The Datsun brand, revived last year, has many hopes. The key is to explain to buyers the presence of Japanese roots and abstract Japanese quality, selling under this pretext as many Lada cars as possible in the guise of a forgotten Japanese brand. This is the top of the company's pyramid of hopes, although there are sublevels.
For example, among other things, Datsun hopes for the unbridled attraction of the clientele to an affordable car, but always with the status of a foreign car. The expression “for a penny of nickels” here looks just right, because without such a motto among buyers, the whole idea of the project will collapse. Otherwise, who needs, albeit slightly modified, but still "Kalina" with starting price at 415,000 rubles? It is possible that plastic surgery will be mastered in garages, when I will cosmetically turn Kalina and Grant into Datsuns on my own. We also had “eights”, “nines” and “ninety-ninths” with a panel from the Samara-2 family. And how many elderly Gelendvagens drive in the country with modernized optics, body kit and wheels from the top version of the G 63 AMG?
One way or another, more than 11 thousand on-DO sedans were bought in Russia in the second half of last year. Therefore, one of the hopes of Datsun - the presence of a clientele - has come true, and will probably continue to be carried out, although this requires a favorable alignment in competitive environment. And this is another component of the pyramid of hopes of the revived Datsun.
From the very beginning, the project was born as an accurate calculation within a competitive field with cunning and balanced pricing. It was assumed that a person who is choosing a foreign car for himself, but limited in funds, will choose Datsun for himself, because he will be more accessible than "" and all other rivals.
But now, when the prices of cars have been rewritten more than once, the situation has changed. The sedan has risen in price following the entire market, and from 329,000 rubles it pulled itself up to 359,000 - for a 2015 car in the basic version of Access. True, the hatchback is offered only with the next version of Trust. A sedan in this configuration costs from 385,000 rubles, and a five-door Datsun - from 415,000. During the mi-DO test, this price was perceived as competitive. Rivals were more expensive. For example, a larger one was offered at a price of 625,000 rubles, although today it has fallen in price to 419,000. And if we take into account that the vast majority of buyers choose transport not by class, but by price, and at any wallet thickness, then the fate of the Datsun mi-DO does not look so rosy. The dream and hope of the greed of competitors for Datsun is still valid.
At the same time, the Datsun client is not without a pyramid of hopes. His main wish is a foreign car for cheap (although whether the range of 415-539 thousand rubles can be considered cheap is a big question), which will be perceived by others as more expensive and more status than the original Kalina / Grant or numerous Chinese. And if those who are familiar with the appearance and proportions of AvtoVAZ products cannot lie, then they will definitely succeed in throwing dust in the eyes of the layman.
Like a three-dimensional Datsun on-DO, the mi-DO hatchback received a different (compared to the original Lada models) face with a modernized, but lensed optics and a proprietary polygonal grille. The front part subjectively came out as the prettiest side of the whole car. The stern was also amended, but the result was doubtful: transparent and shiny rear lights they give it away as Asian, and the niche under the number that moved down to the bumper simplified the tailgate too much.
The interior has also been redesigned. Visually, it is very different from the "Kalina", but does not differ in any way from the salon Datsun sedan on-DO. The panel looks neat. The assembly, by the standards of the class, is decent, but the finishing materials are incredibly hard, although they have a pleasant texture to the eye. But the main thing is that the pseudo-Japanese car inherited all the shortcomings in landing from AvtoVAZ. Lots of space and not comfortable to sit. It does not even help, which appeared in the hatchback in the top configuration, adjusting the driver's seat in height. You still sit high, and the steering wheel practically lies on your knees, even in the highest position.
Hope for a high-quality "foreign-made" ride is a fiction. And although the “VAZ” 1.6-liter engine (87 hp and 140 Nm) pulls the hatchback confidently, and the long-stroke and energy-intensive suspension treats road adversity with slight disdain, there is no overall impression of the ride. Most negative - from the steering. And even if it should not be snacked now, the information content of the "steering wheel" is still at the level rural tractor. You won't be able to steer accurately. In addition, the steering wheel rim is so thin and soft that it "breathes" in the palms, and the column itself barely noticeably walks around the axis.
