The Magnite will be offered with a petrol engine only. It will be powered by the HR10 Turbo engine, which is essentially a turbocharged version of the 1.0-litre petrol engine that powers the Renault Triber. The Magnite will be the first car in India to get Renault’s 1.0-litre turbocharged engine.
Renault-Nissan already offers the HR10 Turbo engine across various models globally, including the Nissan Micra. In the UK, the Micra gets the 1.0-litre turbocharged engine in two states of tune. In the lower state, it makes 100PS and 160Nm (144Nm with CVT) mated to a 5-speed manual transmission and a CVT. In the higher state of tune, this engine is good for 117PS and 180Nm paired to a 6-speed manual transmission.
The Magnite, however, will get this engine in the lower state of tune (100PS) paired to a 5-speed MT and a CVT. Renault is also expected to introduce this engine on the Triber and its upcoming Magnite-rival, the Kiger.
Along with the engine details, Nissan has also unveiled some features of the Magnite. It will be equipped with various segment-first features including a 360-degree parking camera and a 7-inch driver’s display.
Features like tyre pressure monitoring system, cruise control, electronic stability program, dual front airbags, ABS with EBD, rear parking sensors, hill launch assist, traction control, push-button start/stop, auto AC with rear AC vents, wireless mobile charger 60:40 split rear seats, manual day/night IRVM, adjustable rear headrest, rear centre armrest, rear washer and wiper and an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto will also be on offer. It is surprising to see that Nissan is offering only two airbags on the Magnite, whereas its platform sibling, the Triber, gets 4 airbags.
Nissan is likely to launch the Magnite in January 2021. Prices are expected to range from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh. It will take on the likes of the Hyundai Venue, Kia Sonet, Tata Nexon, Mahindra XUV300, Ford EcoSport, Toyota Urban Cruiser and the Maruti Vitara Brezza.