Datsun Go CVT Vs Maruti Wagon R AGS vs Hyundai Santro AMT vs Tata Tiago AMT

While all its contenders in India, including the Maruti WagonR, Hyundai Santro and Tata Tiago does have an automatic option on their boards, the Datsun Go was still standing outside the game. The budget hatchback by Datsun received a mid-life update last year, just giving the car some design tweaks, refreshed cabin and enhanced equipment list. Earlier this year, Datsun gave the Go another update, making it the most affordable model with ESC and traction control on offer, but it comes sans automatic transmission, still. Finally, on October 11, Datsun has jumped on this bandwagon by adding a CVT option to the Go’s lineup. Priced from Rs 5.94 Lakh, the Datsun Go is currently the only vehicle in its segment to get a CVT. All of its competitors including the Maruti WagonR, Tata Tiago and Hyundai Santro chose to offer a more cost-effective AMT unit. We wonder how these cars stack up against each other, at least on paper so we’ve decided to put them together in our detailed Datsun Go CVT Vs Maruti Wagon R AGS vs Hyundai Santro AMT vs Tata Tiago AMT comparison.

Datsun Go CVT Vs Maruti Wagon R AGS vs Hyundai Santro AMT vs Tata Tiago AMT Comparison – Dimensions

For starters, both the aforementioned cars are slotted in the compact hatchback segment with their sub-four-metre length. At 3,788 mm in length and 2,450 mm in the wheelbase, the Datsun Go is the longest model in both two aspects. However, with the height of 1,507 mm, the Datsun Go is the shortest car off the lot. The tallest boy here is the WagonR which uses a 1,675 mm height to liberate more room on the inside. The Tata Tiago is the widest car of the class but by a small margin compared to the second widest model, Hyundai Santro. Both the cars – Tiago and Santro share the same wheelbase length of 2,400 mm.

As far as the kerb weight goes, the Datsun Go is the lightest out of the lot while the Tiago counterpart is the heaviest with the weight of over a ton. Both three cars comprising of Go, Santro and Tiago offer the same boot capacity of 35 litres while the WagonR makes do with only 32 litres.

Speaking of the wheels, both four cars are offering 14-inch steel wheels but the Tiago ups the game by bringing in 15-inch alloys for the fully-loaded AMT variant. The top-spec trim of the Go is available with alloy wheels as well while the higher-spec variants of the Santro AMT get 14-inchers. The Santro’s lower variants come with 13-inch units.

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Datsun Go CVT Vs Maruti Wagon R AGS vs Hyundai Santro AMT vs Tata Tiago AMT – Design

Datsun Go CVT

Actually, the Datsun Go is priced really competitively in the market, but it looks a bit plain and unappealing to the Indian auto enthusiasts, even with an update. The Go CVT looks extremely identical to the updated manual models launched last year, except for some cosmetic revisions like a new rear spoiler. The front fascia of the Go CVT continues to feature a large hexagonal grille with more chrome inserts, sharp bold headlamps with vertically-placed LED DRLs, body-coloured front bumper among others. The side profile of the car is kitted out with some features like 14-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels and silver-finished roof rails.

Maruti WagonR

Unlike the Datsun Go, the Maruti WagonR is really a big deal when it comes to its styling. Coming with tall-boy proportions, the third-generation WagonR is at the centre of any conversations for its quite handsome butch-looking appearance. When compared to the Go, the WagonR does have a bit of flair added to it. Its nose is rather bulkier and rounded-out while some other elements like a sporty chin, arrow-styled headlamps looks imposing. The side profile of the car shows off a strong shoulder line, neatly-defined wheel arches along with well-sculpted glasshouse and floating roof. The CR-V-like tail lamps work well at the rear.

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Generally speaking, the WagonR might not score highest for a car of this class, but it is highly appreciated for getting cosmetic effect combined with good practicality.

Tata Tiago

Tata Tiago is a successful hatchback in India. In truth, the compact car has earned great popularity and recognition among buyers within a very short span of time for some good reasons. Under the collaboration between Tata’s design team, Tata’s UK facility and the Italian design centre, the Tata Tiago has been designed from a clean sheet that makes it look different and distinctive than any other Tata vehicles. It’s a well-built compact hatchback that looks appealing right at first glance. The front end of the car still features the traditional smiling grille but for a more modern treatment. The grille naturally flows back and merges with the big swept-back headlamps at either outer end. The fog lamps housing is neatly built while the high-set bonnet adds more to the boldness of the model. Some other exterior elements like bold waistline, chunky C-pillar, upright windows, etc. are in line with the growing trends of the young modern buyers. The rear end of the Tiago also looks fairly nice with spread-out tail lamps, well-sculpted tailgate, sporty bumper along with the roof-mounted rear spoiler. The Tata Tiago is the only model of the lot to get dual-tone exterior paint shades.

