Datsun Go review, road test

With a 1.2-litre, three-cylinder petrol motor already doing duty in the Micra and Micra Active, Nissan didn’t have to look too far for an engine. In brief, it’s an all-aluminium unit that produces 67bhp at 5,000rpm. And with just 788kg to hurl around, it does a rather impressive job of giving the Go some real go. A bit of hesitation at low revs apart, the Datsun feels very peppy at typical city speeds and it responds well to light throttle inputs. You can also pull away from low engine speeds in higher gears with ease, which means fewer gearshifts. Part of the credit for this goes to the smartly chosen (if slightly tall) gear ratios. Interestingly, the Go doesn’t use the Micra’s Renault-sourced gearbox (code: JH), because it was too expensive. Instead, Nissan has dusted off an older five-speed unit (code: FY) and pressed it into service here. This is not the most modern of gearboxes and there’s a noticeable whine at all times. The gearshift is slightly notchy too, but doesn’t require much effort. Neither does the clutch, which is light and progressive.