Zero-star Datsun GO is ‘sub-standard’ and should be pulled from the market, urges Global NCAP

Datsun_GO_zero-star_NCAP_02

Global NCAP chairman Max Mosley (yes, the infamous ex-FIA president) has called upon Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn to issue an urgent withdrawal of the Datsun GO from the Indian and related markets. This comes after the budget hatchback received an abysmal zero-star crash safety rating from the Indian-based Bharat New Car Assessment Program (Bharat NCAP).

“It is extremely disappointing that Nissan has authorised the launch of a brand new model that is so clearly sub-standard. As presently engineered, the Datsun GO will certainly fail to pass the United Nation’s frontal impact regulation. In these circumstances I would urge Nissan to withdraw the Datsun GO from sale in India pending an urgent redesign of the car’s bodyshell,” Max Mosley said.

To recap, the GO was crash tested without airbags, Isofix mounts, or even ABS – as it is sold in the Indian market. Though the lack of airbags did mean that the driver’s head made direct contact with the steering wheel and dashboard – with readings indicating a “high probability of life-threatening injuries” – Global NCAP deems that the failure of the bodyshell makes it redundant to fit an airbag.

For the record, the Indian-market Suzuki Maruti Alto 800, Suzuki Swift, Hyundai i10, Ford Figo, Tata Nano and Volkswagen Polo (all sold without airbags) received zero-star crash ratings from Bharat NCAP as well. However, Volkswagen then decided to offer the Polo for sale in India with two airbags as standard, and the model subsequently received a four-star safety rating.

A similar action by Datsun would not sufficiently improve occupant protection – as the problem lies with the unstable body structure itself, which collapsed in the crash test – hence Global NCAP’s call for a redesign of the GO’s bodyshell instead of the fitting of airbags.

The Datsun GO was unveiled in India in July 2013 – pricing for the five-door hatch, which is assembled in Chennai, begins from below 400,000 rupees (RM21,210). The car is also slated for Indonesia – it was shown at the IIMS in Jakarta last year alongside the GO+ MPV, which has already made its market debut as the GO+ Panca.

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Hafriz Shah

Preferring to drive cars rather than desks, Hafriz Shah ditched his suit and tie to join the ranks of Malaysia’s motoring hacks. A car’s technical brilliance is completely lost on him, appreciating character-making quirks more. When not writing this ego trip of a bio, he’s usually off driving about aimlessly, preferably in a car with the right combination of three foot pedals and six gears.

 

Comments

  • azrai on Nov 17, 2014 at 1:22 pm

    DATSUN GTH EWdition Ltd. (GO to hell edition)

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 28 Thumb down 1
    • Ah Beng (Member) on Nov 17, 2014 at 2:04 pm

      Nissan and Datsun should learn from PROTON how they priotize safety as No.1 in all vehicle aspect..

      Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 72 Thumb down 9
      • DIEhatesue on Nov 17, 2014 at 7:15 pm

        Axia also gotta pulled from Market la…

        Bloody Japanese Daihatsu wants Malaysians to die issit ?

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 10
        • kzm (Member) on Nov 17, 2014 at 9:39 pm

          At least Axia has 2 airbag n the cockpit is not like GO…

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 1
          • Structurally weak on Nov 18, 2014 at 7:32 am

            No point having 10 airbags if the cabin is weak and collapses on impact

            Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 2
          • Niko Bellic on Nov 19, 2014 at 1:57 am

            Axia is much better lol,cant even compare rubbish with Axia,even Axia won many foreign cars

            Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
        • Niko Bellic on Nov 19, 2014 at 2:01 am

          nah,Axia is much much better lol,Daihatsu cars is quite good now,it shares platform with Toyota.what makes you think Axia such worse?Axia even better than alot foreign cars dude,its time to follow this generation,or you receive money from proton?

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • RicoT on Nov 17, 2014 at 2:17 pm

      Really a Datsun “GO”. Suicide car indeed.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 16 Thumb down 0
  • Budin on Nov 17, 2014 at 1:47 pm

    So, how is our kancil, kelisa and viva in the NCAP test? Do they perform better than this Datsun Go?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 27 Thumb down 1
    • Bored on Nov 17, 2014 at 2:51 pm

      Hope this helps:
      ASEAN NCAP : Kancil, Kelisa, & Viva not tested. Axia 4 Stars.
      ANCAP : Kancil, Kelisa, Viva & Axia not tested.
      Euro NCAP : Kancil, Kelisa, & Axia not tested. Daihatsu Cuore/Mira L250/Perodua Viva w. 2 airbags. 4 Stars.