Similar confusion with the brakes. Dosing slowdown is inconvenient. The step force of the drive prevents a gradual decrease in speed. I pushed a little - and the reaction was zero, I pressed the pedal harder - I pecked with my nose.
Togliatti "mechanics" with cable drive and five gears is also not a model of accuracy. But her main ailment is the howl of the box while driving. Unusually scary. It is noteworthy that the selectivity of the mechanism varies from machine to machine. Somewhere everything turns on tolerably, and somewhere - only with the application of force. In a word, everything is the same as in the on-DO sedan.
However, if the sedan was criticized by many for the absence of at least one Japanese part, then the mi-DO can be equipped with a purely Japanese Jatco four-speed “automatic”. And even though this unit is already clearly not young, the adequacy of its work is at its best. The speed is sufficient, the gear selection algorithm is adequate, the shifting smoothness is good. At the moment, work is underway to introduce this unit into the body of the sedan.
Another baseless hope of customers is safety. Since the body frame of the Datsun mi-DO hatchback is completely borrowed from the Kalina, it is foolish to count on a significant gain in the field of passive safety, even despite the front airbags and belt pretensioners. With the security of the active sense, things are a little better. The database promises ABS (anti-lock braking system), BAS (brake booster), EBD (electronic brake force distribution), Isofix mounts and three rear head restraints, and the stabilization system is already installed in the car in the Dream version (from 465,000 rubles).
To believe in miracles is accepted. In Russia, this habit is more common than usual. For the rainbow fate of the Datsun, such a feature of the mentality will come in handy. It is no coincidence that over the past six months of 2014 and the first month of 2015, consumers still bought 14,000 on-DO sedans. The mi-DO hatchback will allow you to increase volumes. But to enter the top best-selling models of the Russian market, like "" (first place in 2014 - 152 thousand cars) or "" (fifth place in 2014), Datsun is unlikely to succeed. There are not so many who want to be deceived for their money.
Our test of the Datsun mi Do with a hydro-mechanical Japanese automatic showed that dressing up Kalina in a Datsun is becoming fashionable. Let's talk about tastes.
VIDEO and tech. characteristics at the end of the Datsun mi Do test.
How much is the machine for the people
Affordable cars with automatic transmission neither in the form nor in the form today do not. Frets have switched from imported boxes to more economical, but not yet understood by drivers, robots. But Datsun, I'm sure, guessed right with a gun.
Together with the urban model Datsun mi-Do, the Dream package with a hydromechanical automatic machine appeared - the dream of pensioners. And even though it has only 4 gears, while the Koreans are already using 6-speed gears with might and main, on the other hand, the assembly of the unit is Japanese, which means that there should be no issues with quality.
Himself hatchback Datsun-mi-Do assembled in the workshops that were built for Kalina at AvtoVAZ. Petrol engine 1.6 (87 hp), transmission - 4-speed automatic or 5-speed manual. The machine is quieter, but eats 1-2 liters more fuel. Price of basic versions: 415 - 465 thousand rubles.
The body, let's hope, like the automatic transmission, will live for a long time, because it has galvanized parts, and a guarantee from through corrosion whole 6 years. We know the automatic machine from Nissan's small class models, and the body according to, let them now compete in longevity.
There is no navigation in our Datsun mi, you can order it, but I wouldn’t do it, it’s much cheaper to just buy a navigator. The air conditioner works well. Buy yourself a heated windshield. The USB input is hidden behind the glove box. It's a pity they got rid of the upper box on the center console, which Kalina has. But it was not possible to get rid of the scratching burrs of explosive plastic.
No competitors yet?
Datsun representatives say that their main competitors are not Renault and Lada at all, but used cars in price category about 500 thousand rubles. Maybe, but no matter what Lada is, but still relatives.
Our visual test Datsun mi Do is carried out from thirty steps: even despite the Japanese motifs of stampings on the fifth door, it is not so easy to distinguish Datsun mi Do from. In profile they look like twins.
Grantovskaya instrument panel is well read. In the Dream package, the antifreeze temperature is displayed on an additional display. The steering wheel is only tilt adjustable.
