Datsun on-DO vs Lada Granta comparison

Look like brothers

With the advent of the new Japanese small car Datsun on-DO, a dilemma arose in front of the domestic buyer: should you give preference to a semi-auto or opt for the VAZ Lada Granta? In this review, we will try to determine which of them - Datsun or Grant - will prevail on the vast expanses of Russian highways in the near future.

The thing is that when creating Datsun on-DO, it was Granta that was taken as a basis. It should be understood that they are not so different, especially from the technical point of view. Although, of course, each of them has individual characteristics. A detailed examination of each of the characteristics will help us understand how Datsun differs from Grants.

Comparative characteristics

General similarities

Both cars share a number of common similarities, despite the fact that they belong to the model lines of different manufacturers. The main one is the use of the same platform for the two models, which originally belonged to Grant. Both cars are designed for 5 passenger seats with excellent interior ergonomics.

Both Datsun and Granta are perfectly adapted to the conditions of Russian roads and have a ground clearance of more than 16 cm. Thanks to this ground clearance, bumps and potholes on the roads do not create great obstacles to driving.

In terms of engine power, there are no special differences in both models, and their volume is 1.6 liters, which refers them to the class of budget and economical cars.

Body and interior

When developing the Datsun body design, Japanese engineers took the Lada Grant body as a basis, while they changed the shape of the bumper, radiator grille and headlights. In addition, the structure of the rear pillar was modified and strengthened, and the body itself became 77 cm longer, thanks to which the boot volume increased to 530 liters, which is 10 liters more than that of the mother model.

The roof and doors have not undergone any changes - they are absolutely identical for both models. But with the wheels, things are different: 13-inch wheels are not provided for Datsun on-DO, and they will be equipped with stamped discs for 14 inches or discs made of low-melting metals for 15 inches.

In the interior, the door panels, VAZ devices, and the microclimate control unit remained the same. Although the interior of the Datsun cabin has a slightly more modern look: the console and the volumetric steering wheel hub stand out, somewhat reminiscent of Nissan's, black shades of the cabin with silver accents, a modified top plane of the panel, a new deflector, a two-diode audio system, Bluetooth, slots for USB and SD.

Engine and gearbox

Comparison of Datsun and Lada Grant in terms of power units does not make sense, since Datsun on-DO is equipped with VAZ eight-valve engines with a volume of 1.6 liters and a capacity of 87 liters. from. The advantage of this engine is the lightweight connecting rod and piston group. With an 87-horsepower engine, a 5-speed gearbox will be installed.

Test drive of the car Lada Granta:

A significant drawback of the Datsun on-DO sedan is the lack of constructive ability to install an automatic transmission. Automation will be installed only on the hatchback and it will work in conjunction with an eight-valve engine, since sixteen-valve Datsun will not be equipped at all. Therefore, if a 16-valve Granta liftback or a Datsun hatchback with 8 valves is presented as a choice for a domestic motorist, then LADA will be the obvious favorite here.

Undercarriage architecture

For Japanese developers, the top priority was to achieve full adaptation of Datsun to all Russian roads. And although the architecture itself was left the same as in Grant, having carried out a complete reconfiguration, the behavior on the road of the first model from the second is significantly different. The quality of stabilizers, shock absorbers and springs for the Japanese and Russian models is absolutely the same, only Datsun has slightly changed the design of these parts. The braking system has also undergone changes and improvements. The characteristics of the pads, vacuum booster and pedal assembly have been improved.

Noise isolation and additional options

As for the issues of interior noise insulation, there is something to compare Granta and Datsun with, since the latter significantly surpassed Lada Granta. The Japanese have improved the characteristics of the material from which the mats for the floor and the engine shield are cut, the rear wheel arches are equipped with felt fenders, additional sound-absorbing plugs are installed. Also, to reduce the noise level in Datsun on-DO, the shape of the exterior mirrors, the gearbox and the exhaust system have been modified.

Test drive a Datsun on-DO car:

In the basic set of options, there is no particular difference between the models. But of the additional Datsun in the basic configuration, it will be equipped with isofix mounts, a driver's airbag, and electric heated front seats.

Conclusions

On the question of which is better, Grant or Datsun, it is rather difficult to give an unambiguous answer. Here, the personal preferences of the car enthusiast play a decisive role in terms of comfort, the presence of an automatic or manual transmission, noise in the cabin, price and other factors. Although Datsun on-DO has a large number of quality improvements and additions, more modern production technologies, it is still not without certain drawbacks. For the most part, your choice will depend on minor details, since in general terms the machines are exactly the same. If the article material was useful to you, share your opinion by leaving a comment below.