Datsun redi-GO 1.0 AMT Review
Car Tested: Datsun redi-GO 1.0 AMT; Road Test No. 899
Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 4.42 – 4.59 lakhs
The AMT gearbox adds a lot of convenience to the package; well-suited for city needs
The Datsun redi-GO was first launched in India in 2016 in an 800cc guise. Just like its cousin, the Renault Kwid, the redi-GO then got a 1.0-litre petrol engine. Again, following its cousin’s footsteps, the small car now gets a 5-speed AMT gearbox which is offered with the same 1.0-litre petrol engine. We drove the new variant in and around Delhi to see how it performs in city traffic, on open highways and everything in between.
Motor Quest: The Datsun redi-GO shares a lot of components with the Renault Kwid. In fact, both the cars get the same engine options too – 800cc and 1.0-litre. The AMT gearbox, however, is offered only with the bigger engine.
There are zero changes to the exteriors of the AMT trim
Exteriors – The design and the looks of the Datsun redi-GO 1.0 AMT remain unchanged and there is no visual differentiation between the MT and AMT models, in fact, it doesn’t get a single AMT badge. The tall hatchback gets crossover-inspired design elements like the flared wheel arches and high ground clearance (185 mm). The hexagonal-shaped grille, sweptback headlights, LED DRLs and the high-set tail-lights continue to feature on the AMT version as well
The interiors get some very minor changes
Interiors – There are hardly a couple of changes to the interiors of the AMT version. The dashboard continues with the same layout but you get a new gear lever which is thankfully much better than the rotary knob that has been fitted on the Renault Kwid. The instrument cluster misses out on a tachometer but you do get a gear position indicator. The audio system has been given a mild upgrade and it gets Bluetooth connectivity now, however, the sound quality from the speakers is absolutely disappointing. On the safety front, you get a driver side airbag only. Head room is excellent but the seats are narrow and not too supportive. Boot space is very limited too. The rear seat belts aren’t retractable which means even if you wear them, there are of no use because they won’t protect you from hitting the front seat in the event of a collision.
The petrol engine has good driveability in the city
Performance – Under the tiny hood is the same 1.0-litre, 3-cylinder petrol engine that churns out 67 HP at 5500 RPM and 91 Nm at 4250 RPM. We’ve driven this same engine earlier so know how it feels. The low-end is very good for city driving and the car actually responds pretty well. It gathers speed at a decent pace but the engine is also very noisy and most of the noise filters inside the cabin too. For city usage, the engine performs well but out on the highways you do feel that it is running out of breath especially at speeds above the ton.
The AMT gearbox is a very good addition to the redi-GO
The AMT gets a creep function but car goes too slow in that
The AMT gearbox has been matched very nicely to the engine. It is pretty smooth in its operations if you’re driving slowly but while driving fast, you won’t be too happy with how the car jerks and then upshifts after a delay of some seconds. If you mash the throttle, the gearbox downshifts a cog or two with a delay of about 1-2 seconds. For people who drive in a regular fashion, all this won’t matter because the convenience offered is one of the biggest USPs here. Also, the AMT gets a manual mode too and it works very well, with a far lesser delay in gear shifts.
The redi-GO isn’t great to drive, just does its job
Driving Dynamics – The ride on the Datsun redi-GO feels stiff and is a bit bouncy on bad roads. There is a lot of movement of passengers inside the cabin and we would have liked a slightly more balanced ride. The steering is very light at city speeds but even on the highways it just doesn’t weigh up and feels so vague that it gets scary driving this car fast. You get this feeling of a disconnect between the steering and the front wheels. The puny tyres do their job well in the city but lack grip if you push the car hard. The lack of ABS is another downer and under very hard braking, expect the car to skid a bit before coming to a halt. In fact, our test car had terrible brakes with a very long stopping distance and the pedal lacking any sort of feel while initial bite was also missing.
The AMT will be priced at a premium of around Rs. 30,000/- over the MT trim
Verdict – The Datsun redi-GO is a good car if you’re strictly going to drive in the city and want the convenience of an AMT. The car has light controls and decent punch for regular jaunts. Don’t expect it to drive like a large hatchback and it won’t disappoint you. The car itself is fairly basic & compact and doesn’t get too many features either. However, it’ll have low running costs for sure. Datsun doesn’t have many service centres too and that could be an issue for many people. All in all, the redi-GO’s only USP is the AMT for now, because on other counts like space, comfort and service, there are rivals that fare better.
The 5-speed AMT gets a manual mode too
What’s Cool
* Performance is good enough for city driving
* AMT gearbox has been mated nicely
* Light controls and compact size make it easy to drive in the city
What’s Not So Cool
* Lots of evident cost cutting
* Poor driving mannerisms, especially the brakes
Alternatives: Renault Kwid AMT, Maruti Alto K10 AMT, Tata Nano AMT
Would you fancy a redi-GO over the Kwid or Alto?
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Further Reading –
Datsun redi-GO 1.0 Review
Datsun redi-GO 1.0 Video Review
Datsun redi-GO 800cc Review
Datsun redi-GO 800cc Video Review