The salon is formally updated, but there are a lot of details in common with Lada, and the landing itself is painfully familiar from eights. Unless the chairs have finally become more or less comfortable and do not dig into the lower back. They have dense padding and good lateral support, and - attention! — Front appeared microlift seat height adjustment. And this is really the merit of the Japanese, they insisted on using a different seat filler than in the “frets”.
Behind and in the trunk, everything is the same as in the Kalina hatchback. To remove the headrest, you need to be strong - you have to press two tight latches at once. under the rug full size spare. According to measurements Behind the wheel, the trunk holds 244 liters, with the seats folded down, you can put a box with a size of 940x640x1300 mm here
Formally, two people fit in the rear seats, but driving for a long time is completely uncomfortable, as in any B-segment car. For the third, only a belt is provided, but there is hardly enough space.
The trunk is purely urban, for packages from a supermarket, but unlike a sedan, it can be combined with a passenger compartment and get an almost flat floor. The tailgate opens hard but rises high, you don’t catch your head, you can unlock it from the passenger compartment or with a key.
For a car whose length does not exceed 4 meters, the organization of the cabin can be considered acceptable, except that there is noticeably not enough width inside - the ancient attempt to make it one step lower than the traditional VAZ classics affects.
Differences in front from the Japanese brother on-Do - aggressive headlights, a different form of the lower air intake. The windshield cleaning zone reaches almost to the seals. The embossed hood is perfectly visible to the driver.
Our Datsun mi Do test was pleased with a couple of automatic motors. Formally, a 1.6-liter engine with a lightweight connecting rod and piston group produces 87 hp, but subjectively it seems that there are noticeably more of them.
The eight-valve engine strikes with elasticity. The lack of protection makes you worry about the lowest point in the area of \u200b\u200bthe motor shield - the crankcase of the machine.
Faster
Even Logans with mechanics are easily left behind with a vigorous start from a traffic light, and I can easily believe in the claimed 14.3 seconds of acceleration to hundreds. Yes, and I believe in the maximum speed of 165 km / h. Moreover, the sedan on the dynamometric road of the Dmitrov test site showed me a maximum speed of 1 km / h higher than the declared one on the GPS. At the same time, fuel consumption of 7.5 liters is easily achievable in the city even on winter studded wheels. It is impossible to forget about the spikes on the rubber for a second, all the defects and noise from the roadway are transmitted as if we were testing the Datsun mi Do with the windows wide open.
Datsun-mi-Do is more willing to respond to Grants steering commands, but in the near-zero zone it is still incomprehensible.
The Datsun-mi-Do chassis, unlike the Kalinovsky one, has different springs and anti-roll bars. The car on a straight line feels noticeably better Grants.
Opening the hood is still sad. And it’s not even the archaic motor that scares us, we are used to it and love it for its reliability and affordable service, but its appearance. The oil is already leaking, and cast iron block covered with rust. But we carried out the Datsun mi Do test with an odometer reading of only a few thousand.
But, whatever one may say, but among the new cars Datsun mi Do was completely out of competition. Formally, only a Togliatti-assembled sedan could become its rival, but it has an archaic interior, and the prices are still higher. Therefore, for those who want a brand new folk car, I am ready to safely recommend Datsun mi Do. Service stations for him created on the basis of salons Nissan.
Among the advantages - a ground clearance of 170 mm, combined with short overhangs and energy-intensive suspension. How to manage it, decide for yourself. If your concepts of comfort coincide with Mi Do, and there is a supply of Lada components in the garage, you can think about buying. But still, open the hood in a car dealership.
And for a different taste: if you buy a car not on credit, but for your hard-earned money, and even have a high-quality private service in mind, then my strong advice is to look not at Kalina in disguise with a price list from Datsun mi Do for 539 thousand rubles, but to foreign cars aged 2-3 years. They will offer more high quality and comfort, and they will have to pay no more attention than the Datsun mi Do.
