2020 Datsun Redigo facelift review, test drive

‘FACE’-Elevate – Refreshed Redigo will get an oversized grille, sharper headlamps and eye-catching LED DRLs up entrance.

With the facelift, the Redigo maintains its simple profile and tall-boy proportions, and the standard fourteen-inch metal wheels with thicker one hundred sixty five/70 portion rubber (compared to the one hundred fifty five/80 R13’s right before) improve the all round stance. They also insert 2mm to the previously course-top ground clearance (unladen) which now steps in at 187mm. Datsun badges on the entrance fenders, clever twin-tone wheel covers, and system-colored wing mirrors are other factors distinguishing the Redigos outdated and new. The posterior is largely unchanged, conserve for the addition of an LED signature in the tail-lamps.

These beauty modifications are accompanied by structural updates beneath the pores and skin. The Redigo’s CMF-A underpinnings, which are shared with the Kwid, have been beefed up, in buy to comply with the latest crash-examination and pedestrian-safety norms.

What’s it like on the within?

The cabin is the place the greater part of the visible updates appear. Absent is the asymmetrical dashboard layout of the previous product, and in will come a a lot more regular horizontal layout. The darkish colour scheme, with a slab of silver textured plastic functioning across the width of the dashboard, offers the cabin a unique attractiveness. Using delight of put on the piano black-finished centre console, though, is the new eight.-inch touchscreen infotainment program which, bundled with Apple CarPlay and Android Car, is slick and uncomplicated to function.

Great Touch – Using key real estate on the dashboard is the slick, eight-inch touchscreen.  

Though the pre-facelift Redigo drew flak for uncovered sheet steel on the within door panels, Datsun has fixed that by supplying comprehensive door cladding this time around. The black-gray textured upholstery is a different quality touch.

Enhancements aren’t basically aesthetic, as some ergonomic flaws have been rectified as properly. The appallingly compact glovebox from the previous product has been replaced by a sizeable device, wing mirrors are now internally adjustable, and the static reel seatbelts for outboard rear passengers from right before have built way for retractable ones. Still, some quirks continue being, like the one entrance wiper, though in all fairness, it does acquire the added operation of intermittent procedure.

Regardless of the Redigo remaining the shortest automobile in the course and obtaining the smallest wheelbase, cabin room is very very good. Knee space for rear passengers is enough and the tall-boy proportions liberate generous quantities of headroom. Seating 3 abreast at the back again, even so, will show to be very a pinch, specified the slim width of the cabin.

SPACED OUT – Knee space and headroom at the back again are quite very good for a automobile of its course. 

As right before, the Redigo’s gear record incorporates electricity steering, air conditioner, remote locking, entrance electricity windows, Abs, rear parking sensors and a driver’s facet airbag. Nevertheless Datsun has added a passenger airbag on the top rated-spec trim, it has missed the chance of supplying steering-mounted audio controls, like in the S-Presso, and rear electricity windows and armrest, like in the Kwid.   

What’s it like to push?

The Redigo continues to be powered by a 54hp, .eight-litre petrol engine and a 68hp, one.-litre device, albeit in BS6 guise. We drove the greater potential petrol and found the driving manners to be largely identical to the pre-facelift product.

Start off up the engine and the attribute 3-cylinder hum creeps into the cabin, though vibrations in the driving controls, like the steering, equipment lever and pedals, continue being properly contained. Obtaining off the line necessitates a little bit of an effort.  Step on the fuel and there is a definite step up in electricity soon after 2,000rpm, even so, by the time the engine builds up velocity to three,500-4,000rpm, the thrummy 3-cylinder hum will become very outstanding, so it is superior to change up early. The engine has ample pep to hold up with town site visitors, but drive any more durable and it starts to come to feel strained.

The allied five-velocity handbook transmission is very notchy and slotting in the puppy-leg reverse equipment necessitates some effort, which could show to be a little bit tough for new motorists. A slim footwell also implies that the remaining leg commences protesting on more time drives. The saving grace, then, is the light-weight clutch, which redeems the Redigo’s town drivability.   

City Welcoming – The engine has ample pep to hold up with town site visitors, but drive any more durable and it starts to come to feel strained.

Other variables that aid the Datsun’s urban manners are its compact footprint and a light-weight steering. The lack of a enough self-centring motion, even so, marks the steering down. The brakes much too have a sharp bite issue, which takes some having employed to. 

Nevertheless not uncomfortable, the suspension is set up a little bit agency and you can come to feel the road surface. The superior-set seating and substantial glasshouse offer a good see up entrance, but the thick C-pillars mar rear visibility. The rear see camera on the vary topping variation, then, proves an excellent aid while parking.    

Should really I get one?

Datsun has released the 2020 Redigo .eight in 4 trim ranges – D, A, T and T(O) – priced from Rs 2.eighty three-4.16 lakh. The Redigo one. is available only in the vary-topping T(O) variant and is pegged at Rs 4.44 lakh for the handbook and Rs 4.seventy seven lakh for the AMT computerized variation. As these kinds of, the Redigo somewhat undercuts likewise kitted out variants of the Alto, S-Presso and the Kwid. 

Though the previous product fell short on some counts, the facelift has occur a very long way – it is safer, will get sharper styling and packs in a lot more package with a truthful number of features, building it worth thinking about for funds hatchback prospective buyers.

With the latest update, Datsun has undoubtedly stepped up its recreation in the entry-amount phase. Nonetheless, as factors transform out, so has the competition.

All selling prices, ex-showroom, Delhi

Also see:

2020 Datsun Redigo facelift price tag, variants defined

2020 Datsun Redigo facelift released at Rs 2.eighty three lakh