The facelifted Nissan Magnite has been revealed, sporting mild styling revisions. Here’s what we know so far about the refreshed version of Nissan SA’s most popular vehicle…
Meet the facelifted Nissan Magnite. Unveiled in India – where it’s produced at the Renault-Nissan alliance plant in Chennai – the refreshed version of the small crossover will be shipped to 47 new markets, taking its total export footprint to more than 65 countries.
Of course, South Africa is key market for the Magnite, since this baby crossover has taken over from the since-discontinued NP200 half-tonne bakkie as Nissan SA’s best-selling product. As such, we’d expect to see the facelifted Magnite on local roads early in 2025 (or perhaps even late in 2024).
So, how will you spot a refreshed Magnite? Well, you’ll have to look rather closely, because the styling revisions are relatively mild. For instance, the boomerang-shaped daytime running lights are untouched, while the headlight clusters appear unchanged, too (though perhaps benefit from an internal structure tweak).
Black trim now frames the grille (though the chrome-effect side caps remain), but the biggest change up front is the adoption of a new, more angular lower-bumper design. In addition, the version revealed in India features fresh dual-tone 16-inch alloy wheels. In that market, the facelifted Nissan Magnite will furthermore be offered in a choice of 11 paint colors (6 monotone and 5 dual-tone hues).
Meanwhile, Nissan claims to have “refined” the Magnite’s cabin and “improved seat comfort”, with the Indian-spec version now available with brown-and-orange leatherette trim for the dashboard, seats, interior door panels, parking brake lever, steering wheel and front armrest.
Other updates available in the world’s most populous nation include multi-color ambient lighting, a smart key (with remote engine start within a 60-metre range), an Arkamys sound system and 6 airbags across the range. The 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster and an 8.0-inch touchscreen system (with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay) seemingly carry over.
Mechanically, the facelifted Magnite is apparently unchanged. As such, the Japanese automaker again offers a naturally aspirated 1.0-litre, 3-cylinder petrol engine – which makes 53 kW and 96 Nm – as the entry-level motor, available with either a 5-speed manual gearbox or an automated manual transmission (AMT) with the same number of cogs.
Then there’s also a 74 kW turbocharged version of this 3-pot mill, which in pre-facelift, SA-spec form generates 160 Nm in the case of the 5-speed manual gearbox and 152 Nm for the continuously variable transmission (CVT).
As a reminder, the Magnite was revealed on October 2020, before launching in South Africa in April 2021. The current range comprises as many as 13 derivatives, with prices running from R240 000 to R377 800. Year to date (at the end of September 2024), Nissan SA has registered as many as 7 776 units of the Magnite, making it the brand’s most popular product locally.
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