Datsun have unveiled a new five-door hatchback in the mi-DO and it looks just perfect for India.
The new mi-DO is the shorter, hatch version of the sedan the company unveiled in Russia some time ago, and, if all goes well, it will be positioned above the Go should it arrive in India.
At just under four metres and with engine choices from Nissan’s portfolio, the mi-DO will meet the country’s definitions of a ‘small car’ and could do well to target the Ford Figo, Maruti Suzuki Ritz, Hyundai Grand i10, the Chevy Sail and the to-arrive Tata Bolt, which seems to be at the top of the list in terms of equipment.
Going by its proportions – a length of 3,950mm, width of 1,700mm, height of 1,500mm and a wheelbase of 2,476mm – it will be a be a match in size, but how it is put together and how it will behave on the road will decide its fate and its competition. The likes of the Volkswagen Polo and, now, the Elite i20, are far ahead in their class as far as performance dynamics and interior experience go.
Overseas, the mi-DO uses Renault’s 1.6-litre petrol with 87 PS with either a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic. However, the venerable K9K 1.5-litre dCi65 diesel, seen in a number of compacts, is inevitable here. The mi-DO is also just the right size to sit below the almost iconic Dacia Sandero, but we know that could take some time to arrive here.
Story: Jim Gorde
