Nissan Magnite: If you’ve been salivating for an SUV but your wallet has proved a roadblock, the Nissan Magnite could be the antidote.
It’s just one of those cars that manages to combine style, practicality and affordability all under the smug umbrella of the SUV badge.
Promising to be the game changer in India’s sub-4 meter SUV space, the Magnite didn’t creep in; it came in kicking the door wide open and turning heads.
A High-Design Standout, Light on the Wallet
Right from the off, there’s a sense that the Magnite has some swagger. Its wide grille up front, razor sharp LED headlamps, L-shaped DRLs, and slinky roof rails suggest a look that should cost you way more than the price tag.
Visually muscular lines with the available two tone roof make Accent look like it drives, it does.
In a class chockablock with lookalikes, the Magnite dares to be a little different, and that’s a good thing.
Cabin Comfort and Features
Climb inside and the Magnite is equally pleasing. The cabin is definitely simple, but properly designed.
What you do get is an attractive, layered dashboard with a floating 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a 10.2-inch fully digital instrument cluster and wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support.
The space management is actually quite clever, for such a little space.
There’s plenty of space for front and rear passenger with 336 liters of room in the boot that could carry a weekend-trip worth of luggage.
Nissan’s focus on real-world considerations — such as 60:40 split back seats, rear AC vents and storage areas aplenty — makes every day driving that much easier.
Performance: Zippy and Great for the City
Under the hood, the Magnite gets two engine options -a 1.0-litre naturally aspirated petrol and a 1.0-litre turbo-petrol.
The base works fine for puttering around the city all day, but the turbo is what makes the drive fun.
Combined with the smooth CVT gearbox, put the throttle down and you’ve got a cute ute that’s perky in traffic and stable on highways.
It ain’t built to piss on the tarmac, but it wields everyday virtues with enough competence and authority to see off any rivals.
Ride Quality and Handling
The suspension tuning feels to be slightly on the softer side, which is a good thing as the Magnite manages pot holes and broken patches rather nicely.
It’s not the sportiest when it comes to corners, but it feels stable and firmly planted even at higher speeds.
The light steering is great in city environments and you can throw a U-turn easily without breaking a sweat.
Fuel Efficiency and Safety
It’s not just the looks that win hearts for the Magnite—it’s friendly on the pocket as well.
The turbo’s claimed mileage is of 20 kmpl while the naturally aspirated will provide even more on perfect circumstances.
Safety Enrichment-wise it gets dual airbags, ABS with EBD, 360-degree camera, hill start assist and traction control, basis variant.
It also has a 4-star safety rating from Global NCAP, which is nice.
Pros
Sharp looker with SUV-styling proportions
Wireless connectivity and Feature-rich cabin
The turbo engine brings novel enjoyment to the drive.
the stress free and smoothness it has in cvt transmission.
Excellent value for money
Cons
Feels a little flimsy in places
NVH levels could have been improved, particularly in the NA version
Rear-seat under-thigh support is not great
Base model is a little light on features
Nissan Magnite: Final Thoughts
It’s not just affordable – it’s a bold statement in a segment where sub-compact SUVs are expected to tick all the boxes Like Like Comment Save post Message Similarly, the Magnite is a clean-sheet design and, for all the right reasons, the baby Kicks.
It provides the feel of a much larger car but doesn’t require deep pockets.
If you are a first-time car buyer looking for a feature-packed SUV or for that matter even someone who wants a second car that can be parked at all premium places chain-free (I can say that now thanks to anti-theft horses, who knew?), then the Magnite covers a lot of boxes.
Okay, so the Eufy RoboVac 11 may have some rough edges, but because of what you are getting for your money, it’s really tough to complain.
In the proper accommodation, it can strike the great balance of price, design and day-to-day usability.
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