Nissan Magnite 1.0 Turbo CVT First Drive Review

Right off the bat, the Magnite feels peppy. The engine feels refined and what impresses the most is the Xtronic CVT gearbox. Nissan has managed to tune it extremely well to reduce shift shock and the rubber band effect that CVT gearboxes are known for. In fact, it is so good that if you modulate the throttle well, it is hard to notice that this is a CVT gearbox. Acceleration is peppy and there’s plenty of torque at hand which makes overtaking and munching highways a relaxed procedure. Nissan has also worked hard on the NVH levels and it shows. Under normal driving conditions, the cabin feels quiet and the overall experience is a refined one.

Now compared to the Vitara Brezza, the Magnite has more torque, 14Nm more to be specific but the Brezza has slightly more power, 5 more bhp to be specific. But what tilts the favour towards the Magnite further is that the Nissan is almost 100kgs lighter than the Maruti, and that's what gives it that effortless performance during daily driving. Lastly, Nissan also claims a fuel efficiency figure of 17.7kmpl which is slightly less as compared to the Brezza AT which is rated at 18.76kmpl. Overall Nissan has managed a fantastic job with the new engine and the CVT transmission and we are very impressed with it.

The steering too is on the heavier side and is slow to respond to inputs. There isn’t too much feel either and the heaviness means it does not return to its original straight position quick enough and one has to make an effort to bring it back. But once you get past the heaviness, the Magnite feels fine. Highway stability is very good and the car feels composed even at triple-digit speeds which means the long-distance trips should be handled comfortably. Overall, the steering and the high-speed ride might not be the best, but it’s something that can be lived with easily.

Now talking about front seats, you get this nice textured feel on it and the seat itself is pretty comfortable even for larger frames. The driving position is high and the view is nice and clear and will be beneficial for new drivers too. Now let’s check out the rear seats. The rear seats are again quite comfortable. You have good knee room and under-thigh support even for a tall person and long journeys should be a comfortable affair. You even get air-con vents at the rear so the hot summers are taken care of. While two people can relax here, three will be a cosy affair too.

Now talking about the boot space, at 336 litres it is more than the Maruti Suzuki Brezza. A 60:40 split for the rear seats means additional room for luggage can be made easily. Overall, the Magnite feels almost just as spacious as the Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza but gets funkier interiors and better boot space.

If you need to be competitive in this segment, you need an exhaustive feature list to stand out. The top-spec model gets climate control, touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, steering mounted audio controls, cruise control and height adjustment for the driver’s seat. Also, the infotainment system is connected to high-end JBL speakers for a better aural experience. Nissan has also filtered down a few features from the more expensive Kicks SUV like the 360-degree camera set up that can be activated with a dedicated button and this makes parking even in tight spots an easy affair. Apart from that you also get wireless charging and a tech pack which comprises an air purifier, puddle lamps and ambient lighting.