The Nissan Magnite has seen its fair share of success in India, considering that there have been barely a handful of models from the company since the Magnite was launched almost four years ago. It rivalled some established models in the segment like the Brezza, Venue, Nexon and the like. And now it has received a mild update to make it even more appealing in the crowded sub-compact SUV space. Nissan India has timed the launch of the Magnite facelift really well. Just before the festive season, the company launched the Magnite and the price was just right! And now, we actually have the updated Magnite and we took it out for a spin, sampling the changes. So, what are the updates and are there any changes to the way the Magnite drives, all this and more is going to be revealed to you in the next few paragraphs.
Nissan Magnite: Design updates
The biggest updates are focused on the front end of the SUV. The Magnite now features a bigger, bolder grille with thick chrome borders and gloss black inserts. The L-shaped DRLs have been retained from the previous model.
The front bumper gets a new faux skid plate with integrated fog lamps and the 16-inch alloy wheels also get a new design. Rest, the profile and rear of the car remain the same, barring the lighting signature of the taillamps.
Nissan Magnite: Interior and features
Talking about the updates on the inside, the Magnite facelift now gets all-leatherette upholstery. The layout is the same as before, but the dashboard now gets a dual-tone colour scheme instead of the all-black theme as before, and there is a new steering wheel that looks better than before. You get textured finish on the door pads and there is also ambient lighting, which makes you feel like you are in a premium car.
Nissan claims that the Magnite now has 19 litres of best-in-class cabin storage and 336 litres of bootspace, which can be expanded to 690 litres by folding down the rear seats. The seats themselves get a standard 60:40 split.
Nissan claims that the Magnite facelift gets 20+ features, including an air purifier, new bezel-less auto-dimming IRVM and a new 7-inch digital instrument cluster with revised graphics. The infotainment system, an 8-inch unit with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, remains the same as before.
The new feature is the Global Smart Key, which just needs to be kept in your pocket and the car will automatically lock/unlock when you enter or exit the car within a certain radius. This is a great feature and you can even start the car engine remotely. Nissan also offers a Tech Pack that includes a wireless charger, dashcam, JBL speakers, LED scuff plates and puddle lamps as well as ambient lighting.
Nissan Magnite: Engine and performance
The Magnite facelift gets a 1.0-litre turbo-petrol engine and a 1.0-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine, both models getting a 5-speed manual gearbox. The turbo petrol gets an X-CVT auto while the naturally aspirated model gets an AMT auto as an option.
We drove the Magnite with the 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine and CVT gearbox. There are no mechanical changes, so the car drives and behaves the same on the road as before. There are times when the 1.0-litre engine feels underpowered and you feel you could have done with more power, especially for quick overtaking, but in most cases, the engine performs well and is economical too, with a claimed efficiency of around 20 kmpl for the manual variant and around 17-18 kmpl for the CVT variant.
It is also good that the Magnite has retained its excellent ride quality. The suspension smooths out most of the undulations on the road well and makes you feel comfortable. However, at high speeds, the car does not feel as stable. It handles well and feels light when maneuvering in the city. Safety features on the new Magnite include 6 airbags, vehicle dynamic control (VDC), traction control, hill start assist, hydraulic brake assist, anti-lock brakes and tire pressure monitoring system.
Nissan Magnite: Prices and variants
The Nissan Magnite facelift is priced starting at ₹ 5.99 lakh, going up to ₹ 11.50 lakh. These are the introductory prices, applicable for the first 10,000 customers. There are six variants to choose from – Visia, Visia+, Acenta, N-Connecta, Tekna and Tekna+. So yes, the trim nomenclature has been revised compared to before. And it was the top-spec Tekna+ model that we picked for our review.
Nissan Magnite facelift verdict
Well, the new Nissan Magnite, honestly, is a solid upgrade, if you are in the market for a small car like the Tata Punch or Hyundai Xcent or any other hatchback under ₹ 10 lakh. The prices are attractive and the car gets a decent set of upgrades for a mid-life facelift. However, a sunroof could have added to its desirability, but otherwise, this car works well as a city car.
Continuing the achievement of the journey of effectiveness and credibility of more than 10 years in the career of journalism, as a woman journalist, I am Serving as the founder, promoter and editor of DiaryTimes with the trust and support of all. My credible coverage may not have given a big shape to the numbers, but my journey presents articles that make you aware of the exact and meaningful situations of Himachal’s politics, ground issues related to the public, business, tourism and the difficult geographical conditions of the state and financial awareness. DiaryTimes, full of the experience of my precise editorial expertise, is awakening the flame of credible journalism among all of you, so that the eternal flame of meaningful change can be lit in the life of the people of the state and the atrocities being committed against the people can be brought to the fore, I am motivated for that. If even a small change comes with the power of my journalism and the whole world becomes a witness to that issues, then I will consider myself fortunate.