DATSUN mi-DO
Specifications| COMMON DATA | |
|---|---|
| Dimensions, mm: length / width / height / base | 3950 / 1700 / 1500 / 2476 |
| track front / rear | 1430 / 1410 |
| Trunk volume, l | 240 |
| Turning radius, m | 4,5 |
| Curb / full mass, kg | 1160 / 1560 |
| Acceleration time 0 - 100 km/h, s | 14,3 |
| Maximum speed, km/h | 165 |
| Fuel / fuel reserve, l | A95/50 |
| Fuel consumption: urban / extra-urban / combined cycle, l / 100 km | 10,4 / 6,1 / 7,7 |
| ENGINE | |
| Location | Front transverse |
| Configuration / number of valves | R4 / 8 |
| Working volume, cu. cm | 1596 |
| Compression ratio | 10,3 |
| Power, kW / hp | 64 / 87 at 5100 rpm. |
| Torque, Nm | 140 at 3800 rpm. |
| TRANSMISSION | |
| Type | front wheel drive |
| Transmission | A4 |
| Gear ratios: I / II / III / IV / z.x. | 2,86 / 1,56 / 1,00 / 0,70 / 2,31 |
| main gear | 4,1 |
| CHASSIS | |
| Suspension: front / rear | McPherson / elastic beam |
| Steering | rack and pinion with electric booster |
| Brakes: front / rear | ventilated disc / drum |
| Tire size | 185/60R14 |
At first, the phrase “Japanese quality”, which Datsun marketers generously flavored their press releases with, even amused. Well, where does it come from if Ladas are assembled on the same conveyor line in Tolyatti together with Datsun by the same hands. The on-DO sedan is essentially a deeply modernized Granta, and the mi-DO, at least in profile, strongly resembles the Kalina. But as I got to know the brand, a new understanding of these words came. I would only reformulate them in the "Japanese approach to business." But first things first...
Mi-DO differs from the sedan not only in the rear. The hatchback has an original front bumper and head optics with trendy lenses. But the trump card of the novelty can rightfully be considered automatic box gears, because the on-DO sedan is still offered only with a 5-speed “mechanics”. Such cars with automatic transmission will appear before the end of the year, and the hatchback already has a similar version (as an option, estimated at 40,000 rubles). By the way, the Japanese use the proven "automatic" Jatco, which was abandoned at the VAZ in favor of a more affordable "robot". Datsun has no plans for such a replacement yet, but I believe the buyer has the final say. Speaking about the on-DO sedan, company representatives focus on the price - up to 400,000 rubles. Even in the current difficult economic situation sedan in the basic version of Access costs from 359,000 rubles. (thanks to high degree localization: 60–80% depending on the modification). But mi-DO has raised the bar and is estimated at a minimum of 415,000 rubles. (with MCP). The fact is that the hatchback is positioned higher, and therefore the base version for the sedan, and with it the 82-horsepower eight-valve hatchback, simply did not get it. That is, mi-DO in the initial version of Trust rely on body-colored bumpers, driver and passenger airbags, heated front seats and a non-alternative 1.6-liter engine with 87 hp. It differs from the 82-horsepower one mainly in a lightweight connecting rod and piston group.
In fact, the motor is very peppy and especially pleased in conjunction with a four-band “automatic”, which even at cruising 100 km / h allows the engine to keep moderate speeds without annoying riders with excessive noise. Works smoothly in transitional modes. Moreover, Datsun engineers changed the settings, as a result of which the twitching between the 3rd and 4th steps, characteristic of the Kalina, disappeared. It’s a pity that the “automatic” is devoid of manual control and sport mode, but there is an overdrive function (disable overdrive). As such, this is probably one of the best offers in the class, and 40,000 rubles. already seem justified, especially against the backdrop of a few competitors. In general, the Lada/Datsun brand bond interacts in an interesting way. Engineers of the Japanese brand are constantly upgrading their product, working to improve comfort, because the status of a “foreign car” and a slightly higher price need to be backed up with deeds. And the VAZ people adopt all these developments over time. So it was with the on-DO sedan and will certainly be with the mi-DO, because Datsun engineers have also prepared a number of improvements for their hatchback. For example, an additional compensator exhaust system for more stable and quiet engine operation at idle or other height-adjustable seats (for the top Dream version). They are distinguished by an elongated seat cushion and more developed lateral support. Such a chair distributes the load better and is really more comfortable, especially in long road.
