Pacific Motors, the official distributor of Nissan, launched the new Nissan Magnite yesterday. This model is the latest addition to the Japanese brand’s crossover SUV segment in Bangladesh.
The model has a price tag of Tk30 lakh 50 thousand and according to the manufacturer the Magnite promises to ensure a comfortable ride.
Inside, there's a surprising amount of space – both front and back – as well as a nice big load bay (Nissan claims a luggage capacity of 336 litres) – all without sacrificing the ability to fit a full-size spare wheel, which is a plus.
The Magnite's rear seats can be folded down in a 60/40 arrangement in case you need more storage space for those long journeys.
The interior design is quite stylish and sharp-edged, with leather on the steering wheel and gear-lever boot elevating the atmosphere.
Soft inserts (such as those on the center armrest) demonstrate where and how Nissan intended to bring the Magnite's perceived quality up to the line with the fierce competition in the same category.
However, the build quality should have been up to par with the standards of its rivals.
Engine
The Magnite is driven by a turbocharged 1.0-litre 3-cylinder engine that produces 74 kW at 5 000 rpm and 160 Nm of torque between 2800 and 3600 rpm, according to the manufacturer.
Those numbers are comparable to the Japanese newcomer's competitors' top outputs, although it's worth noting that the Kia and Suzuki/Toyota engines are naturally aspirated, whilst the Nissan's smaller engine is turbocharged. It makes driving the Magnite extremely unique; to get the most out of the engine, you must become familiar with its power delivery characteristics (in terms of performance and efficiency).
Ride and Comfort
It adds some premium touches, such as digital instrumentation, a large central touchscreen infotainment screen (which doubles as the display for the standard 360-degree camera system), cruise control, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility, automatic aircon (climate control), a wireless charging pad, and even rear ventilation outlets, in addition to the expected items, such as electric windows all-round and power steering.
In general, I think the Magnite is the best-equipped model at its price range, which helps to mitigate some of the build quality problems.
The suspension is tuned for ride comfort rather than sporty handling (as it should be for such a car), but this results in a significant body roll when the budget crossover is cornered fast.
So, while the Magnite's road manners aren't too bad, it lacks the refinement and suspension suppleness.
Safety
It matches (or exceeds) the competition in terms of safety specifications, but then again the bar is set fairly low. It only has two airbags (dual front), but it does come with electronic stability control (in addition to ABS). The Magnite also has ISOfix child-seat mounts in the back. In an ASEAN NCAP crash test in 2020, it received a good 4 stars.
Japan's Ambassador to Bangladesh Ito Naoki unveiled the car at the Nissan Exhibition Center in Tejgaon and at the launching event; he mentioned that Japan's relationship with Pacific Motors is about 50 years old.
Intekhab Mahmud, managing director of Pacific Motors, told the media that the Nissan Magnite model was manufactured in a way to make it women-friendly.
Pacific Motors is offering the members of the Women on Wheels (WAO) group the opportunity of free servicing six times with a discount of Tk50,000.
In addition, Brac Bank's Tara card users will be able to buy the car with a loan at 6% interest.
For the price range, the Magnite is a better choice than all its Korean counterparts as Nissan is known for its reliability.