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A compact seven-seater family wagon priced lower than most hatchbacks or a multi-utility vehicle at half the price of its competition – either way the Datsun Go+ hopes to create a new niche targeting the big family on a small budget.
Launched in Chennai on Friday at a price of ₹3.79 lakh for the basic model, the Datsun Go+ expands the portfolio of the brand revived globally less than a year ago.
It will be available in four variants – D, D1, A and T (priced at ₹3.79 lakh, ₹3.82 lakh, ₹4.15 lakh and ₹4.61 lakh, respectively, all ex-showroom, Delhi).
Guillaume Sicard, President – Nissan India Operations, told Business Line at the launch that “there is a very different, new proposition in the market now”.
Typically, when people consider a six or seven-seater MPV, the options available are Toyota’s Innova, Honda Mobilio or Nissan’s own Evalia.
The Datsun Go+, may not be a direct challenge to the higher priced alternatives, but a budget choice for those looking to seat five adults and two kids, he said.
Consider Nissan’s Evalia. Priced at about ₹8 lakh, it is nearly twice as much as the Go+.
“I would say the comfort, quality and level of engineering is the same, but you are going to have more gizmos and goodies in the Evalia compared with the Go+ and a little bit more space.”
The new vehicle is equipped with 1.2-litre, three-cylinder engine which delivers 68PS and 104Nm and a fuel economy of 20.6 km/litre.
“This new model will not only help them (buyers) realise their dream of car ownership, but also open up new possibilities,” Arun Malhotra, Managing Director, Nissan Motor India, said.
Addressing reporters in Chennai at the launch, Sicard said the company is scaling up its dealer network and experimenting with new models.
From about 128 dealers now, it hopes to expand to about 260 by 2016-end. It is looking at small outlets for tier II and III towns to expand the reach of the Datsun brand.
But largely the brand will piggyback on Nissan dealerships with a dedicated sales team.
The family wagon also comes backed with a two-year warranty with an additional two-year option, he said.
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