Nissan Magnite vs Toyota Raize 2025: UAE Price, Specs, Features & Verdict

Nissan launched the Magnite facelift in the UAE in March 2025, with the new Toyota Raize arriving at around the same time. Both of these subcompact crossover SUVs target price-sensitive buyers, but neither are categorically cheap nor as well-established as major Nissan or Toyota models. The new Magnite is built on a Renault-Nissan CMF-A platform, which it shares with its Renault Kiger cousin.

Meanwhile, the Toyota Raize is based on a Daihatsu New Global Architecture (DNGA) platform. As the name suggests, this ‘Toyota’ is essentially a Daihatsu – the latter has now been fully absorbed by the former. Where the Raize has been around since 2017, the Magnite was introduced in 2020. The latter’s success in the UAE is crucial for Nissan, though the same isn’t wholly true for Toyota.

Price Comparison

1. The Nissan Magnite 2025 in the UAE is available in three variants: S, SV, and SL. These are priced at AED 59,900, AED 63,900, and AED 71,900, respectively. Like all other Nissan cars, the official distributors of the new Magnite are Arabian Automobiles and Al Masood Automobiles.

Buyers seeking a great VFM deal should take a closer look at the mid-tier SV variant. Nissan UAE offers customers a 5-year/unlimited mileage warranty, a factor that ought to work very well in the Magnite’s favour.

2. On the other hand, the Toyota Raize 2025 comes with a 3-year/100,000 km manufacturer warranty as standard. Unlike the new Magnite, this Toyota crossover is only available in one variant in the UAE; the 1.0 Turbo G costs AED 66,900. This makes purchasing a Raize an extremely straightforward affair. The official distributor of all Toyota cars in the UAE is Al-Futtaim.

Dimensions Comparison

Owing to their handy dimensions, both the Nissan Magnite and Toyota Raize offer buyers the convenience of a hassle-free commute in the city. While their dimensional similarities are apparent, so is their distinctive exterior styling.

Dimensions	Nissan Magnite 2025	Toyota Raize 2025
Length	3,999 mm	4,030 mm
Width	1,758 mm	1,710 mm
Height	1,572 mm	1,635 mm
Wheelbase	2,500 mm	2,525 mm
Weight	1,103 kg	1,080 kg (appx.)
Fuel capacity	36 litres	36 litres
Boot capacity	336 litres	369 litres
Wheel size	16 inches	17 inches

 The differences in size between these two cars aren’t too major, but we will point them out anyway. The Toyota Raize 2025 is ever so slightly longer and taller than the Magnite, while offering larger alloy wheels as well. A longer wheelbase and larger boot help make the Raize’s cabin feel more practical in the way it uses its space.

One of the things that the Nissan Magnite 2025 has going for it is its slightly wider cabin. This liberates a whisker’s width more in shoulder room, allowing occupants to stretch out ever so slightly more here than in the Toyota. Where the Raize appears boxier and thus a bit more traditional, the Magnite’s sleeker design makes it look sportier and more youthful.

The Magnite gets slender LED headlights, J-shaped LED daytime running lights, a chrome-garnished (Datsun) grille, and a souped-up but sporty-looking front bumper. There are black claddings all around, two-tone colour options, chrome door handles, a fancier rear spoiler, and part-LED taillights with a 3D design. The Raize’s flatter front end looks more robust and its 17-inch rims fill the wheel wells with more determination.

Drivetrain and Performance Comparison

Keeping powertrain choices simple yet effective is one of the hardest things to do, though not always the right thing to do. In this case, however, most buyers walking into a showroom for either of these cars would appreciate that simplicity. When it comes to the Nissan Magnite and Toyota Raize, their almost similar powertrains reflect some key differences.

Specs	Nissan Magnite 2025	Toyota Raize 2025
Engine	1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol	1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol
Gearbox	CVT	CVT
Drive System	FWD	FWD
Power	99 hp	97 hp
Torque	152 Nm	140 Nm
Mileage	17.3 kmpl (5.7 L/100 km)	19.3 kmpl (5.1 L/100 km)
Top Speed	175 kmph	170 kmph
0-100 kmph	12 seconds (appx.)	10.5 seconds

 While they’re marketed as ‘SUVs’, neither of these cars come with all-wheel drive (AWD). The lack of an AWD system further asserts the fact that the Nissan Magnite and Toyota Raize are primarily city runabouts that prioritise fuel economy over tyre-shredding performance. On this front, the results are interesting if a bit surprising.

Although the engines of these cars are almost identical in their specs on paper, it’s the slightly larger Toyota Raize that’s quicker to 100 kmph and more fuel efficient. Considering their identical fuel tank capacities, the Raize would be the one having the longer legs between trips to a fuel station. As far as the top speed is concerned, the Nissan Magnite is the faster car.

