Nissan Magnite Facelift Review: Just Three Changes?

The 2024 Nissan Magnite facelift has been launched with a refreshed design, a fresh cabin theme, and few feature additions. Apart from these few changes, the overall crux of the subcompact SUV had been untouched, and some might say that the changes aren’t enough. Well, we have experienced the new Magnite first hand, and here is a detailed review of the updated SUV.

A Brand New Key

Out of the three major changes in the new Magnite, the first is the new key. It's a long and slim black key finished with chrome inserts. For controls, you get lock and unlock buttons, and a button for remote engine start.

It looks good, feels heavy and solid, and has a proximity function which unlocks the car without having the need to take the key out of your pocket. But…there are visible gaps in the key, which you don’t expect to see, and the piano black elements have finishing issues. 

New Look?

No. The design of the new Magnite is the same as its predecessor, but comes with subtle changes. The grille is wider with a chrome surround, the alloy wheels have a new dual-tone design, the tail lights have been tweaked with new lighting elements, and it now gets a shark fin antenna. 

The changes are not much, and certainly not enough for a facelift in 2024. It has nothing that will make it stand out, or give it a very noticeable road presence, but it still looks good. The design is subtle in a way that it will not give you anything to complain about.

However, it still looks a lot like a Datsun product rather than a Nissan one, due to the shape of the grille, which looks like the Redi-Go we had in the market. And with this facelift, Nissan should have changed that. It would have been a bigger change in the design, and at the same time, it would have given the Magnite a ‘Nissan’ identity.

Same Boot

The boot space, and the boot shape have remained the same, which means you can store the same amount of luggage in the new Magnite as you would in the old one. You get 336-litres of space, where you can put an entire set of suitcases (small, medium and large), and you’ll have space left for a soft bag.

There is a 60:40 split in the rear seats, which will allow you to keep more luggage if needed, but the high boot lip requires you to make more efforts to keep your bags in.

Is The Cabin Brand New?

No, but it looks that way. The overall design of the dashboard, centre console, and the door pads is the same as before, but a lot of leatherette padding has been added to give it a different look and appeal. There are gloss black and brushed aluminium touches as well, which makes the cabin look even more premium. 

Nissan has added leatherette padding on all touchpoints, which includes the dashboard, door pads, centre armrest, steering wheel, and gear knob, so wherever you lay your hands, you touch the more premium elements. Also, while it might appear orange in the images, the true colour of these leatherette elements is tan and brown.

But, that’s all. The issues of the pre-facelift version are still present, and they should have been fixed. There are panel gaps on the glovebox, B-pillars and C-pillars. The front armrest is too short to keep your hand while driving, and the position of the handbrake hides the gear indicators. Also, there are gaps in the new padded area of the dashboard, where you can put your hand inside, and feel the plastics and the foam.

On one hand, you have premium leatherette elements, and on the other, panel gaps and ergonomic issues. Due to this, you’ll feel that there is a contrast in this cabin’s quality, which will not go unnoticed.

Coming to the front seats, there isn’t much to complain about. They are supportive, hold you in place, and can even accommodate people of bigger frames. The one thing which feels missing here is a ventilation function, which most of its competitors offer.

The rear seats have the same space and comfort. Magnite’s rear seats are one of the best in the segment in terms of space, and are just enough for 3 passengers. Yes, the middle passenger will struggle a little, and shoulders will overlap, but in this price and segment, the space these seats offer is more than what you can expect.

There is ample amount of headroom even for taller people, and the legroom, kneeroom, and underthigh support is also sufficient. However, you do sit slightly upright, which can be uncomfortable in longer journeys. The middle passenger sits even more upright, and the lack of a dedicated headrest is also not doing the Magnite any favours.

Same Feature List

You’d expect that with a facelift major changes will be made to the feature list, but that’s not the case here. However, the features on offer are enough for your daily use. You get an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system which has a neat and an easy to use interface, and it supports wireless Android Auto and Apple Carplay, then you have a 7-inch semi-digital driver’s display which does a good job at displaying the information.

