Mighty little Magnite
A beautiful, promising automobile
Nissan's small crossover brings together affordability, fuel frugality and freedom.
The Nissan Magnite 1-litre turbo Acenta CVT is on special at Pupkewitz Nissan in Windhoek. Recently, birthday girl and My.Na Cars' own people's passenger princess, Diana Master, went to take a good look at it. Guiding her through all the ins and outs of this impressive compact crossover was passionate sales consultant Manfred Ndjoonduezu.All Magnite models come complete with 16-inch alloy wheels in a two-tone design to complement the two-tone colour scheme of these sturdy runabouts. All lights are fully LED, including the distinctive L-shaped daytime running lights, which neatly frame the aggressive grille with the Nissan logo in the centre. Driven to exuberance, the hard plastic grille embodies the growl at the heart of Nissan’s answer to the daily urban commute.
Able to carry you and a surprising quantity of your baggage up to 100 km on only 6 litres of fuel, or only 5 litres if you opt to buy the manual version of the new Magnite, this automobile is designed to be frugal and make you look good while doing it. "It is one of the best-looking small cars," says Ndjoonduezu, adding that "Nissan really pays attention to design."
His favourite aspect, however, is the 206 mm of ground clearance that the Magnite enjoys. This makes gravel roads very accessible, and the open road also feels like home behind the steering wheel of the Magnite. The 1-litre, 3-cylinder engine benefits from the turbo built into the Acenta, delivering 74 kW of power and generating 153 Nm of torque, while the manual version boasts 160 Nm of torque. For the non-turbo versions, the 1-litre engine provides 54 kW of power and 74 Nm of torque."
Top features
Drivers of the top-of-the-line Magnite also enjoy 360-degree views thanks to the built-in rear-view, front-view, and side-view cameras mounted on the side-view mirrors. Push-button start is complemented by the intelligent key remote and steering wheel-mounted controls, including cruise control activation. On the 8-inch display, where camera feeds can be viewed, information like tyre pressure is also available. Drive modes include sport and eco, the latter adding to the fuel-saving inherent to this Nissan. The gauge display is activated when the automobile is switched on.
Smartphone integration allows you to access all your smartphone features via the central display, and wireless charging of your smartphone is also accommodated. Sleek climate control buttons suggest the versatility with which each occupant can adjust their own experience in the Magnite. For a small car, the Magnite also provides plenty of space for occupants, fitting a two-metre-tall person in front or at the back with headroom to spare. As Master puts it, regarding her own tall frame, “it fits like a glove and is very comfortable."
In particular, she appreciates the fold-away armrest with a cup holder in the back, as well as the 60/40 split backrest for the rear seats, which can fold down to extend the 336 litres of boot space already available. A full spare wheel is nestled under the boot, while the 12V charger adds to the convenience for back seat passengers. ISOFIX mountings on the back seats and two airbags for the front passengers ensure the safety of everyone, from babies to drivers. Electronic window controls and a light mounted for back seat passenger usage add to the convenience of the Magnite.
Perhaps the best part is the price. A brand-new Nissan Magnite turbo Acenta CVT can be yours, on special, for less than N$330 000. The normal price is around N$361 000. The price includes 150 000 km or six years of roadside assistance, 160 000 km or six years of warranty, and a 30 000 km or three-year service plan with service intervals at every 10 000 km.