2025 Nissan Magnite launched, headed for the the UAE & GCC

Japanese automaker Nissan has unveiled the “new” Nissan Magnite sub-compact SUV in New Delhi, the capital of India. The Magnite has been highly popular in the South Asian country, having sold over 150,000 units since its launch in 2020. Nissan aims to continue this success by introducing the new model and has also announced plans to launch a left-hand drive version for additional markets. This move will increase Magnite exports from Nissan’s world-class Chennai plant from 20 right-hand drive markets to more than 65 countries, including the UAE, KSA, and South Africa, thereby realizing Nissan’s “One Car, One World” strategy for the crossover.

Styling

The new Magnite is not a next-generation vehicle, but it has been given a refresh, though Nissan insists on referring to it as an MC or “Major Change.”

At first glance, the outlook of the new vehicle seems all too familiar, as it retains much of its edgy styling, but closer inspection reveals subtle yet significant tweaks. The front grille now features a revised hexagonal design, and the apron is more robust and noticeable, with repositioned fog lamps. The new design is complemented by LED lights at both the front and rear, a new 16-inch alloy wheel design, and roof rails. Customers can now choose paint schemes from a palette of 13 colours, including five two-tone variants.

Tech

The cabin has also been updated. With passenger comfort in mind, Nissan has introduced a “360-degree leather treatment,” adding soft leatherette padding on most touchpoints on the doors and the dashboard. The seats are upholstered with “MODURE” quilted leatherette, featuring contrast stitching that mimics the hexagonal motif of the front grille and a coating that reflects infrared rays.

The new cabin includes a 7-inch digital TFT configurable driver display with updated graphics, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for smartphone integration, and a wireless smartphone charger (although the wattage was not specified). Rear passengers now have a USB charger and air vents for added convenience, and the overall interior ambience has been elevated with the addition of 4-colour ambient lighting.

Other convenience features include walk-away lock and approach-unlock functions using the new I-Key, cooled glove box storage, and an onboard air ionizer—ideal for customers with allergies or respiratory conditions. The air ionizer is said to maintain high IAQ (Indoor Air Quality) by neutralizing odours and airborne microbes, and it works with the new remote engine start function (which we in the Middle East appreciate greatly) to create a cool, clean, and comfortable environment.

Nissan Magnite Space & Safety

With its compact dimensions—under four meters in length, a width of 1,758mm, and a height of 1,572mm—the Magnite is sized to compete with crossovers like the Kia Sonet and Skoda Kushaq. Thanks to its generous wheelbase of 2,500mm, it is designed to comfortably accommodate five passengers. Unlike its predecessor, all variants now come with split-folding rear seats as standard, which allows them to expand cargo capacity from 336L to 540L.

Safety has also been a major focus of this update. The Magnite’s bodyshell utilizes reinforced steel for “impressive” structural integrity. Six airbags are standard across all variants, and three-point seat belts are provided for rear passengers. The newly introduced frameless rear-view mirror offers a wider field of view and features an auto-dimming function. Other safety features include the newly available Around View Monitor, Traction Control, Hill Start Assist, Hydraulic Brake Assist, driver seatbelt pretensioner, and TPMS.

Nissan Magnite Powertrain & Performance

The complexity of the Indian and other right-hand drive markets has led Nissan to offer a variety of powertrain combinations in these regions. These include two engines—one naturally aspirated and the other turbocharged—paired with one of three different transmissions, including a manual, a conventional automatic, and the XTRONIC CVT.

For the Middle East, the market will likely receive the more powerful turbocharged 1.0-litre 3-cylinder engine, paired with either a manual or the XTRONIC CVT. This engine has advanced technologies such as mirror bore coating, a forged cylinder crankshaft, and electric turbo actuators. It generates 99hp (74kW) of maximum power and 160Nm of peak torque on paper. This allows it to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 12.3 seconds, while fuel economy is rated at 20 km/litre for the manual transmission and 17.4 km/litre for the CVT.

With an independent MacPherson strut suspension with anti-roll bars and rebound springs at the front and a semi-independent coil spring suspension at the rear, Nissan claims that the Magnite offers a comfortable ride with minimal roll or pitch, even under challenging road conditions. During our short but exclusive test drive on both of Nissan’s test tracks, the long and short courses, we found acceleration surprisingly linear and handling and ride comfort acceptable. However, the steering lacked feedback. Thankfully, Nissan personnel on-site emphasized that the new Magnite would be tuned specifically for each region.

Nissan Magnite Variants & Pricing

In India, the new Nissan Magnite will be available in six trims: Visa, Visa+, Acenta, N-Connecta, Tekna, and Tekna+. Pricing in the home market ranges from Rs. 599,000 to Rs. 11,500,000, which converts to approximately AED 26,250 to AED 50,300. This includes a 3-year/100,000 km warranty. Based on this pricing, the Magnite is expected to be within reach of most households in the GCC region when it arrives, although official pricing for the Middle East, Africa, and Oceania has not been announced yet.

Keep track of the Nissan Magnite 2025 prices in UAE in our buyer guide.