Nissan Magnite: In an overcrowded compact SUV market, the Nissan Magnite has its own identity.Introduced as a risky gamble in a segment lorded over by the Hyundai Venue and the Tata Nexon, the Magnite left everyone stunned with its hyper-competitive pricing, head-turning design and feature-done-right packaging.
However, now that it has spent some time on the roads, is the Magnite still as good as we thought it was?
Let’s have a closer look at what gets the Nissan Magnite to chug along — and where it leaves us wishing for more.
Design: Young, Sharp, Confident
The Magnite’s design is definitely its biggest selling point. Although small in volume, it adopts a strong, athletic pose.
The large grille, LED bi-projector headlamps, L-shaped DRLs and sculpted hood ensure that the front end looks sharp and aggressive.
Combine that high bonnet with the two bold character lines and that Juke-like beltline and the Magnite looks far more premium than its price tag would suggest, especially if you’d thrown in the contrast roof as well as roof rails.
At the back, the split tail-lamps and bulky bumper upholds the rugged look. Whereas some competitors err toward sophistication, the Magnite retains an adolescent rage — and, it has to be said, pulls it off.
Inside: Useful, Hooked Up, and Well-Designed
Walk inside and you’re greeted by an interior that’s sleek and well styled. The dash design is neat kitted out with hexagonal AC vents and a layered structure that lends depth.
The 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system is snappy and features Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, which is uncommon in this price range.
There’s a 7-inch digital instrument cluster, a start button, rear AC vents and even a 360-degree camera on higher-spec cars – other than those quirky features, it’s an otherwise sensible place to spend time.
The Magnite feels roomy space-wise, a pleasant surprise given its compact dimensions. There is adequate room for legs and heads for front and rear passengers, while for short trips and city hauls the 336-litre boot should be big enough.
The materials aren’t of a premium quality — there is plenty of hard plastic — but for the price, you may be willing to overlook that.
Performance: A City Design That Handles on the Highway
The Nissan Magnite is available with a pair of petrol engines – 1.0-litre naturally aspirated and 1.0-litre turbo-petrol units.
The NA unit does the daily commuting job well, but it’s the turbo-petrol that truly brings this car to life. It returns a power of 100 PS and torque of 160 Nm (152 Nm with CVT) which is enough for an enthusiastic rush in drive.
The manual gearbox is nice and slick, although the CVT automatic is a pai in town driving. It’s slick and optimized for efficiency rather than out-and-out speed. The mileage is also excellent— around 18-20 km/l depending on the variant and traffic.
The ride quality is smooth enough for Indian roads, and although the suspension is set on the softer side, it doesn’t feel floaty either. High-speed stability is okay, but this is not a car designed for enthusiastic cornering.
Pros: Why the Magnite Deserves a Second Glance
VFM Pricing: One of the cheapest compact SUV’s to be offered in India.
Daring Design: Mimics the image of sporty and modern while catching people’s eyes.
Peppy Turbo Engine: Excellent mix of power and gas mileage.
Feature Packed: 360° camera, wireless CarPlay, digital cluster.
Large Cabin: The cabin feels larger than it should.
Cons: Where the Magnite Misses a Beat
Build Quality’s a Let Down: Interior door handles feel cheap-ion, and there are too many plastics to discuss.
Diesel Option Removed: Could disappoint the buyers who were mileage conscious.
Underpowered power feels: Especially when fully loaded.
No Sunroof or Ventilated Seats: No attempt to keep up with some segment trends.
Limited service reach: The dealership network of Nissan isn’t as extensive as that of Maruti or Hyundai.
Nissan Magnite: Final word Big Value in a Little Box
The Magnite demonstrates that you don’t have to rob a bank to drive around in a good-looking, feature-packed compact SUV.
It’s far from perfect, but it nails the fundamentals — smart design, usable space, and a peppy turbo engine — all at a price that makes the competition sweat.
If you’re based in an urban centre and want an SUV on a budget that doesn’t feel like one, the Magnite is definitely worth a test drive.