The Datsun Go+ compact MPV was first showcased at the 2014 Auto Expo. Is it an attractive proposition for the Indian buyer? We find out
Story: Gaurav Nagpal
Photography: Nissan India
Nissan revived the Datsun brand in India with the launch of the hatchback, Go, earlier this year. The company also displayed a seven-seater version, the Go+, at the Auto Expo 2014. We got behind the wheel of the Go+ in an exclusive first drive for the media to find out if it makes sense.
Head on, there is absolutely nothing to distinguish the Go+ from its Go sibling. The identical large chrome-ringed hexagonal grille encases the blue Datsun badge, with the swept-back headlamps facilitating good visibility on the road. The car is near identical to the Go when viewed side-on, too, save for the slightly longer body (by 210 mm) to accommodate the third row of seats. The 13-inch tyres leave a huge gap between the tyre surface and the wheel-arches, and 14-inch tyres would have done the styling a world of good. The rear is the same as the Go, with a simple tail-lamp and hatch design. The overall impression is of neat design, which may not win any awards, though.
A large, analogue speedometer dominates the instrument console, and there is also a small digital multi-information display (with a tacho, instantaneous and average fuel consumption, and a digital trip meter) that is difficult to read due to the very small size.
The console-mounted gear lever frees some floor space for the driver and front passenger. The pull-and-twist parking brake is easily operable, but it is equally easy to get your little finger caught between the brake and the centre console due to limited space. The driver foot-well is rather tight, and the driver’s knee constantly jostles with the centre console for space rights.