The sedan has 40/60 folding rear seats only in the top Dream version, while the hatchback has standard equipment
There are no structural differences in suspension between the sedan and hatchback. They were originally designed to be universal, and the difference in the weight of the cars is not significant - about 15 kg, although for some reason the technical data indicates the same curb weight. Mi-DO is equipped with gas-filled shock absorbers, with which the car is well controlled and does not annoy with excessive rolls and buildup. True, the test specimen seemed unnecessarily "jumpy", but this drawback was attributed to the low temperature overboard - almost minus 20 degrees (acquaintance with the car took place in the Perm Territory). But with the fogging of the glasses they coped with the old-fashioned method - they simply opened the windows.
Luggage compartment holds the same 240 liters as the soplatform Lada Kalina
Difficulty getting along with braking system- an overly damped pedal makes it difficult to find the necessary portion of deceleration. Among the shortcomings, one can also note the rather weak new plastic door stops - with them the door swung open almost unhindered maximum angle. You have to be careful in tight parking spaces. However, these shortcomings are not critical, and it is quite possible to put up with them. And I find fault, because I see that experts from Datsun really listen to criticism and at least promised to think about solving the problems voiced. In the end, this is another reason to separate the platform models even more. And let Lada catch up again.
Outcome
editor: - I remember Granta from the first batch, bought for the editorial office. A real semi-finished product. The disadvantages did not justify even an excuse like "What do you want for that kind of money!". The modern Datsun does not need such excuses. And most importantly, the specialists of the Japanese brand continue to improve their product, like a locomotive pulling the line of the platform brand behind them. Well done! And I hope they will be able to defend the "automatic" Jatco - it's good.Perm does not need a logo of a famous designer, but a good road crew. Organizers Datsun test drive mi-DO chose this city for a reason: the new hatchback will have to conquer the regions of Russia and drive on the same broken and poorly cleaned roads and less often on good asphalt. However, a foreign car should not be afraid of pits and potholes: a modified Lada Kalina is hiding under the mask of a “Japanese”.
At all times, VAZ products were completed third party manufacturers: this is how Ladas with 1.8 engines from Super Auto appeared, export convertibles based on 2108. Rumor has it that the Japanese at first did not want to use Kalina as a donor, and only after the release of Granta were they able to assess the potential of the platform. Datsun's successful strategy in Russia was demonstrated by the results of sales: in January, the on-DO sedan hit the top ten bestsellers on the Russian market.
Just a few months after the release of the on-DO sedan Nissan launches the second model of its budget brand Datsun - five-door mi-DO. Not so bulky in appearance, the hatchback is positioned as a car for a younger audience. And the point here is not only in the form factor: for example, in color scheme new items instead of a solid brown color there is a bright red-orange.
It's also a more expensive car. He is deprived basic configuration Access with unpainted bumpers, and in similar equipment mi-DO more expensive than a sedan for 24-35 thousand rubles. Another thing is that there are some oddities in the configurations. For example, fog lights and mirrors in body color are already available for the sedan in the Trust equipment variant, and for the hatchback from the Dream. ESP for mi-DO is offered at no additional charge, from the first Dream trim level, and for on-DO - only in top version. Another mi-DO is so far the only Datsun equipped with side airbags and an “automatic”. Moreover, automatic transmission can be equipped with a car even in the simplest configuration. Surcharge for the "machine" will be 40,000 rubles.
If the Japanese have seriously worked on the body of the on-DO sedan, providing it with an impressive stern, then in mi-DO it is not difficult to recognize the five-door Kalina hatchback. Japanese designers drastically changed the appearance of the Lada with sparing strokes, they especially succeeded in stamping on the tailgate. It turned out to be a small, evil and in its own way cute car.
Usually a hatchback, and even more so with an automatic transmission, is positioned as an urban option, but this is not entirely true. Bumpers cut at the bottom and high ground clearance made the mi-DO look like a crossover. The head of Datsun in Russia, Jerome Sego, during the presentation of the novelty, noted that the model of the accessible segment should solve various problems, as it is used by the owner “to the fullest”: for trips to work, shopping, to the country, on vacation.
Geometric cross-country ability is impressive: the angle of entry is now like Kalina Cross- 21 degrees, and the exit - as much as 32 degrees. Ground clearance is 174 mm, but this is for an empty car and without additional steel crankcase protection, which will not be superfluous when driving on bad roads.
