The Nissan Magnite was launched in 2020 and in the four years since, has garnered popularity thanks to its value-for-money quotient, an important buying factor for the Indian customer. The compact SUV recently received a mid-life facelift that seems to focus on one thing — improve the compact SUV’s premium quotient.
Most of that improvement is concentrated on the design. While the cosmetic updates on the Magnite might seem subtle, they do elevate the the SUV’s appearance. The grille features a black piano surround and the bumper gets a new, muscular fog lamp housing. The headlamps feature a new LED DRL signature. Interestingly the L-shaped LED DRLs on the bumper have been retained. The updates to the sides and rear are limited to new 16-inch machine-cut alloy wheels and new 3D LED tail lamp inserts which look cool. The Magnite also gets a new Sunrise Copper Orange paintjob which goes well with the updated design. Overall the Magnite looks more premium and larger than before.
Inside too the updates are minimal but help up the premium quotient. The dashboard and door pads feature a dual-tone finish while the previous silver finish on the steering wheel and gear knob surround has made way for a glossy black trim. The seats too get dual-tone leatherette covers which amp up the sporty appeal while the cushioning has been improved with better bolstering and are quite comfortable.
The digital instrument console gets a new, more understated background which is a welcome change. That said, Nissan did miss out on an opportunity to revamp its infotainment system interface which looks dated. In terms of features, the Magnite now gets four-colour ambient lighting, remote key start, automatic headlamps, auto-dimming IRVMs and type-C ports for rear passengers. This in addition to the existing 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, 360-degree camera, wireless charging, wireless Apple Car Play and Android Auto and a 3D music system by ARKAMYS. A useful feature is the Plasma Cluster ioniser that filters the cabin air and claims to reduce the Air Quality Index from 400 to 30 in just 20 minutes. Interestingly, the Magnite still misses out on a sunroof, a hot item in most car buyers’ lists. In terms of safety, the Magnite now gets six airbags as standard besides three-point seatbelts for both rows of seats, traction control, tyre pressure monitor, hill start assist and more. Overall the Magnite is quite the feature-loaded SUV.
The Magnite continues to feature two powertrain options — a 1.0-litre naturally aspirated and a turbo-petrol motor. Of the two, it is the turbo petrol motor paired with the CVT that we are driving here. The three-cylinder engine puts out 100PS and 152Nm and impresses with its performance and refinement. The CVT gearbox is quite impressive with none of the ‘rubber band’ effect at low speeds making it quite responsive to drive in the city. This engine and gearbox combo is our powertrain pick for the Magnite.
Prices for the Nissan Magnite start at ₹8.99 lakh ex-showroom going up to ₹11.50 lakh for this top-spec Tekna+ Turbo CVT we are driving. These prices are just a nominal hike from the previous Magnite models and make the SUV an even sweeter deal than before. While the 2024 Nissan Magnite features a mild facelift, it really elevates the compact SUV’s premiumness both inside and out, bolstering its aspirational value and adding an additional layer to its VFM quotient.
