Datsun mi-DO

The mi-DO at a glance

Datsun's revival and where the mi-DO fits

Nissan dropped the Datsun name in the early 1980s and brought it back on 20 March 2012 as a low-cost brand for emerging markets. The relaunch took place on 15 July 2013, with India, Indonesia and South Africa among the first markets. In Eastern Europe, Datsun cars were built by AvtoVAZ, then part of the Renault–Nissan alliance, on existing Lada platforms. The brand later added Kazakhstan, Belarus and Lebanon to its markets.

The first local model was the Datsun on-DO, a saloon based on the Lada Granta, launched in April 2014. The mi-DO followed as a hatchback built on the Lada Kalina. Both cars used Lada engines and gearboxes, while Nissan specified the styling, the equipment and part of the chassis tuning. The background of the name is in our history of Datsun.

mi-DO design and cabin

Outside, the mi-DO has Datsun's hexagonal grille with a chrome frame, new headlamps with lenses, a different bonnet and its own bumpers. The rear has new lamps and a reshaped tailgate. Wheels are 14-inch steel or 15-inch alloys.

Inside, the mi-DO's dashboard follows the Kalina but loses the separate screen housing on top of the centre console. The display sits lower, in the middle of the panel, with new air vents above it; the cup holders were moved closer to the console. Seats were made firmer for long trips, and the top version has a height-adjustable driver's seat. The rear seat splits 60:40 and has child-seat anchors. Hard plastics and fabric upholstery dominate, as expected at this price.

The mi-DO's engine, gearbox and performance

The mi-DO had only one engine: the VAZ-11186 1.6-litre four-cylinder with two valves per cylinder and a timing belt. It produces 64 kW (87 PS) at 5,100 rpm and 140 Nm at 2,700 rpm, and it is tuned for low-down pull rather than high revs.

The four-speed automatic was supplied by Jatco, Nissan's gearbox maker, and was one of the main differences from many Kalinas of the time. It shifts smoothly but costs about two seconds to 100 km/h and around 0.7 litres per 100 km more fuel.

Dimensions, ground clearance and boot

The mi-DO's high ground clearance is useful on rough roads and in snow, but the short wheelbase limits rear legroom: three adults fit in the back only on short trips. The boot is small for the class, roughly the size of a supermini's.

Chassis and safety equipment

Suspension uses MacPherson struts at the front and a twist beam at the rear, with gas-filled dampers; Renault and Nissan engineers retuned the setup for the Datsun. The ride is firm, and owners often describe the chassis as robust on broken surfaces.

Standard equipment included ABS with brake assist, electric power steering, an on-board computer, heated front seats, heated electric mirrors and two front airbags. The top version added side airbags (four in total), electronic stability control and air conditioning or climate control. It also had a multimedia system with USB, SD and Bluetooth, parking sensors, fog lights, light and rain sensors and 15-inch alloy wheels. All versions had ISOFIX child-seat anchors.

We found no Euro NCAP or other independent international crash test for the mi-DO; it shares its body structure with the Lada Kalina.

How the mi-DO compares with its siblings

By our catalogue data, the mi-DO is 444 mm shorter than the on-DO saloon (3,893 against 4,337 mm) on the same 2,476 mm wheelbase. Its boot is about half the size: 260 against 530 litres. Exact sizes of the on-DO and the Granta can be compared in the 1cars size comparison, and the on-DO's engine data are in the on-DO specifications.

Is a used Datsun mi-DO worth buying?

The mi-DO suits buyers who want a cheap, simple and easily repaired hatchback with good ground clearance. Parts are shared with the Lada Kalina, so they are easy to find in the regions where the car was sold, and any Lada workshop can service it. Choose the automatic only if you mainly drive in town; the manual is quicker and more economical.

Before buying, check the timing-belt history, rust around the sills and wheel arches, and wear in the front suspension. Prefer cars from 2016 onwards with documented services. All Datsun models in our database are in the Datsun catalogue.