Nissan Magnite vs Kia Sonet Comparison: 7 Most Important Attributes Compared

Read the detailed comparison of the two newest and fabulous compact SUVs in India, Nissan Magnite and Kia Sonet. Find out which one out of the two is a budget SUV marvel and why.

The awaited Nissan Magnite has hit the Indian market recently. The high on style SUV is vital for the struggling Japanese carmaker in the country. With its bold design and plethora of equipment and not to forget the aggressive pricing, it takes on every compact SUV in the segment. So we thought why not rack it up against the current hot-seller the Kia Sonet. Let’s dig into the most interesting comparison of the year.

Exterior

Between the two, it’s definitely the Magnite which gets a better road presence; thanks to its broad front grille flanked by sleek headlamps with smart-looking LED DRLs. However, the overall stance of the Sonet is better than the Magnite. While the Magnite gets a beefier body, the Sonet makes do with a lean yet muscular frame. The D-pillar of Kia Sonet is tastefully done and helps reduce the bulk whereas the D-pillar of Magnite is thick. The rear spoiler of the Sonet syncs cleanly with the roof, contrarily, the spoiler of Nissan chips out.

Moving to the rear, the drama continues with Magnite featuring split tail lamps which merge with the pronounced shoulder lines. Its bumper is beautifully adorned with black cladding and rear skid plates. The Sonet, on the other hand, gets connected split-tail lamps and a good dose of cladding.

Dimensions

Both the SUVs measure almost the same length and wheelbase, however, the Sonet has an ace up its sleeve with more width than the Magnite. The Kia car is also taller and embraces an impressive boot space of 392-litres (56-litres more!). The posture of the Sonet mimics its shared roots with the Hyundai Venue (both share the platform).

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Interior

The Nissan Magnite gets a minimal dashboard design with AC vents seems to be sourced from Lamborghini (of course, they are not)! Kia Sonet’s dashboard is busier compared to the Magnite.

Just like the Nissan SUV, the Kia too offers distinct aircon vents. While the Magnite gets a fixed 8-inch touchscreen unit, the Sonet gets a floating system of the same size. Both the cabins follow a dark theme. However, the use of glossy black inside the Sonet gives a contemporary feel.

Engine and Specifications

Unlike the Magnite, the Kia Sonet is available with both petrol and diesel engine options. It shares the engines with the Hyundai Venue. The Nissan SUV is a petrol-only vehicle. Thus, we are considering only the petrol engines in both cars.

The Kia Sonet gets better automatic transmission options in the name of DCT. Moreover, it gets a unique 6iMT (intelligent manual transmission) which is essentially a clutchless transmission. However, the Sonet incurs a premium for its advanced automatic options. Both the engines of the Sonet fetch higher power and torque figures compared to their corresponding petrol engines of the Magnite.

Features

The Nissan Magnite is laced with features such as LED headlamps with LED DRLs, a Tech Pack (available with higher variants) which consists of a wireless charger, an air purifier, high-end JBL speakers, LED scuff plates, ambient lighting, and puddle lamps. It also gets auto AC with rear AC vents, connected car tech, 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay (wireless). The sunroof is absent.

The Sonet comes with UVO connected car tech, auto AC, ventilated car seats, ambient lighting, Bose sound system, air purifier, sunroof, wireless charging and many more. It gets a segment-leading 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

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Safety

The Sonet gets ABS with EBD, six airbags, vehicle stability management, electronic stability control (ESC), etc. The Magnite is packed with ABS with EBD, dual airbags, hill launch control, rear parking sensors, and electronic stability control.

Price

If we look at the price brackets of both the Magnite and the Sonet, it’s clear that the Magnite is a way much cheaper choice compared to the latter. In fact, the Magnite’s price tag might appeal even to the buyers of Maruti Swift, Maruti Baleno and Tata Altroz.

Verdict

To sum up, if you need an SUV which offers an extensive feature-list, adequate cabin space, decent looks, competent engines and all-in budget, the Magnite should be your selection by default. The Sonet is slightly costlier compared to the Magnite in the price-to-value ratio.

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