It would not hurt mi-DO and a plastic unpainted body kit, as on the "cross" Kalina. Moreover, the promised off-road Datsun will have to wait for at least another three years - the company has not yet decided whether it will be a two-wheel drive crossover or full SUV.
Inside mi-DO you can play "find ten differences from Kalina". "Datsun" appears through familiar images with spots: the simpler the equipment, the smaller these spots are. The base seat with dense padding is comfortable, but for more comfort, it would not hurt to adjust the pillow in height and the steering wheel for reach. The more expensive Dream mi-DO features a new seat with an extended cushion, a comfortable profile, good lateral support, thick padding and, most importantly, a cushion lift. He shook the lever - rose higher. At the same time, it’s stupid to bounce on the chair, as drivers have to do Renault Logan And Nissan Almera, no need. This seat is made in Russia and is only available for the Datsun hatchback.
In the Dream package, dreams of a foreign car take on real shape: air ducts are framed in shiny chrome, heating buttons appeared on the center console windshield, turn off the stabilization system, and the display on dashboard shows the coolant temperature and average consumption fuel.
Impressions from the cabin are spoiled by the silver handles of the passenger doors. In the photo, they look good, diluting the blackness of the interior, but in reality it looks like homemade tuning: the texture of the pads is rough and should initially imitate foam rubber.
The audio system of the novelty is the same as that of VAZ models: she can read flash drives and communicate with a mobile via Bluetooth. More advanced touchscreen multimedia features City Guide navigation. The maps are detailed, in any case, the navigator knows Perm and its environs well. When moving around the city, the system lacks information about traffic jams. The factory configuration does not yet offer Internet access via mobile phone or USB modem, but usually multimedia systems on the basis of Windows CE it is provided.
Suddenly, the door of the nearby mi-DO crashed into the mirror of my car. An unplanned crash test resulted in no damage, but showed that the new plastic-coated stoppers allowed the doors to swing open too freely. They, of course, work gently, but they make you be on the alert so that when you get out of the car, you don’t accidentally catch a snowdrift or a car parked nearby.
test machines assembled equally accurately, although it is too early to judge the conveyor quality of mi-DO by cars from an experimental batch. The “mechanics” lever with a cable drive is also well tuned: the moves are small, and the gears are switched on easily and clearly. However, in the second and third stages, the transmission howls quietly: Datsun engineers have not been able to completely get rid of this feature of the VAZ box.
Special bituminous mats and felt fender liner in the rear wheel arches keep the minimum of road noise into the cabin, except perhaps Winter tires buzz too loudly. But against the general background, ticking relays and a howling transmission became especially loud.
On Idling thanks to the new calibrations, the motor runs very smoothly. The new design of the exhaust system with a special compensator made it possible to reduce vibrations. But keep the engine in working area do not want - noisy. But it pulls almost from the bottom. I drove into a steep climb in fourth gear, and the engine speed at the end fell below the 1500 mark.
Thick springs and stabilizers, complete with new gas-filled shock absorbers, endowed the mi-DO suspension with enviable omnivorousness. The novelty rides smoothly on a bad road, and does not jump off the path at high speed. However, on large pits and irregularities, you have to firmly squeeze the steering wheel that escapes from your hands. The slowdown is quite predictable, but the rear drum brakes still should have been replaced with disc brakes if Datsun equipped ABS car and stabilization system.
The steering wheel of the “automatic” version seemed more relaxed in the near-zero zone, although Datsun engineers say that the electric power settings of all mi-DO versions are the same. They attribute the difference in behavior to a different weight distribution and larger mi-DO alloy wheels with an “automatic”, while on the machine with the "mechanics" were 14-inch stamped wheels. Lada is equipped with the same Kaluga gearless electric amplifiers, but with different settings.
"Automatic" saved the mi-DO from howling, but with it the car seems noisier. To drive at the same pace as on the version with the "mechanics", the motor has to be constantly spun up. But it is worth releasing the accelerator pedal, as the box instantly goes to the fourth step. Therefore, when driving uphill or when overtaking, the “overdrive” button, by pressing which the “automatic” does not rise above the third stage, is not at all superfluous here. A car with automatic transmission is voracious: in mixed mode, it consumes 7.7 liters per 100 km versus 7.0 for a car with “mechanics”. At the same time, the average consumption according to the on-board computer did not fall below 11.2 liters.
