Nissan Magnite features & observations: We got a close look

A close look at the Nissan Magnite sub-4m SUV.

Nissan has unveiled the Magnite - its first sub-4m crossover. With this car, the company will mark its entry into this segment which consists of some of the highest selling cars in the country such as the Maruti Vitara Brezza, Hyundai Venue and the Kia Sonet.

The Magnite is a crucial offering from Nissan. At present, the company has only one mass market car on sale in the country - the Kicks, which is not doing as well as its competitors. The Magnite's sales performance will hold the key to Nissan's survival in India. SUVs and crossovers are the “in thing” in the Indian market and only a good product could see Nissan get through these tough times.

Team-BHP was given a close look at the pre-production version of the car. Here are our observations.

Exterior Styling & Build Quality

The Magnite is based on a CMF-A+ platform, which also underpins the Renault Triber. It has a ground clearance of 205 mm.

Fit & finish and paint quality are satisfactory, but the build is not as solid as some of its competitors. The doors, bonnet and tailgate are light and body panels flex when pushed with a thumb. The front end is dominated by a large Datsun-like octagonal grille flanked by LED bi-projector headlamps. The bumper houses L-shaped DRLs, fog lamps and a silver skid plate. It has roof rails, a rear skid plate and black cladding on the sides and around the wheel arches which give it a rugged appearance. The rear also has LED tail lamps and MAGNITE lettering on the tailgate.

Interior

On the inside, the Magnite features hard plastics. Part quality is acceptable and many parts are shared with the Renault Triber. It comes with a leather-wrapped steering wheel with rake adjustment, a 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster, 8.0-inch touchscreen head-unit with 6 speakers (JBL powered by Harman) and wireless Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, voice-recognition, cruise control and a 360-degree camera. Optional equipment includes a wireless smartphone charger, an air purifier, puddle lamps and ambient mood lighting. The boot capacity is 336 litres.

The Magnite comes with over 50 Nissan Connect features that include geo fence, roadside assistance, and smart watch connectivity.

Engines & Transmissions

The SUV will be powered by a 1.0-litre turbo-petrol engine paired with either a 5-speed manual or a CVT gearbox. The fuel efficiency is said to be 20 km/l.

Safety Features

The Magnite comes equipped with ABS with EBD, dual airbags, Brake Assist, Vehicle Dynamic Control, Traction Control, Hill Start Assist, and Tyre Pressure Monitoring System.

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