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Nissan Magnite is finally - and officially - set to hit the Indian roads as the Japanese car maker launches its latest offerings here today. In many ways, Magnite seeks to be a lifeboat on which Nissan cruises past torrid waves it has had to face in the country. Little wonder then that the sub-compact SUV is carrying the weight of a whole lot of expectations.
Magnite has been designed and engineered keeping the Indian car-buying audience in focus and therefore, the vehicle is being launched here before anywhere else. It makes sense to have a promising sub-compact SUV to wage a war for revival because the segment is extremely lucrative in the country. But it is also extremely competitive with every inch of space being ferociously fought for.
Will Magnite be able to undercut all its rivals when it comes to the price structure? Can Nissan connect with prospective buyers? Should rival OEMs be concerned? Catch live and latest updates from the launch of Nissan Magnite here:
That's all we have for you from this launch event.
Click here for the full launch report of Magnite sub-compact SUV from Nissan.
Here is our first drive review of the Magnite 1.0-litre Turbo Manual & CVT.
Nissan's latest offering Magnite starts at an introductory price of ₹4,99,000 (ex showroom, Delhi) for all the customers who make a booking until 31 December 2020. The price will start at ₹5,54,000 thereafter.
Magnite aims to cater to the aspirational buyer in India, says Nissan.
It is expected that the base variant of Magnite will start under ₹6 lakh while the top could max out at or under ₹10 lakh. Will Nissan ensure Magnite is the most affordable sub-compact SUV? Launch event to begin shortly.
Magnite will come in four broad trims - XE, XL, XV and XV Premium, and as many as 20 variants.
The starring highlights of each broad trim are as follows:
XE (Base) comes with standard 16-inch wheels, skid plates, functional roof rails, 3.5-inch LCD cluster, all-power windows and dual tone interiors for a true entry into the SUV experience.
XL (Mid) comes with 6 speakers for integrated audio, steering wheel audio control, automatic AC and electrically adjustable & foldable outside mirrors for a comfortable upgrade.
XV (High) revamps the technological experience with 16-inch diamond cut alloys, LED daytime running lamps (DRL) and foglamps, 8-inch floating touch screen (with Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto), 7-inch TFT meter, voice recognition, rear-view camera and push-button start.
XV (Premium) is packed with technologies such as the LED bi-projector headlamps, Cruise Control, 360-degree Around View Monitor, tire pressure monitor and full sporty interiors.
Nissan Magnite sub-compact SUV will be offered in 5 single, 3 dual-tone shades. (Click here to read all about the options available)
Nissan Magnite misses out on two popular features that many Indian car buyers look out for - a sunroof and ventilated seats.
This doesn't mean that Magnite doesn't have what it takes to compete against the lengthy feature list from the likes of Kia and Hyundai. To possibly keep costs down though, Nissan is offering a Tech Pack as an optional extra.
The Tech Pack will bring in features like wireless phone charging, ambient light, air purifier, side puddle lamp and more.
The price of this Tech Pack will be revealed once the launch event begins.
If you are looking for a diesel car, look away. This is because Nissan Magnite will only get two engine options and both are petrol. One is a 1.0-litre motor but the showstopper is the 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine that has a peppy vibe and performance.
Nissan is wading through troubled waters in many global markets. The woes have only been exponentially increased by the outbreak of Covid-19.
Nissan had reported its first fiscal year loss back in a decade and the biggest in 20 years, in May but CEO Makoto Uchida had underlined his confidence of returning to profitability in 2021.
As such, the Indian car market is also pivotal to plans ahead. India is one of the largest auto markets in the world even if significantly smaller than the US, China and some European countries. The Japanese car maker is focused on offering not just a new product in Magnite but the commitment of a brand that is looked at keenly - and kindly - by buyers here.
Nissan says that a large part of Magnite's appeal lies in how 'magnetic' the car is. Hence, it only makes sense to have this as the name of its latest product offering.