Nissan Magnite

Nissan Magnite

The Nissan Magnite has been a show-stealer for the company in the Indian market, helping it find more recognition in a crucial segment, namely the sub-compact SUV market. 

How is the design? 

The Nissan Magnite has great road presence and will attract attention on the road. It gets LED daytime running lights (DRLs) along with sleek LED headlamps as well. The grille is big in size while the headlights function well as well. The side profile looks smart enough with its characteristic body haunches and plastic cladding, along with good chrome treatment. There are 16-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels on offer for the car along with a simple rear design, complete with non-LED split taillights and prominent badging. Overall, the design is sure to wow most buyers in this segment. 

How does it perform? 

The Nissan Magnite manual version is easy to drive and performs steadily enough. It is maneuverable and you get good visibility overall. The engine is refined right below the 3,000 RPM mark and has good low-end torque as well. You can accelerate swiftly and the five-speed gearbox is smooth and extremely convenient to use. The engine is also good in terms of overall fuel economy. The CVT unit is better for highway driving although it has slightly lesser torque. The shifts are smooth and the engine revs do not remain constant for a lengthy duration. The engine also does not come with excessive highway noise. The engine however feels slightly noisy when you cross 4,000 RPM. The Sport button for the CVT helps with regard to staying firmly within the power band and overtaking seamlessly. 

How’s the mileage?

• Petrol Manual- 20 kmpl
• Petrol Automatic- 17.7 kmpl 

How’s the driving experience? 

The Nissan Magnite offers a good driving experience overall, in the city. It has good handling over rough roads and potholes. It can comfortable take most obstacles with its ground clearance of 205 mm and also makes for a good and refined option for congested city traffic. Visibility and maneuverability are both on the higher side as well. On the highway, the Magnite feels stable and planted. However, the softer suspension does niggle slightly when you are cornering at higher speeds. The narrower 195 section tyres are the issue here. The Magnite is not a car that you can drive in a sporty manner or push too hard. 

What’s the interior like?

The Nissan Magnite offers a plush and comfortable cabin. There are rear AC vents with a power socket although a USB port is missing. There is also plenty of space in the cabin with decent legroom, headroom and knee room. The dashboard feels contemporary while there are good features available as well. The overall sense of comfort exuded by the Magnite is what will endear it to buyers in this segment. While the car is not as wide as some of its rivals, you still do not get that small car or hatchback-like feeling at all. 

Tech and infotainment

The Nissan Magnite offers several features including power sockets, a 7-inch digital instrument console and multiple readouts. There are bright colors for the display unit as well. There is also an 8 inch touch screen infotainment unit which comes with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay features. You can also get wireless charging with the Technology pack along with the JBL audio system, puddle lamps, air purifier, and ambient lighting. The Magnite gets tons of features for its segment. 

Safety equipment

The Nissan Magnite is reasonably equipped in the safety department, with dual front airbags, ABS, rear parking sensors and other basic equipment as standard throughout the line-up. There are also ISOFIX anchorages, traction control, and stability control offered for higher variants of the Nissan Magnite as well. 

Which variant to buy? 

There are two petrol engine options for the Nissan Magnite along with the CVT for the turbo-petrol variant. The XL CVT is a good option for budget buyers in the segment while the top-end XV Premium (O) with the Tech pack offers the most value for your money. The entry-level XE variant gets the basic safety features along with roof rails, the LCD MID display unit, manual air conditioning, power windows, and a 12V charging socket. It is an attractive option at its low price point although there are many missing features. The XL is the best of the lot if you are looking for value with dual-tone wheel covers, central locking, powered ORVMs, two tweeters and four speakers, steering-mounted controls, Bluetooth audio system, automatic climate control and more safety features.

The XV is costlier and comes with additions like LED DRLs and fog lamps, 16-inch alloy wheels, a rear camera, the touch screen infotainment unit, connectivity features, the digital instrument cluster, and more. This is only advisable if you are okay with paying a lot more for getting more features. The XV Premium has the first-in-segment 360-degree camera with more equipment like LED projector headlights, turn indicators, TPMS, and premium upholstery. This is however quite costly over the XV. If you are paying a nominal amount more, then you get the XV Premium (O) with more connected car features including geo-fencing, vehicle tracking, vehicle status, speed alerts, and more. You can then get the Tech pack with LED scuff plates, puddle lamps, ambient lighting, air purifier, wireless smartphone charger, JBL audio system, and more kit. 

Which cars compete in this segment? 

The Nissan Magnite takes on rivals like the Renault Kiger, Mahindra XUV300, Hyundai Venue, Kia Sonet, Tata Nexon, Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza, Ford EcoSport, and the Toyota Urban Cruiser. The Magnite is one of the smallest cars n the category. The Magnite has the lowest height and width in the category while having a similar wheelbase as most of the other rivals. The Magnite’s engine has the lowest power in the category while the turbo petrol also has the lowest power. However, the Magnite is also one of the lightest in the segment, ensuring sportier performance from the engine. The Magnite gets only a CVT option while its mileage is handsome. Yet, it does not get a diesel engine option as well. 

Verdict (Value for Money) 

The Nissan Magnite is stylish to look at, with a great front fascia design and aggressive price tag. It is packed with features, especially when you get the Technology Pack, and comes with high ground clearance. It also offers a sporty and punchy turbo-petrol engine and smooth shifting gearboxes. The Magnite also offers good safety features and decent equipment in the entry-level variant. However, you will find a few niggles including the somewhat vibration-filled ride and the poor plastics in the cabin at various places. The naturally aspirated petrol engine feels underpowered. There is no diesel or AMT option while the cabin feels narrower than the competition. However, at its price point, it still makes for a compelling proposition if you look at the all-round value that it offers.