Datsun Redi-Go 2017-2022

Like the exterior of the vehicle, the interior of the redi-GO has a vibrant design. The dashboard gets a dual-tone treatment of silver and black. It houses an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system that is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Also, there is an intuitive reverse parking assist camera with a projection guide. The vehicle has two power windows in the front but the rear only gets manual opening and closing of windows. Also, the transmission tunnel does not create a big bump on the floor as a result of which three adults can be seated comfortably at the rear.

Source: Datsun Redi-Go

The seats are not cushioned well enough and are positioned upright. There is no under-thigh support, so long journeys are likely to cause discomfort. Also, the lean angle of the seats feels a tad too upright, which could cause discomfort on long journeys. However, the cabin is still quite practical as there are lots of utility spaces inside the cabin. As for the legroom, Datsun claims that the redi-GO has the best-in-class leg space.

The redi-GO is also equipped with an HVAC system. The cabin can be cooled quickly thanks to the redi-GO’s powerful A/C unit. In addition to all these features, there is a USB port and a 12V charging socket for added convenience.

As mentioned earlier, the Datsun redi-GO comes with two petrol engine options- a 0.8L and a 1.0. If the carmaker is to be believed, the I-SAT engine technology optimizes the fuel efficiency and power output. Both the engines are now compliant with the latest BS6 emission standards.

The 0.8-litre unit churns out 54PS of maximum power and 72Nm of peak torque and the 1.0-litre unit produces 69PS of maximum power and 91Nm of peak torque. Both are mated to a 5-speed manual transmission, but only the 1.0-litre petrol engine gets the option of a 5-speed AMT.

The 1.0-litre engine is much peppier and responsive when compared to the 0.8-litre petrol engine. The 0.8-litre engine sometimes struggles when it encounters steep inclines. To facilitate more torque while driving on inclines and to perform quick overtakes, it demands constant upshifts. The AMT gearbox offered with the 1.0-litre engine is slick and precise when compared with the 5-speed manual transmission. The manual gearbox functions great but feels hefty. Other than that, there are no issues with the way it performs.

The Datsun redi-GO has a soft suspension setup. The steering feels light, which is good in traffic conditions but the issue here is that the lightness stays even as the speeds rise. The vehicle can easily negotiate tight U-turns but the steering has a weak return to centre action. The braking system on the redi-GO is said to be best-in-class as it has the ability to bring the vehicle to a complete halt from 100kmph to 0 in just 32.3meters.

Like we said, the suspension is set on the softer side to absorb bumps and impact from potholes. Such a setup does provide smooth ride quality but the downside of a soft suspension setup is the constant thud and vibration that creeps into the cabin when encountering shallow potholes. High-speed stability is also not the strongest point of this vehicle. Since it is a light vehicle, the stability at high speeds goes for a toss. However, the vehicle is easy to handle at lower speeds.

In terms of safety features, the Datsun redi-GO facelift comes with dual airbags, ABS with EBD, rear parking camera, rear parking sensors, central locking, seat belt reminder, front seat belts with pretensioners and load limiters and speed sensors. The car gets 3-point seat belts at the rear and a 2-point seat belt for the middle passenger.

However, even with the aforementioned equipment and safety features, this vehicle has managed to score only a 1-star rating for adult occupant protection and two stars for child occupant protection at the Global NCAP crash tests. This is lower than what the close cousin Renault Kwid has scored on the same test bed. However, the company claims that the vehicle features a robust body shell and several strategically placed crumple zones to absorb the impact in the scenario of an accident. Also, it must be noted here that the passenger-side airbag is available only on the top-spec T(O) trim.