Nissan’s compact SUV, the Magnite, has earned a prestigious 5-star safety rating from Global NCAP, marking a major milestone in its safety evolution. Manufactured in India for both domestic and international markets, including South Africa, the Magnite underwent three separate rounds of crash testing — with significant improvements made between each phase.
Round 1: Pre-Facelift Nissan Magnite – 2 Stars Under New Protocol
The initial version of the Magnite, manufactured before October 2024, was the first to be assessed. Tested under Global NCAP’s updated, more rigorous standards, this pre-facelift model received 2 stars for both adult and child occupant protection. While earlier tests under older protocols had given it a 4-star adult safety rating, the revised norms exposed critical shortcomings in the base model.
Key limitations included:
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Only 2 airbags
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No Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
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Absence of ISOFIX child seat anchors
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Did not comply with pedestrian protection requirements
Despite these drawbacks, it managed:
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10.036/16 in the frontal offset deformable barrier test
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14.454/16 in the side movable deformable barrier test
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A total of 24.49/34 for adult safety
However, Global NCAP flagged weak chest protection for the driver and only marginal protection for knees in both front occupants.
Child occupant safety scored 18.39/49, with specific concerns over the 3-year-old dummy’s head exposure and weak chest protection in frontal impacts.
Round 2: Facelifted Nissan Magnite – 4-Star Rating
In October 2024, Nissan launched the facelifted Magnite with substantial safety upgrades. The revised model came equipped with:
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6 airbags
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ESC and ISOFIX as standard
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Compliance with pedestrian protection norms
These enhancements resulted in a 4-star adult occupant safety rating with an improved total score of 26.51/34. Notably, the vehicle achieved a perfect 16/16 in the side barrier test. The frontal offset score saw a slight improvement to 10.51/16.
The facelifted model also underwent the side pole impact test, where it showed:
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Good protection for head, abdomen, and pelvis
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Adequate chest protection
For child occupant safety, it jumped to a 4-star rating with a score of 36/49. It received full marks (12/12) for child restraint system (CRS) installation, though there was still room for improvement in vehicle assessment scores.
Round 3: Final Upgrade Earns 5-Star Global NCAP Rating
Not content with the 4-star rating, Nissan introduced further, undisclosed enhancements to the Magnite and voluntarily submitted it for a third round of testing. The results were impressive — a full 5-star rating for adult occupant protection.
Key highlights:
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32.31/34 for adult safety
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15.307/16 in the frontal offset deformable barrier test
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Improved chest and knee protection, with most regions rated good to adequate
The side crash and child safety scores remained unchanged from the previous test — still impressive with 4 stars for child protection and consistent top performance in the side impact evaluations.
Conclusion: Nissan’s Safety Commitment Pays Off
Through its step-by-step safety enhancements and willingness to undergo voluntary re-testing, Nissan has proven its commitment to occupant protection. The Magnite’s journey from a 2-star rating to achieving the top 5-star score under Global NCAP’s toughest protocols sets a benchmark in the Indian compact SUV segment.
With this, the Magnite joins a growing list of made-in-India cars earning high marks for safety — a promising sign for consumers prioritizing protection without compromising on affordability.
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