Magnite could be the game changer Nissan is looking for in India

Nissan's latest launch, the Magnite SUV, could potentially redefine its business here

The “Alliance”, which is the name given to the partnership between global auto players Renault, Nissan and Mitsubishi, ought to be a business case study for multiple reasons in the Indian automobile industry. For one, it has tried and tested a variety of formulas that haven't worked. First was the Renault partnership with Mahindra & Mahindra, which went nowhere. Then Nissan made an effort at tackling the mass market in India, and launched a mix of cars with models such as the X-Trail, Teana, Sunny, Terrano and the small car Micra. However, that also faltered with volumes being insignificant. Most of the cars mentioned even got nixed.

Finally, the Alliance’s low-cost badge, Datsun, made a hatch called the Go — that floundered, too. All of which means that Nissan's latest launch, the Magnite SUV, is both pivotal and could potentially redefine its business here.

It's by now well-known that the compact economy SUV is both a booming category as well as a segment full of cut-throat competition among very competent contenders. These include the Tata Nexon, Hyundai Venue, Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza, the Ford EcoSport, M&M's XUV300 and the recently launched Kia Sonet. All of that means that the Magnite will have to hit the ground running if it hopes to keep pace with its competitors, which in some parts it has.

In the flesh, the Magnite is well-designed, with smartly sculpted exteriors that exude a tall, robust stance, wide shoulders and a presence that bystanders notice. There's also no getting away from some of the DNA that has been carried over from the Duster on the exterior body design and the Datsun in other places.

Inside the version I drove, which was the top-of-the-line variant, seating felt suitably comfortable. Interiors and drivetrain quality exceeded what one expects from a mass market SUV, and there were few complaints except for the obvious cost-cutting in areas such as door lock buttons. But the tachymeter on the dashboard was innovative in its unique digital stadium design. The tech was impressive. Made only in petrol versions, the Magnite offers the tech-savvy Indian customer Nissan’s optional ‘Tech Pack’ that includes a wireless charger, air purifier, ambient mood lighting, puddle lamps and high-end speakers.

Other pluses include tire pressure monitoring and spacious rear seating. The new one-litre engine with its automatic transmission isn't the fastest or the most refined motor on the block, but it gets the job done and is reasonably smooth.

The suspension handled Mumbai's abhorrent streets with ease and in one busy market lane, I even got a knock on my window from a masked shopper who wanted to know if this was the latest MG Hector. In the dark, I suppose one SUV looks like the other. 

The Magnite comes with an introductory offer in close to a dozen variations: A mind-boggling price of Rs 500,000. Beyond being an attention grabber for the price, it's cheaper than some low-cost mass volume hatchbacks and should give Nissan a booster shot in sales in the near term.

While Nissan is clearly playing on the strength of Japanese engineering and affordability, much will hinge on its ability to give buyers strong service support and the assurance of low cost of ownership through the car's life cycle. The bottom line: While this is a car without the smooth sophistication of a Volkswagen or the ruggedness of a Mahindra, it is the kind of SUV-value package on wheels that hasn’t been seen in a long time. It could finally be the game changer Nissan has been waiting for all this while.