If you ever wondered what would happen if a samurai warrior tried to conquer Indian city traffic armed only with a wallet-friendly price tag and a 1.0-litre engine, Nissan already has the answer — the Magnite. This compact crossover SUV, launched in 2020 and now facelifted for 2024, continues to prove that “big car feel, small car deal” isn’t just a tagline, it’s a full-blown personality trait.
🧲 Magnet + Ignite = Magnite
The name itself sounds like a motivational TED Talk. “Magnet” for attraction and “Ignite” for passion — combine the two and you get the compact SUV that tries to pull in customers from every direction while igniting Nissan’s survival hopes in India after Datsun waved its final goodbye. Fun fact: this was originally meant to be a Datsun car. Then Datsun went extinct faster than dinosaurs, so Nissan scooped it up and said, “Mine now.”
🇮🇳 Made in Chennai, Exported to the World
The Magnite is proudly assembled in Chennai and exported to over 65 countries — which means somewhere in Africa or Latin America, a person is proudly honking the same horn you’re honking in Delhi traffic. Over 1.5 lakh units sold so far — impressive for a car that costs less than some smartphones these days.
💸 Pricing That Doesn’t Give You Palpitations
Starts at just ₹6 lakh and goes up to ₹11.50 lakh for this top-end Tekna+ variant. That’s right — for the price of one German SUV’s optional sunroof, you could buy half a Magnite. Or maybe even the whole base variant if you smile politely at the dealer.
⚙️ Platform, Suspension & Build – Small Car, Big Engineering
Built on the Renault-Nissan CMF-A+ platform, the same base as the Renault Kiger and Triber, it’s light, efficient, and stiffer than your morning cup of filter coffee. Nissan says it’s got 67% high-tensile steel, double acting shock absorbers, high stiffness rebound springs, and a solid stabilizer bar — basically, a tiny SUV trying its hardest to feel German.
Ride comfort is decent, and with 205 mm of ground clearance, you can easily conquer those crater-sized potholes disguised as Indian roads. The turning radius is just 5 metres — perfect for that sudden U-turn when you miss your exit (again).
💡 Design – Small Yet Swaggering
This facelift brings 320 upgrades, and it shows. Up front, you get:
- Light Saber-style LED indicators
- Bi-projector LED headlamps
- Honeycomb grille with chrome bits for that “premium” touch
- Floating skid plate that looks ready for battle
- And of course, those L-shaped LED DRLs — because L means Lit.
From the side, the functional roof rails can carry 50 kg — just enough for your weekend luggage or your ego after overtaking a Creta. And those 16-inch dual-tone alloys? Pure show-off material.
The Sunrise Copper Orange shade seen here looks like molten metal had a Red Bull. And yes, you can get dual-tone with a black roof — because black roofs make every car look ₹50,000 richer.
🛋️ Interiors – Funky, Functional, Surprisingly Fancy
Step inside and you’re greeted by a two-tone brown & orange cabin that looks straight out of a Japanese design manga. The seats now have 40% better cushioning, heat-reflecting upholstery, and that crucial “I’m not cheap” vibe.
The 9-inch floating touchscreen supports wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, while the Arkamys 3D sound system (with 6 speakers) can make even your sad breakup playlist sound cinematic. The 7-inch digital instrument cluster displays eco coaching and eco scoring — because guilt-based fuel economy training is now standard.
There’s also:
- Automatic AC with PlasmaCluster Ionizer (sounds like a sci-fi weapon)
- PM2.5 air filter for Delhi air
- Auto-dimming IRVM, cooled glovebox, ambient lighting, and leatherette dashboard
Basically, it tries to give you the luxury of a lounge with the price of a loaf of bread (well, an expensive loaf).
🧠 Tech & Safety – Smart, Safe, and a Bit Showy
The Magnite proudly wears its 4-star ASEAN & Global NCAP rating, which is rare praise in this segment. It also offers:
- 6 airbags
- ABS with EBD
- Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC)
- Hill Start Assist
- Traction Control
- 360° Around View Camera (your parking anxiety therapist)
- TPMS, ISOFIX, keyless entry, and immobilizer
In short, it’s got more safety acronyms than a government policy document.
🔌 Engines – Tiny but Terrific
Two petrol options only — because diesel went the way of Datsun.
1.0-litre B4D NA Petrol
- 71 hp, 96 Nm
- 5-speed manual or AMT
- 19 km/l claimed mileage
1.0-litre HRA0DET Turbo Petrol
- 98 hp, 160 Nm (152 Nm with CVT)
- Mirror Bore Coating from GT-R tech (yes, Nissan said that)
- 19 km/l for manual, 17 km/l for CVT
The turbo engine gives it that extra vroom — enough to make your heart race and your passengers slightly nauseous.
🧳 Boot, Comfort & Practicality
Boot space is 336 litres, expandable to 690 litres if you fold the rear seats flat. You can fit weekend luggage, a tripod, and maybe your disappointment if you expected 4WD.
Nissan also claims the 5-year maintenance cost is only ₹0.39/km — cheaper than your evening chai.
🔊 The Verdict – Small Wonder, Big Personality
The Nissan Magnite isn’t trying to be a luxury SUV. It’s trying to be the budget superhero that saves the day when your loan EMI fears attack. It’s the car for people who say, “I want everything — but don’t want to sell my kidney for it.”
Yes, it’s not perfect — the steering could be more communicative, and the CVT feels like it’s trying to find motivation on Mondays — but the Magnite’s combination of design, features, safety, and price is genuinely magnetic.
💬 Final Words:
“In a world of overpriced SUVs, the Nissan Magnite remains that rare car which makes you say — ‘I paid less, and I’m still smiling.’ And that, ladies and gentlemen, is true Japanese efficiency.”
