Nissan Magnite SUV: Has It Got Enough To Ignite Rivals?

We list down all the details you should know about the upcoming Magnite sub-4m SUV.

While everyone is partying in the fast crowding under 4 metre SUV space in India, Nissan too looks forward to having its share of the pie with this SUV. Nissan Magnite bookings haven’t started yet which confirms that the launch isn’t imminent. We expect it to be around January 2021.

Recently, the Japanese carmaker unveiled the production version of the Magnite along with a lot of key details about the SUV. We take you through in a short first look Magnite review.

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Exterior looks

Front Fascia

If we say that the Nissan Magnite looks proportionate from every angle it won’t be wrong. Upfront you get a broad face primarily occupied by the large trapezoidal grille with thick chrome ‘brackets’ on its sides.

Interesting feed for you!

Most of you will relate the grille to that of the new Datsun redi-GO. You’re right, the Magnite has its roots with Datsun. It was supposed to be introduced as Datsun Magnite but the dropping popularity of the Datsun brand in India forced Nissan to take the Magnite under its insignia.

The first-in-segment bi-projector LED headlamps with LED light guide look spectacular. Another interesting element is the L-shaped LED daytime running light which pushes the style quotient a notch higher. You also get LED fog lamps integrated into the bumper. Moreover, the chubby bonnet with contours and faux skid plate make it appear as a bigger SUV than it is.

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Side Profile

Moving to the sides, the 16-inch alloy wheels catch your attention. These are standard across the variants! Good move, Nissan. The small bonnet and peeled-back headlamps remind you of its elder sibling Nissan Kicks. Unlike the upright stance of the Maruti Vitara Brezza, Toyota Urban Cruiser and Kia Sonet, the Magnite takes the Nexon roots and gets a crossover stance.

The Nissan SUV gets all-black A, B and C pillars and a thick D pillar which houses a quarter glass. The additional glass area makes the cabin airier, however, you miss out on the in-trend sunroof in the Magnite. Not offered in any variant.

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The flared wheel arches, cladding and roof rails lend it a sportier appearance from the side profile. It gets a large ground clearance of 205mm. Nissan hasn’t revealed the dimensions of the Magnite but, of course, it will be under 4000mm in length.

The back

Hopping to the rear we see a clean and minimalistic design approach with a smart rear spoiler and split tail lamps which aren’t LEDs. You only get MAGNITE inscribed in chrome at the centre – no variant badging here. The SUV gets cladding lower down at the rear to break the monotony.

Interior

The subcompact SUV gets wide opening doors which makes easy ingress and egress. The dashboard is not only stylish but functional too, it gets adequate storage spaces such as door pockets, phone bay, cup holders and a 10-litre glove box. The trapezoidal aircon vents look nice.

It gets an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity – a segment-first feature. Another screen – a 7-inch instrument cluster – features the most handsome display. Everything is crystal clear with amazing graphics and sharpness. You get a segment-first 360-degree camera view but the resolution of the display isn’t the best.

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Besides, the Nissan Magnite will be getting cruise control, push-button start/stop, JBL speakers, air purifier, ambient mood lighting and puddle lamp along with a wireless charger.

The quality of cabin material isn’t top-notch. The hard plastics on the dash, unpolished roof lining bring down its premium quotient.

Seating comfort

In the Magnite cabin, the seats are well-bolstered with adequate ergonomics in place. While there is enough headroom, knee room, legroom and shoulder room at the rear, the front seats struggle for legroom. You cannot stretch your legs completely especially when seated at co-passenger’s seat.

At the rear, you get centre armrest with cupholders and smartphone holder. Rear AC vents, 12V charging socket, adjustable headrests, grab door handles and near-flat floor. Despite offering enough room for rear occupants, the Magnite commands a segment-par boot space of 336-litre. It also has an option of 60:40 split rear seats.

Engine Specifications

Nissan hasn’t revealed the engines it would be employing except for this – most powerful HRAO 1.0-litre turbo engine. We expect the automaker to offer two engine options – a 1.2-litre naturally aspirated and new 1.0-litre turbo petrol. While the former generates 72hp of power, the latter is good for 95hp.

Both the engines will be offered with a 5-speed manual gearbox; however, the debutant engine will get an HRAO X-tronic CVT. Nissan claims it to be the most advanced in the competition. Since it shares the platform with Renault Triber, it will only house the petrol motor – no diesel on offer.

Safety

The all-new Nissan Magnite is sure to get a decent safety net which includes ABS (Anti-lock braking system) with EBD (electronic brakeforce distribution), vehicle dynamic control (helps vehicle on slippery roads, sharp turns, etc), traction control, ESC (electronic stability control), dual front airbags and hill start assist among others.

Price

Well, its platform-sharing with Triber means aggressive pricing. For reference, the Renault MPV is priced very competitively in the range of Rs 5.12 – 7.34 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). So, it is safe to say it will undercut all of its rivals in terms of pricing which is likely to start below the Rs 5.50 lakh. If it turns out to be as expected, the Nissan Magnite would prove to be a strong rival to sales magnets such as the Brezza, Venue or even Sonet.

CarBikeIndia Says

The Magnite is one of the biggest hopes of Nissan in India. The response to this model could also be a decider for Nissan’s fortunes in this country. While the low-cost Datsun brand received a lot bashing from the Indian media and quality experts alike, Nissan would want to capitalise on its premium brand value. Although the subcompact SUV has already started to create a buzz in the market, the response from buyers will hold the key for its future survival in India.

Stay tuned to CarBikeIndia as we bring you all the latest updates on your favourite car.

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