FIRST LOOK - NISSAN MAGNITE

We spent some time with Nissan’s big comeback car for India, the Magnite

TUHIN GUHA

The Nissan Magnite is a sub-four-metre SUV from Nissan that will be its first launch in the Indian market since the Kicks and is expected to set the stage for its revival in the country. In the larger scheme of things, the Magnite is one of eight models that Nissan has in store for the Indian, Middle-Eastern and African markets as part of its global mission of streamlining operations and improving profitability.

Styling

Underscoring the new beginning that this model signifies, the Magnite is the first car to feature the new 2D Nissan logo. This aside, the Magnite is also unique in the way it is being positioned in the bustling sub-four-metre SUV space. Although dimensions have not been revealed, the Magnite looks significantly larger than small crossovers like the Mahindra KUV100 and the upcoming Tata HBX, but marginally smaller than the usual sub-four-metre crowd of the Tata Nexon, Hyundai Venue and Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza.

There’s no hiding the fact that the Magnite was originally supposed to come to life as a Datsun, before Nissan’s new strategy called for a greater focus on the core brand. This is evident from the face of the Magnite which carries the full-face hexagonal mesh grille, the L-shaped DRLs and the very sharply cut full LED headlamps.

Moving on from here, the rest of the Magnite follows Nissan’s newest design philosophy with its focus on some very prominent sculpting as seen with the heavy bulges to the sides of the bonnet which flow into the flat nose. Some similarly prominent haunches over the wheel arches combine with other body panels to create a greater sense of mass around the car. This is especially true around the heavily bulged rear threequarter section which meld into the taillamps. The roofline drops slightly, much like in the Kicks, but there is a unique funnel roof design which is an element that Nissan says will make the Maginite one of the most aerodynamically efficient SUVs in its space.