Nissan has officially revealed the facelifted version of the Magnite. With it comes an announcement that the tiny SUV will be going global, with a left-hand-drive version rolling off the production line in the near future. Measuring 157 inches long and 69 inches wide, the Magnite is smaller than the Kicks and matches squarely against the Hyundai Venue, one of the smallest vehicles you can buy in the US.
Introducing an LHD version of the Magnite adds 47 nations to Nissan’s market portfolio, totaling to over 65 markets worldwide. Of note, Nissan has built more than 150,000 units of the Magnite in its Chennai facility in India since its launch four years ago.
“India has a critical role in our global strategy and we are glad to roll out the Magnite from our Chennai facility to more markets across the globe. It not only strengthens our export goal but also cements our customer-first philosophy.”
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Frank Torres, president of Nissan India operations.
What’s New With This Mid-Cycle Refresh?
The Nissan Magnite gets slightly restyled for its mid-cycle refresh, seen on the wider grille and redesigned lower bumper with larger skid plate when compared to the production-ready concept introduced in 2020. Most of its LED lighting elements carry over, while the 16-inch rims now have a diamond cut design. Ground clearance is still at 8.1 inches.
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The Magnite is fairly equipped inside, with digital displays for the instrument and infotainment which supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The tan-colored leather is new for the facelifted model, found all over the cabin. Engine options are also carried over, including the turbocharged 1.0-liter three-cylinder gasoline engine that’s good for 98 horsepower, mated to Nissan’s Xtronic CVT.
Will The Magnite Reach The US?
Now, is the Magnite coming to the US? There’s no guarantee. However, the Magnite’s positioning is interesting as the population of affordable cars in America continues to fall. Of note, Hyundai sold over 28,000 units of the Venue in 2023, while nearly 67,000 units of the bigger Nissan Kicks were delivered in the same year. Evidently, there’s a market for small, cheap SUVs. If priced under $20,000 like the Venue, the Magnite has a fighting chance to capture the segment.
Then again, there are several things Nissan has to consider if it plans to bring in the Magnite. One is America’s stringent safety standards, which continue to be less amicable, especially for small SUVs. The Magnite may have a chance in this regard, considering that it’s equipped with Nissan’s latest advanced driver-assist systems. Another is manufacturing, since Americans don’t exactly import vehicles from India. There’s no other Indian-made vehicle currently sold in the US, except for the Mahindra Roxor, which isn’t exactly road-legal and for recreation purposes only.
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