If the on-DO sedan took away from Daewoo Matiz the title of affordable foreign car, then the hatchback deprived Renault Logan of the title of the most affordable foreign car with an “automatic”. Kalina with the same transmission will be cheaper, but AvtoVAZ is massively switching to "robots", abandoning the expensive Japanese "automatic" Jatco.
The 2015 Datsun on-DO has already risen in price by 20,000 rubles, but it is unlikely that it will rise in price as rapidly as other foreign cars assembled in Russia. According to Jerome Sego, the localization of Datsuns is more than 80%, although foreign raw materials are still required for the production of some components. This is the main price advantage of the Datsun line at the moment.
Datsun is available and for this segment is well equipped, configured and assembled. Nissan engineers, who in Togliatti are probably commemorated with an unkind word for perseverance and determination, managed to give Kalina new life under a different name. There is also a benefit for AvtoVAZ, because AvtoVAZ actively uses the received developments on its own models. For example, a few days ago Granta and Kalina received the same City Guide navigation system. While "Lada" - in catching up. The fact that more and more buyers are overpaying for a familiar car under the Datsun brand looks quite natural.
Evgeny Bagdasarov
Whole photo session The name of the Datsun mi-DO hatchback was created from two words - the Japanese do, which means "way", and mi, consonant with the English me, which means "mine". It turns out "my way". Well, this car really has its own way in our market
Today, two Datsun models are sold in Russia - a sedan and a hatchback. The sedan is called on-DO, and the hatchback, respectively, mi-DO. Having a common platform, the models differ in appearance. The hatchback, aimed at a more youthful audience, looks more aggressive. It is clear that he has a completely different rear end body, and the front received new, larger headlights and a redesigned bumper. Mi-DO looks very nice, especially in a special orange “color”, which is not provided for the sedan.
The sedan is equipped with two engine options (82 and 87 hp), and the “hatch” relies only on a more powerful 87-horsepower version of the 1.6-liter unit. In the variant with 5-speed mechanical box transmissions, the minimum price of mi-DO is 502,000 rubles. A modification with a 4-band "automatic" costs exactly 50,000 rubles more. As for the sedan, in similar trim levels it is estimated at 40,000 rubles cheaper, and the 82nd strong version can be purchased for 436,000 rubles.
The most available version mi-DO (the one for 502,000 rubles) is very well equipped. Already in the basic configuration, it has an electric power steering, steering wheel height adjustment, central locking, two airbags, on-board computer, electrically adjustable and heated side mirrors, heated front seats, child ISOFIX seats, front power windows, folding in the proportion of 40/60 back of the rear sofa, as well as ABS with a “brake release” in case of emergency deceleration. Add here an impressive ground clearance of 174 mm for a passenger car - and we get very interesting option for little money.
However, on my test I have one of the most sophisticated versions of mi-DO, estimated at 656,000 rubles. Here, in addition to the above, there are 15-inch wheel disks(in the "base" 14 inch), fog lights, key with remote control, stabilization system, rear parking sensors, heated windshield, climate system, 7-inch color touch screen, navigation system, multimedia with the ability to view photo and video files with four speakers and connection via Bluetooth and USB port, rear power windows, light and rain sensors, driver's seat height adjustment, anti-theft alarm, side airbags and branded Orange color. In a word, the equipment is such that many are much more expensive cars envy.
In cramped, but not offended
When I received the car for a test, the weather was terrible: I was walking freezing rain, because of which everything around froze over, turning into icicles. Trolleybuses and trains stopped due to icy wires. The city froze in traffic jams for many hours, and car drivers stopped every now and then to knock ice off the wiper blades. And here I have repeatedly mentioned the heated windshield with a kind word, thanks to which the movement around the city has not turned into hellish torment for me.
Climate system, in addition to the duties of heating, it perfectly fights against fogging of glasses. I praise and heated seats - it works quickly and powerfully. And with ergonomics order. Instruments are read perfectly, and you find all the necessary keys and levers intuitively.
