The Nissan Magnite has officially achieved a top-tier 5-star safety rating from Global NCAP, a significant milestone that involved several rounds of testing and continuous improvements by the automaker.
The Journey Begins: A Two-Star Start for the Pre-Facelift Model
Initially, Global NCAP put the pre-facelift Nissan Magnite (produced before October 2024) through its rigorous new testing standards. This version, which previously secured a 4-star rating under older norms, scored just 2 stars for both adult and child occupancy under the updated, more stringent criteria.
The original model came with only two airbags, lacked standard Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and ISOFIX anchors, and didn’t meet pedestrian protection norms. Tests revealed weak protection for the driver’s chest and marginal protection for knees during frontal impacts. For child occupants, the 3-year-old dummy’s head was exposed and chest poorly protected in a frontal collision, with the 18-month-old dummy also showing weak chest protection.
Stepping Up: The Facelift Reaches Four Stars
Recognizing the need for enhancement, Nissan introduced a facelifted Magnite, which has been on sale in India since October 2024. This updated model came equipped with six airbags, standard ESC, and ISOFIX mounts, and also met pedestrian protection standards.
This improved version achieved a commendable 4-star rating for both adult and child occupancy. While its performance in side impact tests significantly improved, some weaknesses in frontal offset deformable barrier tests persisted, similar to the pre-facelift model. The child occupancy protection saw a notable jump, with much better scores for dynamic performance and CRS installation.
Nissan’s Dedication: Achieving the Five-Star Standard
Despite the strong 4-star rating, Nissan was committed to pushing for the highest safety standard. The company voluntarily submitted a further upgraded version of the Magnite for another round of Global NCAP testing.
The exact nature of all the upgrades remains undisclosed, but the results speak for themselves. This final iteration of the Magnite successfully secured a full 5-star rating for adult occupancy, scoring an impressive 32.31 out of 34 points. This was largely due to significant improvements in the frontal offset deformable barrier test, where protection for both the driver and front passenger was rated from good to adequate.
The child occupancy rating for this ultimate version remained a solid 4 stars, consistent with the previously tested facelift model.
- The Nissan Magnite’s safety journey progressed from a 2-star rating (pre-facelift) to a 4-star rating (facelift) and finally to a 5-star rating (upgraded facelift).
- Nissan proactively enhanced the vehicle’s safety features, including increasing airbags, standardizing ESC and ISOFIX, and improving structural integrity.
- This achievement highlights Nissan’s commitment to delivering higher safety standards for its vehicles in the market.
This persistent effort by Nissan to enhance the Magnite’s safety demonstrates a strong commitment to passenger protection, setting a new benchmark for the compact SUV.
