Why not first time around?

There’s just no way I can write about the latest Datsun Go without referring to the flaws of the introductory version which came out here in 2014. It had no airbags. It had a ridiculous bench-like front seat that left no space for a normal handbrake. It simply didn’t have any structural integrity to provide passenger protection in the event of even a minor crash.

I recall the Go was given to us as a longterm test car but it gathered dust in our garage in the basement. Almost all the scribes were brutal in their reviews. To my surprise though, I see many of them on our roads.

The National Association of Automobile Manufacturers ( Naamsa) shows exceptional figures of no fewer than 400 units leaving Nissan dealerships in sales monthly. Which means that people would rather sacrifice their safety than board those coffins on wheels or lose their jobs because of our dodgy rail system.

It remains one of the most affordable cars on the market. Nissan must be commended on how it has made amends with the latest Go. This one comes with two airbags. There are now individual bucket seats for front occupants and the handbrake looks like any other.

It’s got a touchscreen infotainment system that keeps it on a par with its competitors in this entry-level segment. Bluetooth connectivity, auxiliary input and USB radio setups are standard even in the smallest of cars. Not to forget the reverse parking assist sensor, which I thought was a bonus considering the humble beginnings of this car. Another welcome addition is the cubby hole, door pockets and two cup holders.

All windows are now electrical. All these necessary additions have taken the two Go derivatives, the Mid and Lux, to R144,500 and R165,500 respectively.

This lightweight packs a 1.2-litre threecylinder engine that produces 50kW and 104Nm.

The Go is kitted with a five-speed manual gearbox. It’s a respectably stiff but smooth drive. Datsun claims average fuel economy of 5.2l/100km. I had it for the festive period covering lots of ground: I took it up 5.9l/100km, which is still reasonable.

It’s taken Nissan a barrage of attacks to fix the Go, and some may ask why the giant carmaker didn’t get it right the first time.