      Anyhow comparing Kancil,Kelisa and Viva is a moot point, those models are no longer sold or is being phased out. The Datsun GO is a NEW model, same like the Axia. The folks allowing these cars to be sold should be used as crash test dummies by NCAP to replace those wasted testing the sub-standard Datsun GO.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 33 Thumb down 1
    • KangKungKing on Nov 17, 2014 at 5:24 pm

      why never ask to perodua to withdraw kancil, kelisa, kenari last time??

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 9
    • kzm (Member) on Nov 17, 2014 at 9:25 pm

      Y u wanna compare with old model? N-GO is new model

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 1
  • policeman on Nov 17, 2014 at 1:58 pm

    This is the Nissan Population Control vehicle.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 36 Thumb down 2
  • kapchai on Nov 17, 2014 at 2:12 pm

    You cannot have your cake and eat it too. Price too low, surely something has got to give.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 20 Thumb down 3
    • yes, in this case human souls………..

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 2
    • kzm (Member) on Nov 17, 2014 at 9:34 pm

      Cheap in Asia is like that…go indo same story cheap but no airbag + no seatbelt (for second row) no aircond summore twin of national car…

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • gaviny on Nov 17, 2014 at 2:24 pm

    that’s gonna be sore in the morning

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 1
  • cendol (Member) on Nov 17, 2014 at 2:46 pm

    Recall all those cars in India and bring to Malaysia.
    Malaysians will sapu all because they don’t really value life.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 33 Thumb down 2
  • Alza kosong, Axia kosong, Myvi kosong and Viva kosong should be pulled out from market too

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 27 Thumb down 6
    • Ah Beng (Member) on Nov 17, 2014 at 3:48 pm

      Yup Malaysia should do the same..Toyota and Perodua should produce safer car to Malaysian! Rakyat smart oledi..

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 15 Thumb down 1
    • Perodua no longer sells car without airbag since 2012 if i recall correctly. Even their cheapest 660cc viva from that year has 2 airbags.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 2
  • shawn on Nov 17, 2014 at 2:56 pm

    This guy is not concerned about others’ lives but he just want the manufacturers to add more gadgets like ABS airbag and so and so … so that the price increased and will not kills other brands.
    For sure someone from other brands did make a complaint to find faults with DATSUN GO … KIA SU

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 9
    • Obviously (Member) on Nov 17, 2014 at 4:06 pm

      You have missed the point entirely…because

      “For the record, the Indian-market Suzuki Maruti Alto 800, Suzuki Swift, Hyundai i10, Ford Figo, Tata Nano and Volkswagen Polo (all sold without airbags) received zero-star crash ratings from Bharat NCAP as well.”

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
    • Observer on Nov 17, 2014 at 4:17 pm

      no other OEM complain la… this is due to the car failed to achieve any star in NCAP test…. other manufacturer cannot request NCAP to test its competitor car… duh…

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • albag on Nov 17, 2014 at 3:18 pm

    they don’t want we want… please bring it to Malaysia and sell it below RM30k… pretty damn sure it still sells like hot cakes.. for safety? just add in dual airbags & ABS… most Malaysians will be excited as hell!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 0
  • For once Malaysian can say rightly said all Proton cars are MUCH better than this Japanese Nissan cars.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 22 Thumb down 0
  • nabill (Member) on Nov 17, 2014 at 5:39 pm

    to be fair to nissan (if u can call it that) , they are not stupid or careless , they studies the market well before they entered it , and they found out that theres no any rules from the governements or any regulatory bodies that enforces safty features as standard , so them , like most cars there , dont have to spend anything safety wise,and being the subcontinent of india , where most people are on a limited budget and dont have a financial mature middle class , they will be these cars available unless there a legistlation somewhere to enforce std safety features.. , safty needs education and a culture to promote it , and when people there hang on trains to go where they want , thy probably think cars like the Go is a luxury they might just be able to afford , yes its atrocious , bt it takes two to tango..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 17 Thumb down 1
  • panjang on Nov 17, 2014 at 11:21 pm

    NCAP from whicever part of the world should start having negative star rating as there are still cars like this today.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Niko Bellic on Nov 19, 2014 at 1:56 am

    Yolo

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

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