Datsun Go Fails Global NCAP Crash Test
The Datsun Go was awarded zero stars in the global NCAP (New Car Assessment Program) for vehicle safety. NCAP says that “The zero-star result highlights the need for India to introduce minimum crash safety regulations.”
As a low cost car with a rock bottom sticker price, the Go must (pardon the pun) forgo much of the passive and active safety equipment that consumers in the developed world take for granted.
While the Go was created to capture the emerging middle class who are about to buy their first car, that demographic doesn’t seem terribly enthusiastic about the Go, the Tata Nano and other budget cars.
It turns out that many consumers in India would rather pay more (in some cases substantially more) to avoid being seen in a “cheap” car and to get one with more feature content. Presumably, Indian motorists, who are upgrading from a motorcycle, will want to make a big leap forward in safety as well.
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Still better than not having a car at all. At least, that's what we used to think in North America in the 80's when almost every manufacturer sold a car of comparable safety to this. My younger brother was driving an '87 Tercel up until only a few years ago that I can't imagine was any safer than this. If their middle class is only thirty years behind us they're doing okay, cons*dering the state of so much of the world. However, I do think some investment in a stronger passenger compartment would be worthwhile. I could happily do without the airbags and active safety electronics. There's no point in putting any money into those things until you can afford a protective structure.
There is a very large population of East Indians in the area where I live. They are by far the worst drivers on the road. (Just yesterday one pulled out in front of me and I barely avoided T-boning his SUV.) A car as flimsy as this one doesn't belong on any road anywhere, especially in a country where the process for getting a driver's license is a complete joke. Before anyone calls me out for being racist, I'm just stating the facts as I have observed them.
What's ironic is, I'd bet a nice percent of folks getting worked up about this car's safety (or, lack thereof), ride motorcycles...
Here's a good summary of Global NCAP and the completely unsavory Mr Max Mosley. Poor old Datsun Go never had a chance - the car was tested by ADAC, the German outfit that was found guilty of falsifying crash tests in Germany. http://dailykanban.com/2014/11/whats-wrong-hypocrisy-max-mosleys-crash-burn/