Nissan Magnite rolls off assembly line in Chennai, 20 trims on offer

Nissan Motor India today announced start of production (SOP) of its new Nissan Magnite compact SUV, which is slated for launch in early 2021. However, going by the surging demand for compact SUVs in the market, Nissan could advance deliveries as well.

The company had unveiled the car globally on October 21, and also revealed its plans of first introducing it in India and later exporting to emerging markets across the world from its 480,000-units-per-annum plant in Oragadam, near Chennai.

According to Biju Rajendran, MD and CEO, Renault Nissan Alliance India, “RNAIPL is thrilled to commemorate the start of production of the all-new Nissan Magnite. We are also exploring opportunities to export this big and bold SUV. This is a colossal milestone for us, and we are proud of producing an SUV equipped with intuitive packaging and human-centric engineering that is inspired by India and designed in Japan.”

There's a lot riding on the Magnite. Autocar Professional's November 1, 2020 issue features an in-depth analysis of the upcoming compact SUV. 

Offering something for everyone

The Magnite which will go up against the likes of segment best-sellers including Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza, Hyundai Venue and the youngest kid on the block – Kia Sonet – is coming into the market with a plan of alluring young buyers with its bold looks, connected features and a competitive price tag.

Nissan Motor India has today also revealed the variant line-up of the Magnite and has followed the approach of offering something for every price bracket with its score of grades in place. The Nissan Magnite will come with four key trims – XE (base), XL (mid), XV (high) and XV (premium).

While the XE will get standard 16-inch wheels, all-four power windows and a 3.5-inch LCD instrument cluster, the XL will get automatic climate control, six-speaker audio setup and automatic foldable mirrors.

The top two trims will get LED DRLs, 16-inch alloys, 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and a 7-inch full-digital TFT instrument cluster as standard, while the highest XV (premium) variant will also feature LED bi-projector headlamps, cruise control and 360-degree around-view camera.

Nissan has also announced an optional ‘Tech Pack’ which will include add-ons such as a wireless phone charger, air purifier, ambient mood lighting, puddle lamps and premium speakers from JBL.

Two engine options

The Nissan Magnite will be introduced with two engine options – 1.0L B4D naturally aspirated three-cylinder motor and a 1.0L HRA0 three-cylinder, turbo-charged petrol motor. While the former already does duty in the Renault Triber MPV and is good for 72bhp, the turbocharged engine produces 95bhp of power.

There will be two transmission choices on offer – a five-speed manual – to be available on both the motors, as well as a CVT – to be offered only on the turbocharged petrol engine. In all, the company will offer the crossover in a total of 20 trims, across the four key variants.

In terms of safety, the Magnite will offer dual airbags, ABS with EBD, hill-hold assist, TPMS, hydraulic brake assist and speed-sensing door locks.

According to Rakesh Srivastava, MD, Nissan Motor India, “The start of production of the all-new Nissan Magnite is a proud moment for all of us. With an array of first-in-class and best-in-segment features, each grade walk has been curated to meet the aspirations of the discerning Indian customer. In line with Nissan’s philosophy of continuous innovation to deliver enriching experiences, Nissan’s renowned technologies are provided at every grade, including the X-Tronic CVT, cruise control, 360-degree around view monitor and Nissan Connect.”