Nissan Magnite now in ASEAN, could be a Stonic and Venue fighter

On the heels of its successful debut in India, the Nissan Magnite is now making its way to the rest of the world. The Japanese carmaker doesn’t have to look far for the first stop, with the ASEAN region getting the luck of the draw.

The Nissan Magnite has landed in Indonesia as its first stop outside of India

Nissan has just mounted an Indonesian launch, albeit a quiet one, for its smallest subcompact crossover. Slotting below the Juke and the Kicks, the Magnite proved to be very popular in its home market, with Nissan fielding 5,000 orders within five days after launch.

This has resulted in a waiting list of six months for Indian buyers, and that’s just for the Magnite’s base trim. Nissan wants to sustain this momentum, potentially taking aim at the Kia Stonic and the Hyundai Venue in the subcompact crossover segment.

“Daring to be different is in our Nissan DNA. The debut of all-new Nissan Magnite in Indonesia shows our commitment to bringing different and innovative products and technologies to customers in the country,” said PT Nissan Motor Distributor Indonesia President Director Evensius Go.

Nissan's smallest crossover could challenge the Kia Stonic and the Hyundai Venue

>>> Related: 2021 Nissan Magnite is a tiny turbocharged crossover to be sold globally

Designed in Japan, the production Magnite differs very little from the concept version that Nissan unveiled in July, with only very minor details altered. Customers in Indonesia will get to experience the Magnite’s high-riding stance, backed by 205mm of ground clearance, making the model ideal for torrential rains which are common in the region.

Inside, the Magnite sports a cabin that echoes the dynamic lines of its exterior, highlighted by hexagonal air vents, a 7-inch TFT instrument panel, and an 8-inch multimedia touchscreen head unit featuring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The interior is as playful as the exterior

For propulsion, the Indonesian Magnite packs a 1.0L turbocharged inline-3 gasoline engine, similar to the India-spec model. With an output of 100 hp and 160 Nm of torque. Nissan claims that the power plant bests other normally-aspirated engines in its category by yielding up to 50 percent faster acceleration.  

The Magnite might be marketed as an affordable model, but Nissan isn’t cutting corners on safety, with dual SRS airbags, anti-lock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution, and Vehicle Dynamics Control with Hill Start Assist. It even comes with a tire pressure monitoring system.

>>> Related: Nissan Magnite Concept revealed: Designed in Japan, made for India

Nissan claims improved acceleration over naturally-aspirated engines with the Magnite's turbocharged mill

How much does it cost? For the Indonesian market, the Magnite starts at IDR 208.8 (around Php 715,000) million for the base Upper MT variant, IDR 226.3 million (around Php 774,800) for the midrange Premium MT, and IDR 238.8 million (around Php 803,000) for the Premium CVT variant. Hopefully those prices would be more or less the same for the Philippine-spec Magnite, if it does arrive at our showrooms.

Get updates on new car releases at Philkotse.com.