Nissan Magnite vs Premium Hatchbacks - What Do The Prices Say?

The aggressively priced Magnite subcompact SUV is a promising alternative to some premium hatchbacks too

The new Nissan Magnite has entered the sub-4m SUV segment with eye-catching design and a shockingly affordable introductory price. It will be available from Rs 4.99 lakh to Rs 9.35 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) till the end of the year which helps it undercut its direct rivals by at least Rs 1.70 lakh. This pricing also brings into contention with premium hatchbacks and we see exactly how it fares on price alone.

The Magnite is offered with two 1.0-litre petrol engines, the 72PS naturally aspirated gets a manual gearbox only while the 100PS turbocharged unit has the choice of a CVT automatic as well. Since it's a petrol-only offering, we’ll only be comparing its prices with petrol variants of the premium hatchback segment.

Petrol Manual

Note: Nissan also offers the Magnite with a Tech Pack that offers additional features on all variants from the XV trim onwards for a premium of Rs 38,698. It offers dealer-level accessories, not factory-fitted equipment, which includes wireless charging pad, air purifier, ambient lighting and a JBL sound system.

• The entry-level Nissan Magnite XE is more affordable than any premium hatchback currently on offer. It gets the 72PS/96Nm 1.0-litre engine mated to a 5-speed manual and it is the least powerful option here. 

• The Magnite XE is more affordable than the base variants of the Tata Altroz by Rs 45,000, Maruti Baleno by Rs 65,000 and the Hyundai i20 by Rs 1.79 lakh.

• The top-spec turbo-petrol variant of the Magnite with the manual gearbox is still cheaper than the entry-level turbo variant of the i20 which offers more power and a 6-speed iMT (clutchless manual).

• The top-spec Maruti Baleno, Tata Altroz and Volkswagen Polo with the manual gearbox are still cheaper than the top-spec Magnite Turbo XV Premium by as much as Rs 70,000.

• Volkswagen and Hyundai premium hatchbacks also get a 1.0-litre turbo-petrol engine option but it is more powerful than Nissan’s 1.0-litre turbo-petrol engine.

• Maruti is the only one to offer a mild-hybrid variant which helps with the fuel efficiency of the Baleno but it does come at a premium which makes the Delta variant pricier than the top-spec Alpha variant.

• Only one variant of the Honda WR-V crossover is within comparable range of the Nissan Magnite sub-4m SUV.

Petrol Automatic

• Magnite only gets the automatic variant with its turbo-petrol variant which is why it’s not the most affordable option in the list for once. It uses a CVT automatic, same as the Baleno, Jazz and some variants of the i20.

• The Baleno with the CVT automatic is Rs 12,000 less expensive than the Magnite Turbo XL.

• Hyundai offers the i20’s 1.2-litre petrol engine with a CVT automatic while the 1.0-litre turbo-petrol gets the choice of a 7-speed dual clutch automatic.

• The top-spec Magnite CVT is more affordable than the i20’s dual-clutch automatic by over a lakh.

• Tata doesn’t offer an automatic option with the Altroz.

• Volkswagen is the only option here with a torque convertor automatic and those variants are priced similar to the to-spec Magnite Turbo XV Premium.

While the Nissan Magnite offers a different proposition to a premium hatchback in terms of comfort, road presence and design, it can be an alluring option for those simply looking to upgrade to a bigger car on a small budget. You can read about how the Magnite’s prices fare against its rivals like the Kia Sonet and Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza here.

Read More on : Magnite Automatic