Datsun Redi-GO 'urban cross' hatchback unveiled

Datsun India today showcased the production version of its compact hatchback, the redi-GO, at what was the car's global unveil. Positioned as an 'urban cross', the redi-GO will be Nissan's challenger in a segment that is essentially the bottom rung of the Indian car market. The little Datsun will take on established players like the Maruti Suzuki Alto, Tata Nano and of course it's acclaimed cousin, the Renault Kwid.

In fact the redi-GO is based on the same CMF-A platform as the Renault Kwid, as the platform is shared by the Renault-Nissan alliance. The redi-GO looks completely different from the Kwid in terms of design. While the Renault looks more muscular and sits squat, the redi-GO is taller and more compact to look at. Datsun is hoping to attract young buyers with the redi-GO and has styled it in a smart, youthful manner to ensure the car appeals to its target audience.

The design is more aggressive, with the front sporting slightly narrow, wide headlights and the familiar looking grille in between and a more muscular hood. The top of the line car also gets daytime running light DRLs that are mounted on the front bumper. The sides are nice to catching with chiselled lines, while the rear looks appealing with neat looking, well proportioned tail light that accentuate the tallboy design. Sadly, the Datsun redi-GO will not get alloy wheels as standard even on the top of the line variant. The taller stance has helped Datsun liberate more headroom for the occupants and give the interiors a sense of roominess. Datsun also claims this has helped make ingress and egress easier and its spacious interiors will be one of the car's biggest highlights.

Powering the redi-GO is the same three-cylinder, 800cc petrol engine as the Kwid that makes 54PS of power and 72Nm of torque. The redi-GO will also get the larger, 1.0-litre engine and AMT as the Kwid, but not immediately. 

The global unveil of the redi-GO marks a move for the Datsun that the sub-brand from Nissan hopes will help it establish itself as a household name in the country and also help it gain critical volumes. While officials were tight-lipped about the car's pricing at the unveiling event, we expect it to be priced just a few thousand rupees lesser than the Kwid, which means prices could range from Rs 2.5 lakh to 3.5 lakh rupees. Datsun will begin taking orders from May 1 with the launch of the Redi-Go stated for the first week of June.