An affordable automatic

In the Indian car market, automatic manual transmission (AMT) was once considered a luxury, which was mostly offered in premium cars only. However, all that changed in 2014 when Maruti brought its affordable Celerio with AMT option. With increasing traffic in cities, the demand for automatics have grown across the segment range, and some of the key players like Maruti Suzuki, Renault, Tata brought their respective models to fulfil these demands.

Following Renault’s success, its French cousin and also its rival, Datsun brought Redi-GO that came with same 0.8-litre (BR08) engine, followed by the 1.0-litre (BR10) motor. Hence, it was only a matter of time before Datsun introduced an automated manual transmission (AMT) version of the Redi-GO. We recently got to drive the car in the heavy traffic-laden roads of Delhi. So, is Redi-GO ready to take on the best-selling Maruti Suzuki Alto and Renault Kwid? Let us find out.

Interiors

Visually, there is no difference between the earlier and current model of Red-GO. It has the same hexagonal grille with chrome, swept back headlamps with integrated turn light and LED with DRLs. Also, the dimensions of the AMT version is similar to the manual version. Like the exteriors, the interiors, too, are identical, except for AMT-specific changes. The all-black theme with silver highlights continues, and while interior quality isn't particularly the car's strength, the black does well to hide imperfections on the inside. The multi-information display (MID) is a bit different, now; and while the tachometer has been given a miss, there's a gear position indicator.

Engine

The Datsun Red-GO received the same 999cc, three-cylinder petrol engine with Intelligent Spark Automated Technology. The engine produces 67 bhp of power and 91 Nm of torque, which is not bad for a small car. In fact, the car has been really well received in India, and according to Datsun over 30 per cent of the Redi-GO sales come from the 1.0L variant.

Performance

If you driving Redi-GO with a gentle foot, the gearshifts are seamless and barely even noticeable. However, with more aggressive inputs, the AMT takes some time to respond and that's a very noticeable lag that could be very irritating. This is where the manual mode comes in handy. Shift the lever to the left and now you can toggle it up and down to downshift and upshift. In the manual mode, the car feels a little more responsive and allow you to manoeuvre more quickly. Overall, it is smooth enough for intra-city commutes. There was a need of some low-end torque, but once you are above the 2nd gear, and have crossed the 3500-4,500 rpm mark, power and torque gradually come into play and that's when the Redi-GO AMT gets in its zone. The Redi-GO's steering is light to twirl and the extremely short turning radius makes taking tight U-turns a breeze. However, get up to highway speeds, and there is a clear disconnect between the steering and front wheels.

The verdict

If you are looking to buy a small automatic car, then Datsun Red-Go can be one of the options to look at. It remains a smartly-styled, practical, spacious for its size and its tall stance, user-friendly and a good daily car. The high ground clearance, light steering and nice frontal visibility make it very easy to drive; and now this automatic only makes it easier. The point where Datsun Redi-GO beats everyone else is its price tag, which is ` 3,80,600 (ex-showroom).

And that is applicable for almost all the comparative variants in its segment. So if you are looking for a budget-friendly comfort of an automatic for your daily commute, it should definitely be on your options list.