Since the gearbox used in both is a CVT, neither car feels particularly engaging to drive. The drone of the CVT is ever present, and if you push these three-cylinder turbo-petrol engines hard, this engine-gearbox combination will make themselves heard in the cabin. However, during regular city commutes, the Magnite’s powertrain remains composed and tractable even at low speeds.

The Toyota Raize’s turbo-petrol engine feels quite unhappy below 2,500 rpm, lacking any form of enthusiasm. This means that if you’re someone whose daily commute involves tackling a lot of bumper-to-bumper traffic, the Raize’s hesitance to get going at low speeds can get annoying over time. While the ride at low speeds is good in both the cars, the Magnite’s softer suspension can get bouncy at times.

Features Comparison

When it comes time to shift your focus to the features and equipment available on these cars, it soon becomes clear that one of them has more to offer than the other. We will look at the top variant of the Nissan Magnite and the sole variant of the Toyota Raize. Which one do you think will win this?

Exterior Features	Nissan Magnite SL	Toyota Raize G
LED headlights	Yes (automatic)	Yes (automatic)
LED DRLs	Yes	Yes
LED foglights	Yes (front)	Yes (rear)
LED combination taillights	Yes	Yes
Powered ORVMs	Yes (power-folding)	Yes
Keyless entry	Yes (w/ remote engine start + auto-lock & unlock)	Yes
Roof rails	Yes	Yes
Rear spoiler	Yes	Yes

 The interior of the Toyota Raize is a bit more basic in its overall design and equipment execution than the Nissan Magnite. While its driving ergonomics are good, the extensive use of low-rent plastics in the Raize’s cabin easily comes to the forefront due to its all-black interior. Toyota has tried to minimise the drabness by way of white stitching on the steering wheel and red piping on the seats, but they achieve only so much.

While plasticky and ordinary in design, Toyota’s switchgear feels long-lasting and are extremely easy to use. There really are no complexities in the Raize’s cabin – simplicity appears to be the overarching theme. The headroom is better here than in the Magnite thanks to the flat roof, and the square windows make this interior feel much more airy.

The Nissan Magnite’s interior looks more stylish and modern than the Toyota’s. The two-tone colours and orange stitching make this space feel livelier, too. While its dash is set higher than in the Raize, the Magnite’s cabin offers more goodies and a premium look. Its nicer steering wheel & seat upholstery, leatherette trimmings, quality HVAC dials with built-in readouts, and Lamborghini-inspired AC vents feel unique too.

Where the Magnite’s interior feels a touch less competitive is in its actual space. The rear windows are smaller than in the Raize which, combined with the lower roof, makes the Magnite’s cabin feel less roomy. There are bargain-basement plastics here as well, though the inclusion of a rear armrest and rear AC vents balance that out. Now, how does the interior tech in these cars compare?

Interior Technologies	Nissan Magnite SL	Toyota Raize G
Push-button start	Yes	No
Digital driver’s display	Yes (7-inch partial cluster)	No (3.5-inch MID)
Touchscreen infotainment	Yes (8-inch)	Yes (8-inch)
Wireless charger	Yes	No
Apple CarPlay & Android Auto	Yes (wireless)	Yes
LED ambient lighting	Yes (multi-colour)	No
Sound system	Yes (6-speaker audio)	Yes (4-speaker audio)

When it comes to offering occupants comfort-oriented features, the Nissan Magnite 2025 once again takes the lead. The differences are more glaring primarily because Toyota doesn’t offer a higher-spec variant of the Raize in the UAE than the G trim.

Comfort Offerings	Nissan Magnite SL	Toyota Raize G
Leather upholstery	Yes (leatherette)	No
Adjustable steering	Yes (tilt)	No
Split-folding rear seats	Yes	Yes
Rear armrest	Yes	No
Front-centre armrest	Yes	Yes
Automatic climate control	Yes (w/ air purifier + rear vents)	No
Cooled glovebox	Yes	No
USB ports	Yes	No

 Following a similar pattern, the safety features of the Nissan Magnite 2025 are more robust and modern than what’s offered with the Toyota Raize 2025. While most new Toyota cars get modern safety equipment, this Daihatsu appears to be an outlier.

Safety Systems	Nissan Magnite SL	Toyota Raize G
Cruise control	Yes	No
Auto-dimming IRVM	Yes	No
Tyre-pressure monitoring	Yes	Yes
Surround-view cameras	Yes	No
Parking sensors	Yes (rear)	Yes (rear)
Airbags	Yes (6)	Yes (2)
Vehicle stability control	Yes	Yes
Hill-start assist	Yes	Yes

Conclusion

The Toyota Raize has a roomier interior, better fuel economy, more ‘SUV-like’ exterior, and a lower price tag. However, even if you’re budget-constrained, the Nissan Magnite SV variant offers more value for each dirham while still being cheaper than the Raize. Those who like and want all the cool features that the Magnite SL provides, need only rationalise 5,000 dirhams on top of what the Raize G costs.