Comfortable fit behind the wheel, I picked up quickly, and even despite the lack of steering column adjustment for reach (there is only a height adjustment). You sit high even in the lowest position of the seat. I also liked the chair itself. By the way, it has an elongated cushion and increased lateral support compared to the on-DO sedan, thanks to which it securely holds the body in turns (even with my 100 kg it is not at all cramped in it). The salon itself is, of course, small. As well as the trunk, which, however, is typical for cars of this class. So, on the second row for my 180 cm, the seats are almost back to back - the knees touch the backs of the front seats, and only a couple of centimeters remain above my head. However, the backs of the backs of the front seats are soft, so it will not be hard for the knees, even if more than A tall man.
Add excitement!
I start the engine, move the "automatic" selector to the driving position and press the accelerator pedal. The car briskly takes off from the place on the slush. For a long time I did not strive to win traffic light races, but here, no matter the start, I leave everyone behind. The tandem of the power unit and gearbox is good! If I didn’t know the passport data saying that the hatchback accelerates to 100 km / h in 14.4 seconds, I would have thought that it takes him no more than 10 seconds to do this. Accordingly, the motor is felt not at 87 "horses", but at 100-105 hp. In a word, the settings of the engine and the “machine” allow you to move quite quickly in traffic flow.
But there are questions about the brakes. The effort on the pedal is set up non-linearly: you press on it, it “fails”, but the car slows down as if reluctantly. And then suddenly the pedal rests, you don’t have time to relieve the pressure due to inertia, and the car nods sharply. You have to get used to such "manners".
But the electric power steering is calibrated quite adequately. The steering wheel is a bit empty in the near-zero position, but when deflected at large angles, it fills with juicy effort. Despite the fact that the steering wheel is not sharp (3.25 turns from lock to lock), the car changes direction almost instantly. At the same time, the accuracy of "taxiing" is sufficiently high level, and with informative order. In general, in the stream I constantly wanted to overtake, which I did with pleasure. Not to say that the “Japanese” provokes road races, but I couldn’t ride it calmly.
As for handling, in general, there were no complaints. At a speed of over a "hundred", the hatchback slightly expands the dynamic corridor, although it is practically not required to steer even if there is a rut. The car handles well on the arc and dives briskly into tight turns with minimal understeer. In addition, mi-DO rows well on snowy roads. And not just on the roads. During the test, I, on occasion, boldly drove off the asphalt, since the ground clearance made it possible. At the same time, the "automatic" has modes that allow you to move only in first or first or second gear, which helps a lot on loose snow. And at the curbs, you can safely park until the wheel touches, without fear of hooking the bumper.
The suspension is stiff. But not so much that riders feel uncomfortable. Moreover, due to its rigidity, the chassis is almost omnivorous: this Datsun can race along the dirt road in a way that not every crossover can. In short, the suspension is perfectly tuned for Russian roads and directions. And if you also replace the 15-inch wheels with 14-inch ones, it will also be softer.
I did not expect, but I liked the soundproofing. Usually cars of this class and price range very noisy, but nothing like that is observed here. Of course, tires power unit are heard noticeably, especially for the engine on high revs, and the wind whistles at speed, however, the noise balance is chosen so that none of the components stand out, which is why the overall noise background turns out to be quite comfortable. Interestingly, the clatter of spikes on the asphalt is not heard, although the test specimen has Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8, characterized by an increased number of "nails".
Based on the results of the test, I report: the mi-DO hatchback pleasantly surprised me. This is a comfortable, nimble and unpretentious car with a perky character that fully justifies its price. And everything should be in order with reliability, since in Japanese company we are constantly working on this, regularly making improvements to the design of the machine. In addition, this year, under the hood of Datsun, Russian market new engines with a capacity of 106 hp will appear. And it's inspiring.
| Technical Datsun specifications mi-DO |
|
|---|---|
| Dimensions, mm | 3950x1700x1500 |
| Wheelbase, mm | |
| Ground clearance, mm | |
| Trunk volume, l | |
| Curb weight, kg | |
| engine's type | petrol L4 |
| Working volume, cu. see Edition Autopanorama №2 2017 Photo Alexey Barashkov | |
