Now you can really GO

When Datsun re-emerged on the South African motoring landscape in October 2014, much was expected from the Japanese manufacturer.

After all, its impressive pedigree stretches back over 100 years and was at one stage the No 1 car brand in SA.

Unfortunately, though, the Datsun GO — the vehicle that heralded the return of the brand — fell short in one key area: safety.

Targeting an emerging middle class in developing countries such as SA, Russia, Indonesia and India, there was a high emphasis on the benefit the vehicle offered relating to personal mobility.

The car itself scored well when it came to affordability (it was launched at less than R100,000) and low cost of ownership (rated the most cost-effective vehicle according to the Kinsey Report in 2016/17).

But it was the safety aspect — or lack of — that was picked up by the local motoring media, and rightly so. Because in a country where carnage on the roads is an everyday occurrence, we were being offered a vehicle that lacked basic safety features such as ABS brakes and airbags.

And it wasn’t just the media that was critical. According to the NCAP safety agency, the GO’s “structure collapsed and was rated unstable during the test. The high forces placed on the crash-test dummies posed a grave risk of death or serious injury.”

The criticism must have been heard because in 2015 a driver’s airbag was introduced.

Safety concerns aside, the Datsun GO has done extremely well in SA with over 25,000 units sold and 300,000 globally. In fact locally Datsun represents an impressive onein-three of all Nissan sales.

Currently the vehicle sits at No 3 on the sales chart in the A-segment with the

Renault Kwid and Kia Picanto filling the top two spots respectively. Last week was another milestone in the GO’s short lifespan with the introduction of a refreshed vehicle, where, more importantly, the aforementioned safety issues have largely been addressed. The new cars come standard with ABS and two airbags. The Datsun GO (a five-seater hatchback) and GO+ (a seven-seater MPV and panel van) are both powered by the same 1.2-litre naturally aspirated three-cylinder engine that produces 50kW and 104Nm. Both vehicles are available in two spec levels — Mid and Lux. A number of new design elements have been introduced across the range. Exteriorwise we have a new front-end with a prominent honeycomb-style grille and chrome surround while daytime running lights have been added to the top model. At the rear the bumper gets a minor tweak. Keeping you planted to terra firma are new 14-inch alloy wheels on the Lux model and 14-inch steel wheels on the Mid. The interior also sports a new, more modern look. Thankfully the “cuddle seat” of the early days has been replaced with two individual seats, while the handbrake is now a traditional one compared to that rather awkward pull and twist which was positioned low on the dashboard. The dashboard has also had a makeover with the inclusion of a seven-inch touchscreen system, which my younger driving partner was quite enthusiastic about. He kept talking about technology such as Android Auto and Apple Car Play. I must admit it was all pretty much Greek to me but I’m sure the younger generation will be kept happy. Bluetooth, a USB and Aux port, air conditioning, rear parking sensors, gear shift indicator, central locking and immobiliser along with electric windows all-round and electric side mirrors are now all standard across the range. The vehicles also come with a handy three-year/100,000km warranty but unfortunately a service plan is optional. We took a drive last week from Lanseria on the West Rand of Johannesburg to Pretoria via Maponya Mall in Soweto, so we managed to incorporate a wide range of driving conditions. The vehicle is probably most at home in the urban environment. Between robots it feels punchy enough but on the open road and with a decent hill looming, one finds oneself having to work the five-speed manual gearbox to maintain momentum. I dread to think how the GO+ would perform with a full complement of seven people and a couple of suitcases squeezed into the 347l boot. Perhaps it’s just best you leave plenty of time to get to your destination. While the ride itself is compliant, the seating is quite hard and anything more than a couple of hours in the one position might leave you feeling slightly numb. Now that the safety issues of the Datsun GO have been addressed — along with the introduction of new comfort features — the vehicle is more in line with what consumers should be expecting even when it comes to an entry-level vehicle. It is no longer just about affordability that came at a cost when it came to occupant safety. It’s just a pity it took four years to get there.

Prices: Datsun GO starts at R144,500 GO+ starts at R154,200