Hyundai Santro

Hyundai Santro is not a newcomer. Years ago, the Hyundai Santro had come to us as the brand’s first car for India and managed to win the Indian buyers’ hearts and minds. In its all-new avatar, the Hyundai Santro came back to the stage to set it on fire in 2018. Fresh in its style, the all-new Santro brings the “tall boy” silhouette to a different era, when tall height makes a good mix with adequate rigidity, high quality and roominess. The Santro might look more akin to the Hyundai Grand i10 sibling, and it makes good sense as the Santro shares the K1 platform with the latter hatch. The angular swept-back headlights are placed high up while the huge cascading grille is placed lower and accommodates the high-mounted fog lamps, all the ways, making the front fascia of the Santro looks more proportionate. The boomerang-shaped creases over the front and rear wheel arches add some flair to the side profile of the vehicle. The major highlight here should be the blacked-out section under the bumper that houses the rear reflectors and imitates the rear diffuser.

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Above all, all these four cars here are shining its own way. If the Datsun Go is in line with some SUV-inspired hatchbacks in India, the WagonR is a true tallboy with boxy silhouette while the Tiago and Santro are more like the conventional compact hatches. As beauty is subjective to the eyes of the onlookers, we let our readers pick their own winner for this part of the competition.

Datsun Go CVT Vs Maruti Wagon R AGS vs Hyundai Santro AMT vs Tata Tiago AMT Comparison – Convenience and Safety Features

Things turn out to get more interesting at this part. One should note that the Go, Tiago and WagonR get an automatic transmission in their fully-loaded trims while the Santro only gets the option for its mid-spec variants. That’s why the Santro AMT seems a bit down on the equipment package.

All of the budget-end cars are feature-rich at their prices point. Both four cars come with a respective 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility as standard. However, the Tata Tiago stands out from the crowds for its premium 8-speaker audio system, automatic climate control and power-folding wing mirrors. Also, it’s the Tiago that gets auto air-con while all other models make do with manual units. While both the Go CVT, WagonR 1.2 AMT and Tiago AMT do offer rear parking sensors as standard across the variants, the Santro AMT misses out on this feature in the higher-spec Sportz.

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Besides, the Datsun Go CVT impresses us very much for being the only model that comes with traction control and ESC, aside from essential safety kits like ABS and dual front airbags. These fitments are given a miss on all its rivals.

Datsun Go CVT Vs Maruti Wagon R AGS vs Hyundai Santro AMT vs Tata Tiago AMT Comparison – Engine Option

On the mechanical front, the Go CVT and Tiago AMT both employ a 1.2-litre 3-cylinder engine option while the WagonR AMT is available with a 1.2-litre 4-cylinder unit. Tiago AMT is the most powerful model here, albeit being higher than the WagonR by a small margin. Its engine can crank out 85 HP of max power and 114 Nm of peak torque while those of the WagonR stand at 83 HP and 113 Nm. The Santro AMT has the smallest engine option and is the least powerful at the same time. It comes with a 1.1-litre 4-cylinder burner that churns out 69 HP and 99 Nm of torque solely. While all three other vehicles are using a 5-speed AMT option on their board, the Datsun Go sticks to a CVT option.

Thanks to low kerb weight, the Maruti offering definitely has an advantage over other competitors considering the power-to-weight and torque-to-weight aspects. The Datsun and Tata sit right below in this field, followed by the Santro counterpart.

Fuel efficiency does not differ much between the WagonR, Santro and Go as they get 20.52 kmpl, 20.3 kmpl and 20.07 kmpl, respectively. It is, again, the Tiago AMT to have the highest ARAI-certified fuel mileage figure of 22.27 kmpl. Clearly, the Go CVT is the least fuel-efficient car of the lot. It’s worth noting that the Maruti WagonR is the only BSVI-compliant car of the four models. It also offers a smaller 1.0-litre petrol mill that comes linked with an AMT unit, adding some advantages to the WagonR’s USP.

Datsun Go CVT Vs Maruti Wagon R AGS vs Hyundai Santro AMT vs Tata Tiago AMT Comparison – Prices and Verdict

As the Go comes with a CVT, it is understandably the most expensive model here but still, it’s fair enough on the budget-end hatchbacks department. The Go CVT is currently priced at around Rs 5.94 – 6.18 Lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). The mid-spec variant of Santro AMT is the cheapest car of the lot while the WagonR sits just right above it. Apparently, the AMT-equipped Tata Tiago is the most expensive model in this comparison. However, when considering the fair bit of equipment it has to offer, the Tiago is a better product overall. To pick up a winner, it’s the Tiago AMT to take the crown of our Datsun Go CVT Vs Maruti Wagon R AGS vs Hyundai Santro AMT vs Tata Tiago AMT Comparison.