Datsun Go has now got a 'Plus' suffixed to it and along with that a number of new features. The car has become longer and now has an extra row of seats to accommodate two additional passengers. Price has not changed much. Owning a seven-seater for Rs 3.69 lakh on road is pure value for money. The top end version of Go Plus costs Rs 5.22 lakh on the road.
Thanks to its competitive pricing, critics were quick to pounce on the new Datsun Go Plus. What they are holding against this car is that it does not conform to European safety standards. But then, what they do not realise is that most cars built in India do not conform to European safety standards. However, all of them, including Maruti, Hyundai, Toyota and Datsun Go plus conform to Indian safety standards.
Another apprehension that many have is the reliability, Datsun being a relatively new name to Indians. But once you flip back a few pages of this car's history, this one would put several well-known names to shame.
Datsun is a Nissan brand. Datsun has been operational since 1931 in Japan. From 1958 to 1986, Nissan sold its cars under the Datsun brand name. Datsun name was subsequently dropped from the Nissan logo in 1986, but it reappeared in 2013.
Nissan generally sells its low-cost cars under the brand name Datsun and Datsun Go is the first one to roll out since the brand name reappeared, followed by the Datsun Go Plus.
Datsun Go Plus is available only in petrol version.
Design
Nissan has positioned Datsun Go Plus as a compact family sedan and there is no other vehicle in India that fits into this segment. The length of the car has been kept under four metres to keep taxes low. There are two rows of seats for adults and one in the middle for kids aged 10-12 years. The middle row can't accommodate adult passengers.
The third row of seat is easily detachable and once removed, it creates as much boot space as any other modern sedan. Nissan's aim is to make Datsun Go Plus the most preferred first car for an average Indian family and thanks to its design, it stands a good chance of being a favourite of young couples. Those who are looking for a sedan can also consider the Go Plus among their options.
From the sides, the car definitely looks longer, but its compactness has not been compromised. It can be driven around comfortably in city traffic and fits into tight parking spots without any hassles. A thin steering wheel and a low turning radius make the Go Plus an easy-to-drive car.
In short, the Go Plus is a beautiful, compact car.
The interiors are also appealing. The fit and finish of plastics used inside the cabin is a notch above in quality from what is generally seen in most of its Japanese peers. The seats are also good and since the two of them upfront are placed closer, even passengers with a heavy built can sit comfortably. The gear lever sticks out of the dashboard and so does the parking brake.
Though elements of comfort have not been sacrificed, unnecessary elements of luxury have been done away with, in a bid to control costs. For instance, only two windows are power operated and even on the driver's side there is only one switch. There is no vanity mirror and the rear view mirror is not anti-reflective type. The glove box is open and the wing mirrors cannot be adjusted from the cabin. The stereo does not have a CD or radio and thus needs to be operated with the help of a mobile phone. The tyres have been limited to 13-inches.
However, Nissan is selling accessories along with the car so that the buyer can customise the car to his taste.
Behind the Wheel
The 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine produces 68 bhp, but the Go Plus carries its own additional weight of 20 kilos and that of two extra passengers with ease. Driving is very comfortable and one can manage without many gear changes. However, the feel of gear shift could have been better. Passenger comfort is also good. This car returns 20.6 kilometres per litre of petrol.
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