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Nissan Magnite is joining sub-4,000mm crossover wars in India

Will it be launched in the Philippines? Good question

Gotta admit: This looks quite good for a small crossover. PHOTO FROM NISSAN

It seems the motoring trend around the world—especially in India—is to go tiny. After dozens of YouTube videos and rumors about its latest small crossover, Yokohama-based Nissan is putting an end to all the teasing. Say hi to the Japanese automaker’s diminutive Magnite.

According to Nissan, this car is its first entry in the sub-4m Indian vehicle market. Which means it will compete with crossover SUVs whose overall length doesn’t even reach 4,000mm from bumper to bumper.

Yes, we can picture this being hit in Metro Manila. But would Nissan make a LHD version? PHOTOS FROM NISSAN

And if what you picture in your head with the term “sub-4m” is a cute ride like a baby Suzuki—lest you forget, the Jimny and the S-Presso both measure roughly 3.5m long—you’ll be wrong. In India, there is actually a class of small crossovers whose length is nearly 4m. That includes the Honda WR-V, the Hyundai Venue, the Kia Sonet, the Suzuki Vitara Brezza and the Toyota Urban Cruiser. All of these cars measure 3,995mm with the exception of the WR-V, which is 3,999mm (talk about desperately wanting to qualify for the ’Sub-4m Club’).

The Magnite will likely be a fellow member of these contenders (even though Nissan hasn’t provided its exact lengthwise dimension). What the manufacturer has shared is the fact that it will have an all-new 1.0-liter turbocharged engine under its hood.

Dear Nissan, please move that steering wheel to the other side. Pretty please? PHOTOS FROM NISSAN

Now, Nissan is teasing the automotive world by saying that the Magnite is “scheduled to go on sale in India early next year and in other markets later.” But will it be sold in our territory? Unless Nissan has a business strategy for this model that is different from that of its above-mentioned rivals, we don’t really expect this crossover to make its way to us. If you notice, all its competitors are right-hand-driven—and not one seems to have a dedicated version for our LHD market.

But who knows? It would be nice to have our own sub-4m crossover wars here.



Vernon B. Sarne

Vernon is the founder and editor-in-chief of VISOR. He has been an automotive journalist for 26 years. He became one by serendipity, walking into the office of a small publishing company and applying for a position he had no idea was for a local car magazine. God has watched over him throughout his humble journey. He writes the ‘Spoiler’ column.



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