taigun is sure to appeal to the Indian psyche. It looks a lot less radical than the Ford EcoSport and its less controversial lines are designed to appeal to everyone and offend no one. As for the interiors, VW designed it to resemble the simplicity of the latest smartphones. Its clean, minimalist look aims at being visually clear and simple to use
Mobilio, the third car to be built on the Brio platform, marks Honda’s entry into the MPV segment in India. The Mobilio will be available with the 1.5-litre i-VTEC petrol and 1.5-litre i-DTEC diesel options
Both engines will be mated to a five-speed manual transmission. The production version of the Mobilio is expected to be unveiled at the 2014 Delhi Auto Expo
Audi is all set to unveil its A3 sedan at the Auto Expo. It is Audi’s first compact sedan in the luxury segment to come into the Indian market
Along with the A3, Audi will also showcase special editions of Q3, Q5, the sportier SQ5, Q7 and its recently launched sports car Audi RS 7 Sportback
The BMW 3 Series GT will be one of the most important launches by the Bavarian carmaker at the Delhi Auto Expo
The GT model is 200mm longer, 50mm taller and 17mm wider than the regular 3 Series model. The GT 3 Series comes with a 2-liter diesel engine producing 184bhp, while the petrol variant gets 2.0-liter motor developing 245bhp of power output
Mercedes-Benz India will unveil the dynamically styled Concept GLA and CLA45 AMG at the 12th edition of the Auto Expo. Focusing on the company’s ‘Year of Excellence’ strategy, Mercedes-Benz will also launch its first SUV Guard
The AMG 2.0-liter turbo engine, with a maximum output of 265 kW (360 hp) and up to 450 Newton meters of torque, is the most powerful turbocharged four-cylinder engine in series production in the world
Hyundai will launch the new Santa Fe in India at the Auto Expo. The full-sized SUV is expected to undercut Toyota Fortuner in terms of pricing when it is launched. To achieve this Hyundai will assemble the Santa Fe at its Chennai plant
The new Santa Fe will have a more appealing presence, derived from Hyundai’s fluidic design philosophy
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