The subcompact SUV market is booming in several markets around the world, with automakers rushing to get a piece of the sales pie. In India, the Nissan Magnite has just received a mild facelift, but the big news is that the company will expand its availability to more international markets. The updated Nissan Magnite will be available in both RHD and LHD configurations. This allows it to be offered in 47 new international markets, increasing the total number to over 65 markets. Production will continue to take place at the Chennai plant in India, where Nissan has produced over 150,000 units of the Magnite to date.
The small SUV has been around since 2020,
so it was about time for its mid-lifecycle update. The exterior design is quite
familiar, as changes are limited to specific areas of the bodywork. The most
notable is the new and wider grille, complemented by a larger skid plate.
Nissan brags about the “lightsaber-style” indicators on the LED headlights and
the honeycomb graphics on the smoked LED taillights, although only the latter
are new. The functional roof rails and the 205 mm of ground
clearance contribute to the SUV stance despite the sub-4m footprint of the Magnite.
Inside, the biggest change is the
available Brownish Orange leather-style upholstery on the dashboard, doors, and
seats, improving the perceived quality. The rest is carried over, including the
7-inch digital instrument cluster and the 8-inch infotainment display that
supports Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Depending on trim, the
equipment can include an Arkamys sound system, a dashcam, multi-color ambient
lighting, and an air ionizer. In terms of safety, the SUV is fitted as standard
with 6 airbags but doesn’t offer any ADAS.
The Nissan Magnite rides on the CMF-A+
architecture, also used by the Renault Triber and Kiger. The carry-over
powertrain options include naturally-aspirated and turbocharged 1.0-liter
three-cylinder engines, producing 71 hp and 99 hp respectively. Both engines are mated to a five-speed manual gearbox as
standard. The base mill is also available with an EZ-Shift automatic, while the
more potent version offers the option of an X-Tronic CVT. All Nissan Magnite
variants are front-wheel-drive.
The facelifted Nissan Magnite is priced
between RS 5.99-11.50 Lakhs (US$ 7,130-13,685) in India, which is identical to its
predecessor. Rivals in the local market include the Citroen New C3, Hyundai
Venue, Kia Sonet, Suzuki Maruti Brezza, Tata Nexon, Mahindra XUV3XO, Renault
Kiger, and the upcoming Skoda Kylaq.
