DOES THE BUMP IN POWER MAKE IT A BETTER AND, PERHAPS, MORE FUN-TO-DRIVE CAR?
With the redi-GO being the most successful nameplate for Datsun in India, the carmaker has gone ahead and introduced a more powerful variant of the humble hatchback to attract a wider audience. The engine is now a three-cylinder, 1.0-litre unit, which is a bump up of 200cc from the standard redi-GO with the 0.8-litre motor.
The same update was given to the Kwid as well last year. The question, though, is, does the increase in power make it a better and, perhaps, more fun-to-drive car? Here we go!
Exterior
On the outside there is nothing new barring the '1.0' badge on the boot to distinguish it from the 0.8-litre variant. It would have been nice had Datsun offered some more differentiating bits like dual-tone colours (going by the latest fad), body-coloured mirrors, or even decals (like the chequered flag on the Kwid 1.0-litre) to give the redi-GO 1.0L a distinct identity and more value to its buyers.
Nonetheless, the car looks quirky with its tall boy design blended with sharp lines and bulging body panels. The design is a little 'hatke' than the usual boxy styles you see in this segment. At the front is the signature Datsun hexagonal grille flanked by a large set of headlights. The bumper has strong angular lines and houses daytime running lights, which is unique to the redi-GO in this segment.
The edgy styling continues to the side, marked by a thick crease running from the lower half of the doors and rising all the way up to the boomerang-shaped tail lights that kinks to the side. The wheels are still 13-inch steel rims with wheel caps – an opportunity missed by Datsun to add a set of alloy wheels. At the rear, the high rear windscreen and tall bumper give it a raised stance, making the high 185mm ground clearance evident. However, this makes the boot lid sit quite high which becomes a hassle when loading heavy luggage. Also, the 222-litre boot sits deep and has a large loading lip, making it tricky to load/remove heavy luggage.
Overall, this is a design that’s still fresh, funky and offers something new to anybody looking for something different among entry-level hatchbacks.
Interiors
Inside, the redi-GO 1.0L gets all-black interiors. This is identical to the Sports variant of the 0.8-litre redi-GO, minus the body-coloured accents on the AC vents and steering. If you play 'spot the differences' you will notice that the lock/unlock switch on the centre console is new, and, apart from central locking, you also get a remote key. The boot, though, can only be opened using the release next to the driver’s seat. All other features and components like the steering, instrument cluster, music system and the gear lever are exactly the same. Overall, the black interiors mixed with the exterior body colour touch on some of the side panels look better than the grey ones in the 0.8-litre version.
Space inside the car is sufficient for four average-sized adults but the rear bench won’t be comfortable for a third passenger, not even a kid. At the rear, taller passengers may struggle for legroom but never the headroom – there’s plenty of it and the fixed rear headrests are tall enough to support passengers of varying heights.
