The Made-in-India New Nissan Magnite has secured a 5-star overall safety rating from the Global New Car Assessment Programme (GNCAP), a major development for the subcompact SUV segment. The right-hand-drive version sold in India and South Africa earned five stars for adult occupant protection and three stars for child safety.
Nissan Magnite Safety Scorecard
The facelifted Magnite, produced at Nissan’s Chennai facility, underwent thorough assessments, including frontal and side impact, pedestrian protection, electronic stability control (ESC), and side pole impact—tests required for the highest GNCAP rating. Notably, the model now incorporates over 40 standard safety features, such as 6 airbags, ABS with EBD, ESC, traction control, hill-start assist (HSA), brake assist, and tyre pressure monitoring. Its structure also uses 67% high-tensile steel, enhancing crash resilience.
- Adult Occupant Protection: 32.31/34 points
- Child Occupant Protection: 33.64/49 points
These scores mark a significant improvement over earlier ratings. The pre-facelift Magnite had a modest 2-star score, later improved to 4 stars after feature upgrades. Nissan voluntarily resubmitted the vehicle after each update, culminating in the current 5-star rating. Exported to over 65 countries under Nissan’s “One Car, One World” plan, the RHD Magnite serves both Indian and South African markets. The model’s safety upgrade benefits these export destinations as well.
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What Changed in the New Magnite?
Key upgrades include:
- Mandatory six airbags, ESC, and ISOFIX anchors.
- Tripled up 3-point seat belts for all occupants.
- Improved pedestrian impact performance.
- Reinforced cabin and restraint systems.
These features address previous weaknesses in crash performance and child occupant safety, supporting the higher star rating. The upgraded Magnite also includes standard seat belt reminders, ISOFIX child anchorages, child locks, and rear parking sensors. Pedestrian protection and ESC functionality were key factors in achieving GNCAP’s top safety rating.
Speaking on the Magnite’s performance, Mr Saurabh Vatsa, Managing Director, Nissan Motor India, stated: “We are delighted to receive a 5-star safety rating for the Made-in-India New Nissan Magnite. Safety remains at the core of our engineering philosophy, and this reflects our dedication to providing our customers with secure, reliable, and technologically advanced vehicles. As per our One Car, One World strategy, Nissan remains committed to producing the highest quality and safest cars for both domestic and global markets.”
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Our View
The new rating positions the Magnite as one of the safest compact SUVs in India. It is notably the first vehicle sold in South Africa to attain a 5-star adult safety rating under the current GNCAP protocol. For context, the previous Magnite versions had scored just 2 stars in both categories under earlier test norms. The stepwise improvement—from 2 stars to 4 and now to 5 stars—highlights Nissan’s rapid safety upgrades.
With this rating upgrade, the New Nissan Magnite aligns its safety credentials with leading compact SUVs in the Indian market. Its evolution from a poorly rated model to a top-rated one underscores the impact of consistent engineering focus. The results may influence safety expectations across the segment, pushing other manufacturers to raise the bar on occupant and pedestrian protection.