Other features include automatic climate control with rear AC vents, cruise control, and that’s it. This isn’t a fancy feature list, but you get all the comfort and convenience features you need. However, if you compare it to the Hyundai Exter, which is similarly priced, you’d realise that features like a sunroof, and a wireless phone charger are missing, which should have been added with this facelift.

Cabin Practicality & Charging Options

Magnite comes with 1-litre bottle holders in all four doors, two cupholders in the front, two in the rear centre armrest along with a phone holder. You get an average-sized glovebox, storage in the front armrest, two trays under the dashboard, and seat back pockets.

For charging options, there is a USB type-A and a 12V socket in the front, and a type-C port at the back.

Safety Features

There have been changes made to the safety kit in the form of 6 airbags being standard and an auto-dimming IRVM (inside rear view mirror). This is the last major change for this facelift, and everything else is the same as before. You get ABS with EBD, traction control, a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS), hill start assist, and ISOFIX child seat anchors.

You also get a 360-degree camera, which is the same as the pre-facelift version, and needs some work. You get four views: top and front, top and back, front and left, and back and left. This setup does not offer a 3D option, but that’s not really a problem. The problem is the camera feed, which is grainy in daylight, and in low light conditions, the camera feed is barely visible, which can be irritating. 

Adequate Performance

The Magnite still comes with the same 1-litre naturally-aspirated (NA) petrol and the 1-litre turbo-petrol engine options, both of which are paired with a 5-speed manual as standard. The NA engine gets the option of a 5-speed AMT, and the turbo one comes with a CVT option.

We drove the turbo CVT variant, and the overall drive impressions were adequate. There is just enough power for your city and highway commutes, and while you might expect quick acceleration from a turbo-petrol engine, it's not the case here. You can perform overtakes easily, but there is still some planning involved. Also, while a CVT is known for its smooth drive, the Magnite CVT can feel a little jerky at city speeds, and you have to be careful with your throttle inputs. 

But, the big problem is the low refinement of the engine, which causes vibrations in the footwell, on the steering wheel, and even on the seats. Also, this is not a quiet engine, and during acceleration, you will hear the loud noise of this motor, which will not be pleasant. 

You will get a relaxed driving experience, but there will be trade-offs. Now, if you’re going for the more affordable NA petrol engine, we would recommend the manual over the AMT, as the AMT is slow to change gears, and the drive is pretty jerky as well, no matter where you’re driving.

Comfortable But With A Catch

The ride quality of the Magnite facelift will not give you any issues, and it does a good job over broken road patches. The suspensions absorb the potholes well and much of the jerk is not transferred inside the cabin. Even on the highways, you get a comfortable ride quality, provided that you’re driving on smooth highways.

But, there is a catch, and it's the noise. Due to low insulation, you can hear the suspensions inside the cabin, which can be frustrating if you have to drive on poorly built city roads on a daily basis. Also, there is a noticeable amount of body roll, which is expected in an SUV body style, but it's something you’ll get used to.

However, on the handling front, we recommend you take it easy. This is a family-oriented car, and is not made for an enthusiast. When taking corners, the steering does not feel heavy, which stops it from giving the driver any confidence. Do not expect a sporty drive, keep it at slow speeds, and you’ll not feel any issues.

Verdict

The design has seen minimal changes, the cabin has been improved but the older issues are still present, the drive is adequate at best, and while the safety quotient has been improved, the feature list is more or less still the same. Nissan has done a good job at making the Magnite look and feel better, but the changes you expect with a facelift have not been made, and even the new additions, especially in the cabin, need better execution.

If you’re looking for a good car on a budget, that can give you a mix of everything without asking you to make a big compromise, you can consider the Hyundai Exter or the Tata Punch. The space won’t be as good as the Magnite, but you will get a good overall package. However, if space is all you need from a budget car, and you only need a vehicle to get from point A to point B without any hassle, then you can go for the Magnite.