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Launched: The New Nissan Magnite. Major upgrades in design, features and safety.

The Mother City seems to be the place to be for new launches in the motoring industry. Last week was no different as Nissan SA chose a sunny and warm Cape Town to show off their all new magnate. I had the opportunity to drive the Magnite on some of the most scenic routes. The drive in urban Cape Town and on the open roads was hugely comfortable and satisfying. The Magnite handled the ups and downs including the twists and turns with relative ease with the overall drive being what one would expect from this Japanese marque, with over 150 000 of the Magnites sold the world over. The eye-catcher was the fully digital instrumentation panel. Easy as you like. But the spacious interior was another winner. The cabin is notable bigger with very roomy seating, than in previous editions and just to prove a point, I asked a ‘bigger-sized’ to sit at the back and he did so with very relative ease with plenty of leg room. So, notable improvements to the exterior design, loaded with all the features one could ask for and then to travel in complete safety, all at a very attractive price. There are 9 derivatives on offer, so there is certainly one for you.

Magnite 2

Pic: Supplied

 

“Our engineers have taken an incredible design and made it even better to the benefit of our legions of local Magnite fans and I have no doubt, a whole new generation of motorists who will make full use of the Magnite’s potential to allow them to go their own way with all the latest technology that they will need,” says Nissan South Africa and Independent Markets Africa managing director, Maciej Klenkiewicz.

Striking and Robust

The Magnite is a striking compact SUV, with robust exterior styling complemented by LED lights front and rear, alloy wheels and roof rails. The new Magnite retains its striking looks and robust exterior styling, adding a configurable TFT driver display, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for seamless smartphone integration. Life on board is also enhanced with adjustable four colour ambient lighting. Other new features (model specific) include the innovative remote engine start and the walkaway lock and approach unlock function, cooled glove box storage and on-board air ioniser, which is ideal for motorists and passengers with allergies or respiratory conditions.

Magnite 4

Pic: Naresh Maharaj 

 

Drive and Performance

The Magnite is powered by two 1.0-litre engines with one turbocharged, offering an optimum balance of fuel economy and responsive performance, paired by either a manual, automated manual (AMT) or continuously variable transmission. Thanks to independent Macpherson strut suspension with anti-roll bars and rebound springs at the front and semi-independent coil spring suspension at the rear, occupants will enjoy a comfortable, calm ride without excess roll or pitch, even in the most challenging road conditions. The Magnite is ideal for urban cruising, able to accommodate five passengers thanks to its generous wheelbase. The Around View Monitor provides a bird’s eye view of the car from four cameras relieving all the stress from parking in tight spaces. The engine is a normally aspirated 999cc, 3 cylinder pushing out a max torque of 53kW with a combined fuel consumption of 6l per 100kms.

Magnite 3

Pic: Supplied

Grade Walk

Visia

  • 6-airbags (front, side and curtain airbags)
  • Vehicle Dynamic Control
  • Rear Parking Sensors
  • Tyre Pressure Monitoring Sensors
  • Electrically adjustable and foldable side mirrors
  • Speed-sensing lock with child lock and impact-sensing unlocking
  • Multi-function steering controls
  • Automatic air conditioning
  • Shark fin antenna
  • 16" steel wheels with wheel cover
  • Roof rails

Acenta

  • All the features of the Visia, and
  • Display Audio – 8” touch-screen infotainment system with floating design
  • Bluetooth connectivity, Wi-Fi and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
  • Frameless auto-dimming mirror
  • Front LED fog lamps
  • LED daytime running lights
  • Approach unlock and walk-away locking
  • Keyless Start/Stop
  • 7” TFT information screen
  • 16” alloy wheels with two-tone design
  • Plasma air purifier
  • LED headlamps

Acenta Plus

  • Two-tone leather seats with special heat-resistant coatings
  • All of the features of the Acenta, and
  • Around View Monitor – four-camera array with bird’s eye view camera angles
  • Remote starting (on the CVT model only)
  • Leather Steering wheel
  • Cruise control with speed limiter (CVT only).

Verdict

“We are very excited about the Magnite, which had its global launch last month in India. The New Magnite will be introduced for the first time to both right and left-hand drive markets in Africa, spanning the continent from north to south. The New model was revealed in South Africa where it has sold a highly respectable 26 000 units since its start of sales in June 2021,” says Nissan Africa President, Jordi Vila.

Pricing

1.0 Visia (MT)                  R246 200

1.0 Acenta (MT)              R277 300

1.0 Visia (AMT)               R263 200

1.0 Acenta (AMT)            R294 400

1.0 Acenta Plus (AMT)    R323 900

 

Magnite Turbo

1.0T Visia (MT)                R309 700

1.0 Acenta (MT)              R340 100

1.0 Acenta (CVT)             R370 500

1.0 Acenta Plus (CVT)     R410 700