Datsun introduced the 310-GX as part of its effort to defend its position in the increasingly competitive small-car market. The new three-door model was the sportier counterpart to the standard 310 sedan and represented the company’s second attempt at a front-wheel-drive sedan after the unsuccessful F-10.
The 310 retained the F-10’s basic mechanical layout: a transversely mounted 1397 cc four-cylinder engine driving the front wheels, independent suspension and MacPherson struts at the front. Beyond that, however, Datsun substantially revised the car. The 310 was five inches longer and four inches wider than its predecessor, while its interior received velour seats, thicker carpeting and a more carefully finished dashboard.
Standard equipment included reclining front seats, a folding rear seat, intermittent wipers, power brakes, a rear defogger, a quartz clock and remote releases for the hatch and fuel-filler door. The GX added a five-speed manual transmission, a tachometer, a rear-window wiper-washer, roll-down rear quarter-windows, a four-spoke steering wheel and wider tires.
After driving the GX for more than 2000 miles, Car and Driver found that the improvements did not eliminate the car’s shortcomings. The wider body provided more room for front passengers, but rear legroom remained severely limited. The cabin also combined attractive upholstery and carpeting with inexpensive-looking door panels, creating an inconsistent impression.
Everyday usability was another weak point. The optional AM/FM radio offered poor reception and an ineffective speaker, while the heating and defrosting systems were only marginally satisfactory and notably loud. The five-speed transmission had an awkward shift pattern, with first gear positioned down and to the left and reverse directly ahead without a lockout. The test car also frequently crunched into third gear and occasionally selected reverse during the shift from first to second.
The engine produced significant vibration at idle, and the exhaust became particularly harsh at high revs. Because similar issues appeared in a 310 sedan sampled by the magazine, the testers regarded many of these problems as inherent to the design rather than isolated defects in the GX.
Despite those flaws, the 310-GX offered appealing driving characteristics. Its 65-horsepower engine revved willingly, the five-speed gearbox helped make the most of its power, and the steering delivered direct responses and useful road feel. Once drivers adjusted to the suspension’s initial softness when turning in, the GX proved entertaining on winding roads. It was also stable on the highway and returned an estimated 27 mpg in city driving.
Car and Driver recorded 0–60 mph in 12.7 seconds, with the quarter-mile taking 19.3 seconds at 70 mph. The magazine measured a top speed of 90 mph and a 70–0-mph braking distance of 196 feet.
The 1979 Datsun 310-GX had a base price of $5365 and cost $5490 as tested with its $125 AM/FM radio. The review concluded that the car was a clear step forward from the F-10 but remained behind competitors such as the GM X-body compacts in space, ride quality, quietness, refinement and interior appointments. At $5500, the Datsun offered modestly better economy but could not match those rivals’ overall sophistication.
In accompanying comments, Car and Driver staffers disagreed about the GX’s appeal. One considered its styling and transmission especially problematic and predicted that buyers might prefer the simpler 310 sedan. Another viewed the car’s mechanical noise and rough-edged character as part of its charm, while acknowledging that its price made those qualities harder to justify.
Sources: Car and Driver.