2021 Nissan Magnite joins ever-growing compact SUV segment

2021 Nissan Magnite joins ever-growing compact SUV segment

Urban-focused compact SUV has strong space, safety and tech focus, brings Nissan into line with current compact crossover trends.

Nissan’s pint-sized Magnite hits showrooms today, a compact SUV that underlines the market’s shift away from the conventional hatchback towards higher, more spacious crossovers.

What does it look and feel like?

Nissan may have invented the large crossover SUV with the Qashqai, but it’s new to this segment. Magnite is taller and slightly bigger than a conventional hatchback, but still compact enough to be easy to use in town. Its boxy design means parking is made simple: every corner is visible and indeed, general visibility is excellent, with few blind spots.

And inside?

It looks and feels young and interesting inside, with a large infotainment screen in the central console which is the gateway to most of the car’s tech. Seats are comfy and there is a huge amount of head and legroom at the back. Materials are decent too – there is a feeling of quality and attention to detail.

How does it go?

Nissan use their 1-litre, three-cylinder, turbocharged engine in the Magnite which means there is plenty of power on the Reef (the turbocharger helps with the power decrease caused by altitude).

Those ‘triple turbos’ are also fun to drive, zippy and responsive. Fuel economy is also good, as long as the turbo isn’t used too much in full throttle driving.

WoW has not driven the car yet, but reports suggest the ride is comfortable. Watch out for our full drive soon.

Anything else?

Part of Nissan’s safety package for the Magnite is something they call Around View Monitor (AVM), which gives the driver a virtual bird’s eye view from above the vehicle. Working with cameras around the car, the electronic brain compiled a single image of what’s around the vehicle. Nifty!

It’s also set up for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility.

What does it cost?

Acenta MT  R256 999

Acenta CVT = R280 100

Acenta Plus MT = R282 600

Acenta Plus CVT = R305 700

The Nissan Magnite comes with a Service Plan: 3yr/30000 km (3 services) and a warranty 6-year/150 000 km.

Picture: Nissan SA