What’s new in the Nissan Magnite 2025: A detailed overview

Arriving on the shores of India in 2020, the Magnite was originally conceived for the Datsun brand. As Datsun was in the process of being completely absorbed by Nissan, the Magnite eventually entered the market as a Nissan product. Underpinned by a Renault-Nissan CMF platform, this subcompact crossover is presently Nissan’s smallest and most affordable SUV.

In a market as saturated with medium and large SUVs as the UAE, a small crossover has its appeal. The Nissan Magnite 2025 is designed keeping in mind the needs of the urban driver, where daily practicality and efficiency are priorities. While the Nissan brand has its fair share of challenges, the new Magnite isn’t one of them.

Variants & Price

The Nissan Magnite 2025 is available in three variants in the UAE. The base variant of the new Magnite is called the S, which costs AED 59,900. The middle variant is the Magnite SV and costs AED 63,900. Given its alluring price and feature set, there’s a high likelihood that the SV could become the top-selling Magnite in the region.

The most expensive and feature-packed variant of the Nissan Magnite 2025 is called the SL, and it costs AED 71,900. Those interested in buying a new Magnite can either head to Arabian Automobiles (Dubai, Sharjah) or Al Masood Automobiles (Abu Dhabi, Al Ain) dealerships. The competitors of the Nissan Magnite include the Renault Kiger, Suzuki Fronx, and Hyundai Venue.

Exterior

You can tell right away that the new Nissan Magnite is more than just a city runabout. The bold chrome surround of Nissan's distinctive V-Motion grille stands out in front. It dives into a contrasting skid-plate insert that implies a sense of adventure. On either side are elegant bi-projector LED headlights with "Lightsaber"-style DRLs that cut through the main units with purpose.

The front bumper's carved channels and built-in LED foglights aren't just stylish, but they give the Magnite a solid, planted look. When you move to the side, the Magnite's dynamic profile becomes more evident. The gloss-black roof rails at the top give the roof a "floating" look that is both modern and partly useful – it has a rated load capacity of up to 50 kg.

The muscular wheel arches and tough-looking side cladding give it that 'SUV' vibe, whilst the 16-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels lend a touch of sophistication. There are sharp creases along the doors that attract attention from the front to the rear. This makes the whole car look like it's moving even when it's not.

Nissan didn't stop at that. The wraparound LED taillights have a subtle 3D honeycomb appearance and are joined by a gloss-black bar that makes the Magnite's stance look wider. A dynamic roof spoiler with a built-in high-mount stop lamp offers a finishing touch, while the silver-finish rear skid plate ties the whole design together.

Last but certainly not least, the Magnite's colour scheme is satisfyingly varied. You can pick from a variety of single-tone finishes, such as Pearl White or Vivid Blue. If you wish to be less conservative, you can choose a dual-tone scheme, such as Sunrise Copper Orange & Onyx Black. No matter which colour scheme you select, the Magnite remains a good-looking car.

The Nissan Magnite 2025 measures 3,999 mm in length, 1,758 mm in width, and 1,572 mm in height. The wheelbase stands at 2,500 mm, while the Magnite’s 336-litre boot is expandable to 690 litres with the rear seats down. For its size, this amount of luggage capacity is good, and it makes this Nissan crossover quite practical.

Interior

As soon as you step into the Magnite's cabin, you can tell that Nissan has paid attention to the little things. The seats are lined with soft, quilted Modure leatherette with "Heat-Guard" technology that keeps them cool even in the Dubai sun. You can select the vibe you want for the four-colour ambient lighting system. It remembers your favourite setting every time you get back in the car!

The 8-inch touchscreen in the middle of the dash is easy to use and works with your smartphone via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. No more messing around with annoying cables! Below that are big, easy-to-reach switches. Meanwhile, the well-contoured steering wheel is wrapped in leather, offering a premium touch.

You can relax on lengthy stretches of highway thanks to cruise control, and on hot days, the cooled glovebox becomes a great place to store beverages. For a subcompact car, there's a lot of room in the Nissan Magnite. There's more than enough room for four people to sit comfortably, though five would be a squeeze.

A 360-degree 'Around-View Monitor' helps you clear obstacles near you better. Therefore, parking the Magnite even in tight spaces becomes a whole lot simpler. The cabin of the Nissan Magnite is a great mix of style and function, which is unexpected given its pricing. There's a decent blend of smart technology, useful materials, and adequate storage cubbies.

Adding to the goodies, the Magnite gets automatic climate control (with a built-in air purifier), multiple USB charging ports, a 7-inch instrument cluster, and a wireless charging pad. The frameless IRVM not only looks cool but also integrates an auto-dimming function. On the other hand, the 6-speaker sound system does the job, but it’s nowhere near the best-in-class.

Engine and performance

Under the hood of the Nissan Magnite 2025 is a 1.0-litre, three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine. This small capacity motor is good for 99 hp and 152 Nm of torque, delivered between 2,200 and 4,400 rpm. This is just about enough to navigate peak-hour Dubai traffic or even drive down SZR without much fuss.

The new Magnite has a good mix of horsepower and efficiency thanks to its X-Tronic CVT, which works smoothly. It’s not the most engaging of transmissions, but Nissan says that this gearbox should help the Magnite achieve 17.3 kmpl, which is good for this class of car.

The Magnite's top speed is over 170 kmph, while it reaches 100 kmph in around 13 seconds. But performance in a straight line isn't the only attribute that matters. The new Magnite's suspension is made up of MacPherson struts in the front and a semi-independent coil setup in the back.

This suspension setup handles bumps in the road with ease while keeping body roll in check. This, in turn, makes the Magnite's ride adequately comfortable. In short, this sub-4-metre crossover handles just as well on Abu Dhabi's wide roads as it does on Sharjah's ultra-busy, narrow residential streets. Overall, the Magnite is easy to drive and sips fuel carefully.

Safety

Despite being a small crossover, the Nissan Magnite 2025 isn’t bereft of safety features. Some of its standard kit includes Traction Control System, Vehicle Dynamic Control, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System, and Hill Start Assist. The new Magnite also has ABS with EBD, ISOFIX child-seat mounts, up to six airbags, and rear parking sensors with a reversing camera as standard.

That isn’t all. Some of the Nissan Magnite’s other safety gear includes a rear wiper, emergency brake assist, a seatbelt reminder, and impact-sensing door unlock. Thankfully, gone are the days when affordable cars lacked vital safety systems. So, if you’re interested in the new Magnite, safety need not be a point of debate.

Conclusion

It might have been initially slated for Datsun, but that doesn’t make the Nissan Magnite 2025 any less impressive. At its core, the Magnite is a good little urban crossover that packs in a lot of nifty features at a reasonable asking price. While outright performance isn’t its strongest suit, the Magnite’s efficiency and smart design make up for that.