Datsun Go+ Compact Wagon launched in India

Nissan India has launched India’s first compact wagon in the form of the Datsun Go+, a 7 seater that measures under 4 meters. This is the second car that the low cost car brand from Japan has served up for the Indian car market. Interestingly, the Go+ starts from where the Go’s pricing range ends, at 3.79 lakh rupees ex-showroom Delhi. This makes the compact wagon one of the least priced 7 seaters in the country. The car has been launched in four variants, D, D1, A and T. The D1, A and T variants are priced at 3.82, 4.15 and 4.61 lakh rupees respectively.

In terms of equipment on offer, the D variant is completely stripped out, even by Indian budget car standards. Both the power steering and air conditioning are features that are available only on the top-end T variant of the car, which means that the D and D1 variants are essentially crowd pullers to Nissan showrooms, ones that are likely to attract minimum off take. The heater function is standard fare though, on all variants. On the other hand, the top end T variant features a power steering, air conditioning, front power windows, rear blower, a mobile phone docking system, a multi information display and central locking.

CarToq’s First Drive Review of the Datsun Go Plus Compact MPV

In terms of dimensions, the Go+ measures 3,995 mm long, 1,635 mm wide, 1,490 mm tall and gets a wheelbase of 2,450 mm. The only change in the Go Plus’ dimensions when compared to those of the Go, is that of the overall length, which is about 210 mm longer than the latter. The additional length is the factor that gives the compact wagon a longer body, an extra row of seats that are better off folded and of course, a 345 liter boot capacity to accompany when the third row of seats are folded away.  A ground clearance of 170 mm coupled to the short wheelbase means that the Go+ will be at home even on less than perfect surfaces, ones that drivers in India encounter quite often.

In terms of mechanicals, the 1.2 liter-3 cylinder HR12DE petrol motor powers the front wheels of the car. This engine puts out 67 Bhp and 104 Nm, which allied to the light 794 kilogram kerb weight of the compact wagon, gives the Go+ perky performance. The gearbox is a five speeder with the shifter conveniently positioned on the dashboard.  The suspension of the car has been beefed up to handle the extra weight that the extended body, a full complement of luggage and additional passengers that the vehicle is likely to see. The ECU has been remapped to offer better low and mid range response, claims Nissan. ARAI certified fuel efficiency is pegged at 20.6 Kmpl.

Come 2017, Maruti Suzuki’s WagonR 7 seater will gun for the Go Plus’ jugular. 

Nissan has managed to sell just about 12,000 units of the Go hatchback in India, in about 10 months of serial production from the Renault-Nissan joint manufacturing facility at Oragadam, off Chennai. While the same production facility is used by the Go+, the Japanese automaker will be hoping that the compact wagon pulls in better volumes than the hatchback. While pricing of the sub-4 meter 7 seater is quite competitive, it will remain to be seen if the Indian budget car buyer accepts a station wagon that is essentially a versatile five seat car with plenty of luggage room to boot. Indian automotive history is peppered by station wagons not finding acceptance among car buyers here. In that light, the Datsun Go+ want to be an outlier, whose success or failure will be known in the months to come.

Nissan has also released the first TVC of the Go+ compact wagon,