Datsun redi-GO or Renault Kwid, which should you buy?

Does the French automaker’s insignia help the cleverly packed Kwid to be on the premium side compared to Datsun’s humble redi-GO? Both the vehicles underpin the same platform which is pulled by a similar 0.8-litre petrol motor and are made by the same alliance. Read on to find out more!

Following the footsteps of the Renault Kwid, Datsun has launched its entry-level offering - the redi-GO. The former turned out to be a runaway success for Renault and now Datsun is hoping for a similar result with the redi-GO.

For the uninitiated, Nissan and Renault are in a strategic alliance globally and in India. The alliance shares a common plant in Chennai and Datsun is Nissan’s economical sub-brand. The conglomerate has been known to make badge engineered vehicles in the past such as the Micra-Pulse and others.

But this time they have taken a different approach - both the vehicles do not look badge-engineered at all, despite sharing mechanics and platform. Here’s how the two cars differ from each other.

Design and dimensions

Although, the cars share a same platform - CMF-A (Common Module Family), but their intuitive packaging makes them visually and diametrically opposite to each other.

The redi-GO is based on Datsun’s ‘Yukan’ design language, which means ‘bold’ in Japanese. Indeed, it features a maximum number of character lines compared to other cars in the segment, including the Kwid. It also marginally sits higher off the ground juxtaposed to the Kwid.

In contrast, the Renault Kwid is an entirely different story. The vehicle speaks out loud and clear that it belongs to Duster’s clan. Justifying the same, the Kwid features partial body cladding , pronounced wheel arches and tonnes of accessories!

The wheelbase of both the cars are almost identical. With an upright stance and tallboy design, the redi-GO is nowhere close to what Renault has to offer on the table. Though, the Kwid looks wider in comparison and also has a rugged feel to it.

Where redi-GO looses despite having somewhat similar wheelbase - is the boot space. The Kwid offers 300-litres of boot space as compared to Datsun’s 222-litres. However, space inside the cabin in both the cars are same and it is not a let down for the redi-GO since the Kwid is one the most spacious cars in its class.

Cabin and features

The two do not share their interiors. Both the vehicles use a different layout for the dashboard and even the features are not same. Renault’s cabin looks and feels on the more premium side in contrast to Datsun’s. The former is also loaded to the brim.

A vital USP which the Kwid will have over the redi-GO is the 7-inch MediaNav touchscreen infotainment system, that also features built-in satellite navigation.

The redi-GO doesn’t even offer Bluetooth in any of its variants, while the Kwid offers a Bluetooth enabled audio system in the mid-trim.

Both the vehicles use piano black appliques in their dashboards. The Kwid features several chrome highlights and a partial leather wrap steering wheel - none of which are present in the redi-GO. Even fabric upholstery in the Kwid is sportier in contrast to the one in redi-GO.

Prices

As expected, Datsun has priced the redi-GO pretty competitively - it undercuts its french cousin by Rs 14,000 to 38,000.

And this explains why the Datsun doesn’t support the features which are flaunted by the Renault.

It seems that the Franco-Japanese conglomerate is looking to make an impact on the entry-level segment which has vehicles such as the Maruti Suzuki Alto 800, the Hyundai Eon and the Tata Nano.