Nissan Magnite v Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza
Japanese, petrol-only and equipped with manual 'boxes, yet the Magnite and Brezza couldn't be more different
THE MARUTI SUZUKI VITARA Brezza doesn't have the most candles on its birthday cake, but it does often have the most number of people at its party. It was the Ford Ecosport that kick-started the compact SUV segment, but it was the Brezza that cashed in massively and continues to do so today thanks to the reliability, pleasant styling and Maruti Suzuki's vast network. The Brezza showed manufacturers that there's gold lurking in this segment, if they are willing to dig deep, and everybody rushed to jump in. The latest bounty hunter is Nissan and its pick-axe is named the
Magnite. On its shoulders rests the unenviable task of turning around Nissan's fortunes in India and it gets off the blocks strongly with competitive pricing, a long feature list and plenty of variants. And that's where we will start, with the new kid on the block.
As you approach the Magnite, the taut lines, sharp lighting elements and the overall profile draw attention. Good attention. It is easily one of the better looking compact SUVs and since it is new, it also grabs more eyeballs than the ubiquitous Brezza. The door slams shut with a thump rather than a thud which doesn't really convey the best sense of quality but once you're
sat inside, the Magnite makes a good case for itself. There's a bright multi-coloured 7-inch digital instrument cluster which works rather well though some of our testers including the editor weren't fans of the design. The 8-inch infotainment screen supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto — and that wireless bit is crucial. Apart from BMW nobody yet offers it on their cars, but it is such a nice thing to have, I believe it will become a staple in the future. The menus are easy to navigate with a simple UI that is intuitive, although the display itself isn't very crisp or bright. There's also a wireless charger, JBL speakers, an air purifier and puddle lamps — all available with the optional Tech Pack. While the other additions on the Tech Pack work well, the speakers are average at
The Brezza showed manufacturers that there's gold lurking in this
segment
best. It also gets a 360-degree camera system which is a segment first. The overall fit and finish in the cabin is par for the price it is being offered at – most plastics are hard and some are even scratchy, but what the Magnite loses in quality, it gains in space. The Nissan can seat tall passengers in the second row without having their knees dig into the back of the guys sitting up front. Even three can squeeze in without a hassle, with a weekend's worth of luggage in the boot. Once your passengers are comfortable and buckled up, extend your arm to reach for the engine start button (same position as the Triber, and that's one of the many hints as to the provenance of this platform) and the 1-litre turbo-petrol engine spurts to life.
Like other three-cylinder engines, this ‘HRA0' engine is gruff at idle but it does smoothen out once you get going. It churns out 99bhp and 160Nm, enough to pull the Magnite along fairly nicely and it does comes alive once the turbochargers spool up around the 25003500rpm mark. However, the Magnite's engine feels happiest just above idle — with the turbochargers fast asleep. In most situations, and on most days, the Magnite is going to be driven to and from your place of work and the whole package is perfectly suited for that. The HRA0 engine doesn't gulp fuel in the city, the turning radius is tight and the visibility is great. It also has a fairly soft suspension setup which pleases passengers, but the Magnite can get unsettled over a series of potholes or a rough patch of road – the damping lacks authority and feels too soft. With this five-speed manual, you will need to bang in a couple of downshifts to make more aggressive overtakes, since there is some noticeable turbo-lag at the lower end of the rpm band. The steering is a tad bit heavy for the city though this is not something you will notice in isolation. It is worth mentioning that it is hard to judge the biting-point of the Magnite's clutch which gets annoying in stop-start traffic but you will certainly get accustomed to it if you drive it enough. Overall, the Magnite scores well around town but it isn't the same story when you venture out.
The Magnite doesn't feel tied down at speed, isn't planted around corners or rock steady when cruising down the highway. It feels a bit flighty and all over the place — especially over imperfections. However, it has enough grunt so overtaking on highways is not a problem and it will comply with your demands if you need to get somewhere in a hurry. But it's a
golden retriever, not a greyhound. It isn't built to win you drag races. It's meant to be a great companion to the family. And it makes sense for Nissan to go down that road, because the majority of people buying compact SUVs aren't bothered about how it fares around the Lap of Mutha. What matters to them is space, features and pricing.
Funnily enough, those three words are what helped the Brezza top sales charts to start with. While it isn't class-leading in terms of space today, the Brezza isn't cramped and can seat four fairly comfortably, although it is easier to squeeze five in the Magnite. The Brezza scored well on features in 2016, but the game has moved on considerably since. Nissan knows this, did their homework and packed the Magnite with the essentials and a few segment-firsts to grab headlines and attract buyers.
