For many years, the Nissan Magnite remained the sole offering from the local subsidiary of its carmaker. In fact, the advent of the stratospherically priced new X-Trail does little to life any responsibility off the sub-compact’s shoulders. Though the Magnite never shared things up in its class, it has found a preference among the value-conscious buyers on a strict budget. With the mid-cycle facelift, Nissan India looks all set to further capitalise on the Magnite’s core strength of providing a great bang for the buck at an attractive price point. So, the carmaker has done more than just a minor nip and tuck. They’ve pretty much taken the vehicle’s winning formula and refined it further to cater to the ever-evolving tastes of B-SUV buyers. Recently, I test drove the refreshed model around Gurgaon to explore the updates the car offers. Read on to know about them in detail.
Exterior
At first glance, the 2024 Magnite looks too familiar – non-car enthusiasts might, in fact, be hard pressed to register any visual change. However, the carmaker’s decision to only refine and not overhaul the aesthetics turns out to be a wise move. So, the much of the original styling package stays the same, but you get minor mods that freshen things up sufficiently. The new front grille is wider and lends the fascia a bolder look. There’s also a redesigned bumper that looks sleeker and more integrated with the overall design. The headlamps look sleeker with a new LED DRL pattern that stretches wider.
Move to the side, and the changes get even more subtle. The 16-inch alloy wheels are new and have a diamond-cut finish. Even the rear sees minor tweaks, with clear-lens LED taillights and a refreshed bumper. Overall, the Magnite still maintains its original charm but with a touch more sophistication.
Interior
Clearly, the interior gets a more comprehensive update. The biggest visual update comes in the form of the tri-tone colour theme. Nissan has even replaced some of the plastics on door pads and dashboard with a more premium soft-touch material. Even the leatherette upholstery is new and promises to stay relatively cooler during peak summer. While all this does uplift the ambiance, its the higher level of equipment that takes the cake.
The 8-inch infotainment system has been upgraded to support wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There’s also a new semi-digital instrument cluster that feels more intuitive, and definitely looks better than the Nintendo-ish setup on the earlier version. The carmaker has even worked on the cabin insulation. The 2024 Magnite feels quieter, which is thanks to 20% thicker glasses. There’s no connected car tech or ADAS, but let’s not forget the lower-than-rivals price point this SUV retails at.
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Driving Performance
While the Nissan Magnite gets enough cosmetic and equipment updates, it continues with the same engine options as before. You still have the choice between the 1.0-liter naturally aspirated petrol engine and the 1.0-liter turbo-petrol. The motor have not been retuned for extra punch, and even the slow-to-respond AMT on the NA motor has been updated. For my test drive, though, I drove the turbo-petrol mated to the excellent CVT.
On the road, the turbocharged engine doesn’t disappoint. It delivers 100 PS of power, which might not seem like a lot on paper, but the Magnite feels sufficiently sprightly. The low-end torque is particularly good, making it easy to zip through city traffic. Nissan has fine-tuned the suspension a bit, which improves the ride quality, but it’s still on the slightly firmer side. Like before, the Magnite handles pretty well around the corners. It’s nimble and easy to maneuver, making city driving a breeze. The steering is light, which is perfect for tight urban spaces, but it could use a bit more weight for highway cruising.
Speaking of highways, the turbo-petrol engine holds its own at higher speeds. The motor propels the vehicle to expressway speeds and can help you comfortably maintain them over long journeys. However, the facelift is 40 kgs heavier, which has resulted into the car feeling a bit sluggish under heavy acceleration. Overall, the 2024 Magnite is fun to drive in everyday situations. It’s not a performance-focussed SUV, like, say, the Hyundai Venue N-Line, but it delivers where it counts—urban comfort with enough punch to make your daily commutes enjoyable.
Verdict
So, is the 2024 Nissan Magnite facelift worth your attention? Absolutely! Truly, Nissan has done enough to make the Magnite all the more relevant to the modern buyers. But what helps it really steal the show is the pricing. Available at a starting price of Rs 5.99 lakh, the Magnite facelift costs as much as its predecessor. While some variants see a minor price increment, it’s amazing how the carmaker manages to deliver a better rounded package at practically the same price point! The cosmetic updates apart, the availability of 6 airbags, TPMS, ABS with EBD, Hill Start Assist and ISOFIX anchorage across all the variants makes the Magnite a great value proposition.
Of course, it’s not without its minor shortcomings—the rear seat space could still be better, and the AMT needs to be more responsive—but these are small trade-offs considering the value the Magnite offers. For anyone looking for a safe, stylish, feature-packed, and fun-to-drive sub-compact SUV that doesn’t break the bank, the 2024 Nissan Magnite facelift is a strong contender.
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