Datsun RediGo is the latest offering in the budget hatchback segment in the Indian market. The small tallboy designed hatchback looks stylish and appealing with its urban Yukan design which reflects braveness and boldness. RediGo is certainly one of the most affordable hatchbacks in the entry-level space. The booking for RediGo has begun since 1st May at Rs. 5000, and the deliveries are expected to begin from June onwards. The small hatchback takes on the other compact hatchbacks in the fray like the Renault Kwid, Maruti Suzuki Alto 800 and Hyundai Eon.
Compare to Datsun RediGo’s design, Maruti Suzuki Alto 800 looks very much dated. The Alto 800 doesn’t look appealing at all, but the main USP of this popular car is the affordability and practicality it offers. Here we present you a spec comparison between these two cars. Let’s see how the Datsun RediGo takes on the Maruti Suzuki Alto 800.
Datsun RediGo vs Maruti Alto 800 Exterior:
If we compare the Datsun RediGo and Maruti Suzuki Alto 800 in design and appearance, no wonder the Datsun RediGo will win. The compact hatchback sports an urban cross like look with its muscular appearance. It bears the same design cues from the concept model showcased at the 2014 New Delhi Auto Expo.
Datsun says, the RediGo has been designed based on Yukan design language, which means ‘Brave and Bold’ in Japanese. The car gets sharp stretched headlamps, hexagonal chrome garnished aggressive front grille, sleek lower bumper with LED daytime running lights, and a sloping short hood.
The car sports a taller stance. At the side profile the car gets 13 inch alloy wheels, blackened glass area, masculine cuts and creases. The rear profile features vertically stacked taillamps and masculine cuts.
On the other hand, the Maruti Suzuki Alto 800 comes with pretty blunt fascia with its large front grille area, swept back headlamps. The side profile gets sharp character line running from behind the headlamps to the taillamps. The doors get plastic claddings. Talk about the rear, there is actually nothing special to get attracted to. So far, the Datsun RediGo comes with very attractive and modern age stylish appearance compare to the Maruti Suzuki Alto 800.
Dimensionally speaking, Datsun RediGo sports a length of 3429 mm, 1560 mm of width, 1541 mm of height and a wheelbase of 2400 mm along with a ground clearance of 185 mm. On the other hand, the Maruti Suzuki Alto 800 gets a length of 3395 of length, width of 1515 mm, 1475 mm of height and 2360 mm of wheelbase.
So far, dimensionally Datsun RediGo comes 34 mm larger, 45 mm wider, 66 mm taller and with 400 mm of extra wheelbase. No wonder RediGo offers the occupants better space inside the cabin compare to the Maruti Suzuki Alto 800. By no means, the Datsun RediGo is a tough car, but 185 mm of ground clearance means it can withstand the not so well conditioned roads without much effort.
Datsun RediGo vs Maruti Alto 800 Interior:
Datsun RediGo comes with a simple, minimalist and practical interior featuring a three spoke steering wheel, large analog dial at the instrument cluster, sleek stereo console. The dashboard of the RediGo is one segment up with the integrated stereo with USB. On the other side, the Maruti Suzuki Alto 800 sports a dull, minimalist and simple interior with dual tone theme, three spoke steering wheel sans control buttons, analog instrument cluster, stereo console.
Although both the cars come very much economic on the interior features front, but the dated interior styling of Maruti Suzuki Alto 800 is a thumb down compare to Datsun RediGo’s fresh look. With just one look Datsun RediGo’s interior looks impressive, sans the features. It looks compact and designed in a very much driver centric way. Moreover the car is very much spacious than Alto 800. It gets plenty of knee room at the front, rear space and headroom is also sufficient, thanks to the tallboy design.
Datsun RediGo vs Maruti Alto 800 Performance:
Datsun Redi Go is powered by 799 cc SCe three cylinder petrol engine under the hood, which gets mated to five speed manual transmission and churns out 54 PS peak power and 72 Nm peak torque with a fuel economy of 25.17 kmpl. It might also get a 1.0 litre engine with an AMT gearbox later while Maruti Suzuki Alto 800 comes equipped with a peppy 796 cc three cylinder F8D engine mated to a five speed manual gearbox, which delivers 48 PS peak power and 69 Nm peak torque.
What we get at the end is, the Datsun RediGo comes with a bit more power and torque outputs, which will surely give the new compact hatchback a bit of extra edge compare to Maruti Suzuki Alto 800. Along with that the 25.17 kmpl of fuel economy is something which will surely attract the customers, as Indian customers are very much cost sensitive.
Not only that, if Datsun finally launches a 1.0 litre engine with AMT gearbox, it will definitely take the Redi Go’s game up. The Alto 800’s F8D engine is a well trusted and vehemently tried unit although, powering nearly 25 lakh cars in India.
Datsun claims, the RediGo is faster than Alto 800, but while performing, the car took more than 20 seconds to reach 0 – 100 kmph with 2 people on board. Alto 800 took around 18 seconds to reach the same mark, so, it’s clear, that Alto 800 has the edge here. Moreover, Maruti Suzuki Alto 800 offers smooth gear shifting. The engine makes less noise, and it’s quick also. So far, NVH level of Alto 800 engine is the best in class, which offers a comfortable drive also. Datsun RediGo on the other hand is really fun to drive, thanks to its light steering.
Datsun RediGo vs Maruti Alto 800 Price:
The Datsun Redi Go might come with a price tag between Rs. 2.5 lakh and 3.5 lakh, while the Maruti Suzuki Alto 800 gets a price tag between Rs. 2.57 lakh and Rs. 3.78 lakh.
Datsun RediGo vs Maruti Alto 800 Comparison Verdict:
Datsun RediGo surely comes with impressive design and space compare to the Maruti Suzuki Alto 800. Both the cars come with almost similar price tags. Although Datsun RediGo has every edge compare to the Alto 800, but the main USP for the Alto 800 will be it’s a Maruti Suzuki car, the brand India trusts the most.
The entry-level small car space has been congested already and the entry of the Datsun RediGO will up the competition further. Come more rivals, come the best of features employed in the segment as Renault Kwid has proved. With the RediGO playing the cost-cutting game, Datsun should improve the features offered through its lifespan but before that it will be very interesting to know how the product fare when the monthly sales data comes out.