The Brezza is not barebones — it has a higher-res, but smaller 7-inch infotainment display which supports (wired) Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It also has automatic headlamps and automatic climate control. It misses out on a wireless charger, a sunroof (which the Magnite doesn't get either) and while I have no bones to pick with analogue clocks, the one on the Brezza looks dated.
The Brezza does however make up for its lack of kit with a more polished driving experience.
For starters, the doors close with relatively more of a thud here. The seats are supportive and well-cushioned, the steering wheel has a nice tactile feel, and it is easy to find a comfortable driving position. With the BS6 update, Maruti Suzuki did a Ctrl-Alt-Del on the 1.3-litre diesel engine and then copy-pasted the K-Series 1.5-litre petrol engine, previously seen on the Ciaz. It makes 103bhp and 138Nm, no smart-hybrid tech on this manual variant, and at lower revs it will fool you into calling it a lazy motor. It is tractable enough for you to forget it in a higher gear than advised, and it will probably still pull away cleanly without a shudder. The engine is efficient if driven smartly and the five-speed manual is well set up for the city. The steering wheel is lighter than the Magnite's and the clutch is easier to judge too, which makes the Brezza easier and smoother to drive in traffic.
It is whisper quiet at idle, only breaking the silence post 3500rpm – and even that is a refined growl as it is a four-cylinder unit. It almost tugs on the leash to let you allow it to run to the redline. When you shift gears, it is clear that this five-speed manual is one of the best in the business. It feels like the lever is immersed in a rich layer of honey, because I'm not sure how else Maruti Suzuki has made this
The Magnite is a golden retriever, not a greyhound. It isn't built to win
you drag races
Right: The Magnite's digital instument cluster is well-executed but its lack of features means it isn't much more useful than an analogue dial; the Brezza's clocks are easy to read but look a bit dated 'box so smooth. If you're someone who enjoys the tactile sensations of a good shift, the Brezza should have your attention.
While the engine and transmission make up a solid chunk of the Brezza's great-to-drive pie, the steering and chassis are vital ingredients. The Global-C platform is the spine (shared with the S-Cross), and it keeps the Brezza planted during hard cornering, and on the highway. The suspension setup is a bit firmer than on the Magnite, but it translates to a more comfortable ride in the city and over bad patches. And unlike the Magnite, the Brezza has a reassuring robustness when tackling bad roads.
Now the steering: it is nice and light around town but it doesn't weigh up substantially at speed, which is a bit of a miss. However, you're never left second guessing what the Brezza is up to — it goes where you point it. The Brezza is happy when driven at a relaxed pace, and it is even happier when you're pushing it. If you're an enthusiast, you'll find it a more engaging driving experience than the Magnite. But you will have to live with the compromises of a five-year-old car. The Brezza is beginning to feel its age on the inside and Maruti needs to update it, quickly, to keep it competitive.
Verdict
These two cars are indeed polar opposites. Nissan realised that most compact SUV buyers are looking for a vehicle that has space, features and good fuel economy. The Magnite scores well on the first two, and even outdoes the Maruti at its own ‘kitna deti hai' game with a claimed fuel economy of 20kmpl over the Brezza's 17.03kmpl. The Magnite range starts at `4.99 lakh and a fully-kitted one costs `9.97 lakh, with a lot of variants in between making it the more value for money proposition. If you're looking for an upgrade on a hatchback and want something taller, with more presence and more space without breaking the bank, the Magnite is certainly worth a look. It isn't for the enthusiast, but then again most buyers in this segment aren't enthusiasts.
Meanwhile, the Brezza's entry ticket costs `7.34 lakh, and the most coveted seats in the house cost `11.15 lakh – the prices impacted by the fact that it no longer qualifies for the sub-4 metre tax breaks owing to its larger capacity engine. It certainly delivers more on the Thrill Of Driving front, with this manual variant at least. If you're looking for an automatic, Nissan's X-Tronic CVT trumps Maruti's dated 4-speed automatic any day of the week.
With the manuals though, the Brezza clearly trumps the Magnite's notchy 'box. And I have to mention the peace of mind that comes with every Maruti Suzuki, the inherent quality and reliability backed up by the vast service network, something Nissan needs to work on. If you're indifferent to the involvement the car delivers, pick the Magnite. It is a rather sorted package and very competitively priced, undercutting the Brezza by over a lakh of rupees yet offering more equipment and of course space. But to drive, the Brezza is still nicer. ⌧